“Bike trails near me” is a popular search among riders who love adventures. If you are a beginner cyclist, riding on paved bike paths is the safest cycling you can choose. However, finding these trails can be difficult, especially if you are new to an area, let alone a beginner cyclist. On the other hand, you might also be an old pro who would love to enjoy some fresh dirt. In the recent past, finding bike trails without the help of technology was intimidating, mainly if you lived in a big city.
Nowadays, you can easily find bike trails near you with a few clicks. We will share some of the best apps & tools that you can use to find cycling trails near you, whether you are an old pro or a newbie cyclist.
Types of Bike Trails
There are many biking trails ranging from formal cycling trails where the trails are marked with colors to informal ones marked by bike lovers and other volunteers. Here are some of the leading bicycle trails you will likely come across in your search. Knowing the different bike paths lets you know which skills you need and the type of bike you will need to ride on a specific bike trail.
- Paved bike paths or multi-use paths: Anyone except for automobiles can use this type of path. Families are allowed to use these types of bike paths. They are safe, and most of these paths would require a road bike or any bike good for paved paths. These paths are also suitable for both beginners and old cyclists.
- Dirt or gravel rail-trails: A dirt trail is a definition of bike trail that is filled with rocks, dirt, dust, and sometimes mud. Most of these dirt bike trails are meant for old cyclists who are experienced in riding on such terrains. On the other hand, a gravel rail trail involves a bike trail with gravel and rail. In simple words, a gravel rail trail is a shared-use path which means that the rail on the path involves a rail that has been abandoned and then filled with gravel for cyclists and other recreational activities.
- Singletrail Mountain bike trails: This is the most common type of bike trail that you will come across. The trail involves a path with a width that can only allow one or two cyclists. Some of these paths do not even allow two cyclists.
- Paved Bike ‘routes’: This type of path is the same as the paved bike path that we listed above, but this specific one is not a multi-use path. This means that the path is only dedicated to cyclists.
Tools to Find Bike Trails Near Me
As we promised, here are the effective tools for finding bicycle trails near where you are. Some may be apps, and others may be websites.
1. TrailForks
Trailforks is a platform with a bike trail database, a map, and a management system for users. You can use the platform as an app on your phone, but you can also choose to use their website. Trailforks platform gives detailed information on the trail you want to use and the trailhead to know where to park your bike.
The app also gives you your location to avoid getting lost along the trails. TrailForks is available in 123 countries, making it efficient in many different localities. TrailForks is best for when you want to find cycling trails in a new location. The app will help you know your location, and it’s pretty impossible to get lost in the woods. In addition, you can give back to the cycling community by contributing to the trail usage data that is already available.
TrailForks app is best for mountain biking trails.
Pros
- Includes bike trails from regions all over the world
- Information is available online
- No ads are available for in-app purchases
- You can download bike trails from any region for free
- You can include your suggestions on the bike trails
Cons
- It crashes occasionally
- The app takes a long time to load
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2. MTB Project
MTB Project is a platform with bike trail data shared by cyclists just like you. With this app, you can have real-time information on the mountain cycling trail that you would want to take. The app also has more information about the bike path. You can easily trust the data on the app since it is data shared by fellow cyclists making it easier to understand which terrains you are undertaking. The app also has a top-rated feature that includes top-rated trails and locations. This allows you to explore some of the best cycling trails available.
The platform also has a trail directory showing you the maps of biking trails in a certain area. Apart from showing the locations, the app also shares the number of bike paths available in a city. MTB Project is best for mountain bike trails.
Pros
- Great UI
- Free
- Works offline
- Shows the full route including the travel direction.
Cons
- Mobile recording only available for iOS
- You can only export GPX files
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3. Trailink
Trailink is an excellent app to look for paved paths and rail trails if you love to ride along paved bike paths. Like the other platforms, you can also use Trailink as an app, and you can also use it from their website. The good thing about this platform is that it provides its users with photos, trail descriptions, and descriptions of where you can park your bike.
You can use the app for free, but if you want access to download the GPX file and get detailed trailhead descriptions, you might have to opt for the premium version of this tool. This platform is excellent for rail-trails and paved paths.
Pros
- It is free
- Provides photos and trail descriptions
- It has detailed trail descriptions
Cons
- Cannot download GPX files on the free version
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4. Strava
If you are a competitive cyclist, Strava is a favorite among many people. The app lets you track and share your tracks, and you can also track your times. You can then share your findings with other cyclists.
Strava is a popular app, and therefore there are many cyclists on the site. The availability of cyclists ensures that you are not lost in the woods, and you can find trail paths with ease. Strava is best for finding mountain bike trails.
Pros
- Free
- You can find biking trails from your friends’ suggestions
- Available for both Android and IOS devices
Cons
- Mainly created for runners
5. Bike Map
Bike map is an app and website that explains bike touring and bike trails in detail. You can download the app on your phone or use the website instead. The bike map app is crowd-sourced which means that the data available on the platform is from many different people worldwide.
The platform involves over 368 084 bike routes worldwide and over 19 million miles of good bike trails. The app requires a lot of digging if you want to get any information. However, if you don’t mind spending a few minutes on the platform, the app is a rich trove of data. Bike Map is a good platform for paved bike paths.
Pros
- Routes from all over the world
- Easy-to-use interface
- Customization tools are available
- You can save a route in a personal collection
- You will have a turn by turn navigation directions
- You can share your newfound bike routes
Cons
- You will need to pay to access some features
6. Map My Ride
This platform is geared towards helping a fitness cyclist stay on track and find nearby cycling routes. Although it is mainly focused on fitness, the bike trail feature can be of great help if you only want to find bicycle trails; the best thing about this platform is that you can never get lost because it has a GPS tracker that will enable you to find your way.
The platform is free, but some of the features available are premium. The good thing about this is that you get a full free year of using the app. With this platform, you can easily find biking paths, and save your favorite routes on the map. You can also give your location to your loved ones to let them know you are safe and provide them with peace of mind. In addition, Map My Ride is suitable for live GPS tracking and bike route finding.
Pros
- Free to use for a full year
- You can save and share your favorite trails
- Has a GPS tracker
Cons
- The app may crash
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Other Methods to Find Bike Trails Near Me
If you have not found help from the above platforms, you can consider finding help from fellow cyclists in the area you are unfamiliar with. But below are some of the other methods you can use to find bike routes.
- Google Earth: Google Earth is a platform that lets you find the location of anything on earth. With this app, you can see the terrain of different bike routes in 3D. You can see the world and bike routes with Voyager. Voyager is a collection of other guided tours from BBC, National geographic, and Nasa.
- Map My Ride: Map my Ride is a platform that allows you to track your working out. The platform will enable you to find bike routes, save your favorites, and create your own routes. It is a free resource that you can use as a cyclist.
- Google Bike Maps: This app gives you an aerial view of any location that you want. The good thing about this app is that it will signal any bike route you may come across. So with this app, the only thing is to enter your location, and you can see the bike routes’ locations.
- Trails.com: This platform is excellent for discovering new bicycle trails. There are over 300k bike trails that you can explore and save some on your favorite tools with the app. Also, Trails.com is a free platform to use, but you can opt for the pro version. The pro version allows you to be on track even when online. So the app will help you find bike trails, and it will also help you stay on track even when there is no cell service while you are cycling.
- Singletracks.com: This is another app that lets you find bike tracks in your area and worldwide. The platform also has a community where you can find forums of cyclists riding and sharing on bike trails. This platform is especially good for cyclists who wish to ride mountain bikes from any bike trail worldwide.
FAQ – Tools to Find Bike Trails Near Me
Q. Does WAZE Show Bike Routes?
Waze is not really an app but a description of the Pointz app. The app is run by two university seniors known as Trisha Ballakur and Maggie Banchebag and described the app as the ‘Waze for bikes. Pointz is a mapping app for cyclists when they want to find direction. It also invites people to evaluate possible future bike routes.
When you download Pointz, it may seem like a simple mapping app, but when you start to ask for directions, you will get turn-by-turn directions and some bike routes that are not too busy. So yes. Waze can show bike routes if you decide to look for them in the app. Moreover, the app is beginner-friendly since you can find roads that are not so busy.
Q. How do I turn on bike mode in Google Maps?
Google Maps is an app that you can find on almost all Android apps. However, you might not have unlocked the full potential of Google Maps as a cyclist. Before that, you need to know that the Google Maps desktop app and Google Maps mobile app differ significantly in functionality.
With the Google Maps mobile app, there is no button that you need to click to turn on bike mode. Instead, there are a set of instructions that will help you turn on the bike mode to get directions on Cycling routes.
- On Google Maps’ search button, enter your destination.
- On the bottom left of your screen, tap on directions.
- Tap the bicycle icon at the top right of your screen.
If all you can see at the top of your screen is the transit, driving, and walking symbols, try swiping the screen from right to left to find the bicycle mode. The bike mode on Google Maps displays the following;
- Gravel or dirt bike routes with a brown line as an indicator.
- Streets with specified bike lanes with a light green line indication
- Bike-friendly roads but no specified bike lanes – dashed light green color.
- Dedicated bike trails with a dark green line as an indication.
After you find a route that interests you, you can choose to tap the start button and start cycling on it. Be sure to put on your earphones and turn on the voice directions. The voice directions ensure that you are on the right track and that you will not get lost if you are in a new location.
The functionality differences between the Google Maps desktop app and the mobile app do not mean that you cannot use the desktop app to find bike routes. You can find bike routes and transfer them to your phone. In addition, you can customize any of the bike routes that you choose to use. For example, you can put up some stops along the routes. However, you need to know that these customizations will be lost if you transfer them to your mobile phone.
Q. Does Apple Maps Have Bike Routes?
Yes, Apple Maps has bike routes. Although Google maps have been there for a long time
You cannot be guaranteed cycling guidance in all areas with Apple maps. Some locations will have the cycling guidance, but some will lack it.
To find these routes, you can choose to talk to Siri – a feature on maps that allows you to speak instead of typing – and view directions of the bike path you see. You can also tap on your destination. Alternatively, you can tap and hold a location on the map and then tap on ‘directions’ to find the needed directions. Finally, you can switch to the bike mode available when a cycling route appears. Now choose the route and tap go.
Q. How do I plan a bike route?
Your cycling planning can make or break your cycling adventure. Therefore, you must have a cycling plan before pedaling off for your cycling day. There is nothing worse than starting a cycling tour and finding potholes all along or getting lost.
You can use maps or some of the tools discussed above. Alternatively, you can consult a friend who loves cycling. Usually, they can be your best source of finding the best routes. They can direct you to the best routes because they have had the chance to cycle on the bike trails they suggest to you.
If you choose to get a plan from a website or an app, start looking for a bike route earlier before you begin riding off. If you are riding in an area that you are not familiar with, make sure that where you are riding, there is enough cellular connection; if not, make sure that you can still get directions even when you are offline to avoid getting lost. Planning will also help you avoid the bike trails that are deserted or bike trails.
Conclusion – Tools to Find Bike Trails Near You
In some places, the fastest way to get around, avoid traffic and avoid the stress of finding a parking area is by cycling. You could be looking for bike trails just for your cycling adventures. Apart from getting help from your cyclists’ friends, the tools above might be of great help. Using the tools will help you plan ahead of your cycling, avoid possible traffic or hard terrains and also avoid getting lost if you are new to an area.
Fortunately, most of the tools we have listed above are free, and you won’t need to pay for the tools to start using them.