Best Mountain Bike Events in the Northwest 2023
The team at Strambecco rates the top MTB events in the Northwest for 2023 based on various factors, including reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and the overall uniqueness of the event or race. Spanning Oregon, Washington, and Northern California, Northwest terrain features of Strambecco’s best list include agricultural plains, a temperate rainforest, semi-arid deserts, three different mountain ranges, and enormous canyons (including the deepest in North America).
If we had to pick the best of the best, or those you’d classify as bucket list events, we’d recommend the 36th annual Mudslinger XC in April and Ring of Fire in September, which is part of the National Ultra Endurance Race Series event. Both events come from Mudslinger events, producing the popular Oregon XC Series, which are 7-9 races on the best MTB routes Oregon offers. We also recommend looking at the Grasshopper Adventure Series, produced by Hopper Adventures, which offers a mix of MTB and gravel events throughout the region. Another premier operator to consider is Bike Monkey, which produces some of the best MTB, Gravel, and Road events primarily in Northern California.
Strambecco does not list every event. We strive to identify and review events that are special and noteworthy. If you have suggestions on other events, we should consider or review, please get in touch with us here or send us a note at editors@strambecco.com.
The 36th annual Mudslinger XC is one of the Northwest’s oldest running mountain bike races. The annual kick-off event to the Oregon XC Series includes six premier Oregon MTB events spanning April to…
Sisters Stampede is a traditional event over Memorial Day weekend presented by Mudslinger Events and the second leg in the Oregon XC Series, six premier Oregon MTB events spanning April to September. …
An overnight extravaganza in MTB mecca Bend, Oregon, allows participants to ride 24 or 12 hours through the night. The laps are 11 miles long with 900 feet of elevation, including single-track…
The 15th annual High Cascade 100 is a classic endurance mountain Bike race in the mountain mecca of Bend, Oregon. The race is produced by Mudslinger Events and is part of the Oregon…
Ring of Fire debuted in 2021 to rave reviews, was canceled in 2022 due to regional fires, but returns in 2023. The name “Ring of Fire” refers to the Cascade Mountains and…
Chosen as one of our best gravel cycling events in California, the Lost Coast off-road biking event is an extremely beautiful and unique experience organized by Hopper Adventures. The Lost Coast is…