Best Mountain Biking Events in the Southwest 2023
The team at Strambecco rates the top MTB events in the Southwest for 2023 based on various factors, including reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and the overall uniqueness of the event or race. Spanning California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Southwest terrain features of Strambecco’s best list includes mountains, canyons, mesas, buttes, high broad basins, plateaus, desert lands, and some plains characteristic of the Basin and Range Province. The entire southwestern region features semi-arid to arid terrain.
If we had to pick the best of the best, or those you’d classify as bucket list events, we’d recommend the True Grit Epic, in March, in Santa Clara, Utah. True Grit is a National Ultra Endurance Race Series event. We’d also put Tahoe Trail (Lake Tahoe, CA) in July and Barn Burner (Flagstaff, AZ) in Sept on the list. Both are Leadville Race Series events and qualifiers for the famed Leadville Trail 100. Overall, the Southwest is blessed with many of the best events in the country. When choosing your ideal event, premier events producers to look for in the region include Gro Races, Epic Rides, Zia Rides, Bike Monkey, and Life Time Events.
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.
Beers, costumes, good food, crazy people on bikes, and late nights; there are not many things in the Mountain Bike calendar, or sports calendar for that matter, that can compare to the…
The famous True Grit Epic MTB race weekend is a world-class mountain bike event and expo taking place yearly over a three-days in Santa Clara, Utah. The event is the first leg of…
The Lake Sonoma Mountian MTB is an extremely fun yet challenging single-track mountain bike contest. The Sonoma MTB is organized by Hopper Adventures, who produce the Grasshopper Adventure Series, which comprises six…
The Sea Otter Classic, produced by Life Time Events, is a classic and the largest festival and gathering of cycling enthusiasts in North America. Professional and amateur athletes make the annual pilgrimage…
The Tahoe Trail is a premier endurance mountain bike race in the scenic and the high-altitude Sierra Nevada mountains. This is a Leadville Race Series event and qualifier for the famed Leadville…
The Baren Burner is a terrific endurance mountain biking race taking off from Flagstaff, Arizona. It is part of the Leadville Race Series and is organized by Life Time Events. According to…
The Tour leverages the Pinetop Lakes activity and equestrian center to provide a complete family experience. Attendees enjoy the onsite amphitheater for event activities, live music, nearby accommodations, campground games, a robust…
A truly famous or infamous (depending on the person) race, the Big Bear Mountain Bike Gran Fondo and the Grizzly 100 is a Saturday spectacular of multiple mountain bike race lengths held…