Depending where you’re mountain biking, you may want to bring a light with you on Monday. That’s because a total solar eclipse is coming to parts of the US, with the band of totality sweeping across some of our favorite trail systems. Mountain biking during a total solar eclipse promises to be a rare and memorable experience since the next one won’t happen in the US until 2044.
We consulted an interactive map from NASA to find some of the best trails to experience the eclipse on April 8. Are you planning an eclipse ride or did we miss a spot? Tell us where you’re riding in the comments below.
All times and durations listed are approximations; be sure to double check the timing for your area so you don’t miss the big moment! Also note that early spring conditions may mean trail closures in some of these locations, particularly the farther you travel north; obey any and all trail closures posted online or at the trailhead.
Remember, it’s not safe to look directly at the sun so please follow the recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology for safe solar eclipse viewing.
Spider Mountain, Station Mountain, and Reville Peak, Texas
2:37p EDT
Mountain bikers will have a few great spots to choose from in Texas, and with plenty of wide open spaces and generally clear skies, this zone seems like the surest best on Monday. The center of the eclipse should pass almost directly over this trio of popular trail networks, giving riders about four minutes to experience complete darkness in the middle of the day.
The Goodwater Loop, an IMBA Epic, is also located within the range of totality, and offers 26 miles of singletrack for your riding and viewing pleasure.
IMBA Epics and more in Arkansas
2:52p EDT
The total solar eclipse will pass across a wide swath of Arkansas, though the totality won’t be visible from Bentonville and the far northwest corner of the state. Instead, riders should head to the town of Hot Springs to ride the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), an IMBA Epic ride with sweeping views like the one shown above. The Northwoods trail system in Hot Springs could be another good trail choice — just be sure to time it so you’re in an open area for the eclipse.
Syllamo is a lesser-traveled IMBA Epic located northeast of Little Rock that also lies in the path of totality. This trail is densely forested so while you may not find an unobstructed view of the skies here, you will almost certainly experience darkness for three to four minutes.
Mount Nebo is another popular Arkansas riding spot that’s part of the State Park system Monument Trails. The trails here are steep and challenging so don’t forget to turn on your light before you drop into the descent!
Brown County, Indiana
3:07p EDT
Brown County Park is one of the most celebrated mountain bike trail systems in the midwest with more than 30 miles of quality singletrack to explore. There’s a good bit of tree cover here which isn’t ideal for eclipse watching, but fortunately it’s still early enough in the season that many trees won’t be fully leafed out yet. Current trail conditions can be found on the Brown County trails website.
Mohican State Park, Ohio
3:12p
Mohican State Park in Ohio is an IMBA Epic with 23 miles of singletrack. Riders will get to experience about three minutes of the totality at the park, which is located near the town of Loudonville. This is another spot that features a lot of tree cover and questionable trail conditions at the time of the eclipse.
Ellicottville Loop, New York
3:20p
The Ellicottville Loop in western New York state promises spots for viewing the open sky along its 30-mile length. Riders will only get about two minutes in the totality, but that’s plenty of time to take some epic photos of the ride. With snow in the forecast over the next couple of days, trail conditions could be iffy on April 8.
Kingdom Trails, Vermont
3:28p
Kingdom Trails in Vermont is another great eclipse viewing location. The trails are currently closed for the season but Kingdom Trails Association offers this option (from Instagram):
“Although the KT network is closed at that time of the year while we navigate Vemont’s 5th and messiest “Mud” Season, on that day we are opening Bill Magill, a trail on the property that KT owns on Darling Ridge, for people to access on foot for viewing the eclipse.” More info can be found here.
Alternatively, I’d suggest grabbing your gravel bike and sticking to lesser-traveled roads in the area.
Even if you aren’t able to ride in an area that will experience the eclipse totality, April 8 still promises to be a unique time to ride. Atlanta riders will see 75-80% coverage while mountain bikers in Denver will see 60-65% coverage.
Remember, it’s not safe to look directly at the sun no matter where you are, but even in areas with lesser coverage you’ll still see signs of the eclipse. Please follow the recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology for safe solar eclipse viewing.
