One of the main opportunities that mountain biking offers, which entices so many bikers all around the world, is access to an extraordinary variety of landscapes. 

But before picking the next terrain you’d like to ride on, it is important to know what each type is like so you know what to expect and so you can gauge whether you are ready for it or not. 

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1. Singletrack Terrains. This type of terrain is generally between 6 and 24 inches wide. It can be smooth, winding, or filled with features that require advanced mountain biking skills and great focus. For these types of trails, it’s recommended to use a bike with some suspension to help ease the bumps along the way. Whether it is full-suspension or hardtail, it can also depend on how technical the trail is. Trails difficulty is defined the same way ski slope difficulty is defined. A green trail is a beginner-level trail, whereas a double black diamond trail is only for the very skilled biker.
2. Doubletrack Terrains. Doubletracks are much more spacious and are typically shared by more than one bike or other off-road vehicles. These terrains are more mellow and contain fewer obstacles or technical features than single tracks. Doubletrack terrains tend to have more traffic from hikers and those on horseback. The benefit to the doubletrack is you typically don’t have to dismount when coming across a fellow biker, hiker, or horseback rider. Doubletrack trails tend to appeal to the novice mountain biker — just be careful of gravel and sand that tend to build up on doubletrack.
3. Fire Roads Terrains. Fire road terrains are graded dirt roads that are mainly used for emergency or service vehicles. Riding in this type of terrain is still very much prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, where there is an abundance of access roads from logging.
4. Rock Garden Terrains. This terrain is part of a larger trail where large and small stones are concentrated. Riders who choose to ride on rock gardens must have incredible balance, vision, and line-picking skills. 

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5. Slickrock Terrains. Slickrock trails are routes with large slabs of rocks painted with dash lines. One of the more famous trails is in Moab, Utah, aptly named Slickrock Trail. This trail is certainly not for beginners. While the trail is called “Slickrock,” the rock is surprisingly grippy but can be hazardous and indeed slick when it’s raining. If you want to try riding on Slickrock but you don’t want to commit to a difficult ride, there’s a warmup ride at the trailhead.
6. Snow-covered Terrains. These routes are among the easiest to ride with a fat-tire bike as it is much slower to travel on than other surfaces. Low tire pressure must be ensured in fat biking. 
7. Terrain Park Terrains. These man-made trails offer riding areas for riders of all levels. They are accessible and make great training grounds for riders before trying out natural terrains. 

When choosing your next trail, make sure that you have the skills and experience to ride safely on those terrains. And don’t forget to check local guidelines and always follow “Leave No Trace” principles.

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