With a population of just 282 you could easily fly right past this Gold Rush town to explore the rest of the Tahoe National Park, but if you did so you’d miss one of the rides of your life.

Famed for the Downieville Classic, this is a town that pulses with mountain biking and for the trail enthusiast it’s definitely one to tick off as soon as possible. Its forests breed a brand of wide, fast singletrack laced with rocks but thankfully the soil is stickier than tree sap to keep you bang on the ragged edge.

Highlight: Head to the opposite side of Mount Elwell to the Downieville Classic and soak up the descent to Graeagle.