The Southeast is home to some of the toughest, most scenic, and most rewarding mountain biking races in the country. From the rocky ridgelines of Virginia’s Blue Ridge to the flowy singletrack of Alabama’s largest state park Oak Mountain State Park, riders can find epic challenges and unforgettable views. Whether you’re looking to qualify for the Leadville Trail 100, push your endurance in the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series, or celebrate riding community at inclusive festivals, this list showcases must-ride events for 2025—in the Southeast and beyond.
USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships
Date: July 14–20, 2025
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
USA Cycling national titles across marathon, short-track, and cross-country disciplines—all set against the scenic Blue Ridge in the summer of 2025. With racing at Hollins University & Carvins Cove, Elmwood Park, and Explore Park, this race covers a range of terrain and is the perfect way to finish the competition season.
Wilderness 101 (NUE Series)
Date: July 26, 2025
Location: Coburn, Pennsylvania
A 101-mile backcountry epic through Bald Eagle and Rothrock State Forests—featuring rugged terrain, long mileage, minimal pavement. Part of the National Ultra Endurance Race Series, these races are known for taking bikers to the limits of their mental and physical resolve.
Leadville Trail 100 MTB
Date: August 9, 2025
Location: Leadville, Colorado
There’s a reason the Race Across the Sky is one of the most iconic endurance races in the world—100 miles of high-altitude Rocky Mountain classic reaching a peak elevation of 12,600 feet. Qualifying for this race is the feat of a lifetime for many mountain bikers. Lucky enough to make the cut? Try your endurance by training at Double Oak Park during the high humidity of summer months to prepare for the elevation gain in Leadville.
Breck Epic
Date: August 10-15, 2025
Location: Breckenridge, Colorado
Six days. Six stages. Nearly 240 miles of high-country riding. The Breck Epic is a mix of lung-busting climbs, alpine scenery, and multi-day camaraderie making it a bucket-list race for any serious mountain biker.
Shenandoah 100 (NUE Series)
Date: August 31, 2025
Location: Mount Solon, Virginia
Also part of the National Ultra Endurance Race Series, this classic 100-mile loop blends forest roads, technical singletrack, and ridge-top views. Competitors love the campground atmosphere if you can manage to snag a spot!
Chequamegon MTB Festival
Date: September 13, 2025
Location: Hayward → Cable, Wisconsin
Advertised as fun for the whole family, this iconic Midwest festival features three races- the famous Chequamegon 40, Short & Fat, & Little Loggers. Taking place on the Birkebeiner ski trail, the Chequamegon 40 has been lovingly nicknamed “The Drag Race from Hayward to Cable”.
Little Sugar MTB & Big Sugar Gravel
Dates: Little Sugar MTB – October 12, 2025 | Big Sugar Gravel – October 18, 2025
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
Everyone loves a sugar crash. Part of the vibrant Big Sugar Classic— the Little Sugar 50K & 100K takes place on flowy Ozark singletrack with bluff lines, caves, waterfalls, and the legend-worthy Ledges. Riders with a sweet tooth (or a mild form of insanity) are encouraged to race the 100K MTB and 100-mile Gravel events for a back to back grueling type of fun.
Marji Gesick (NUE Series)
Date: September 20, 2025
Location: Ishpeming, Michigan
Infamously tough, technical, and epic— Marji Gesicone of the nation’s most brutal one-day ultra MTB races. “It’s fun in kind of a sick sort of way” is how Danny Hill, course designer, would describe the race. If that doesn’t make you want to take on this challenge then the $1 award prize definitely will.
Oak Ass 100/50 (NUE Series Championship)
Date: October 18, 2025
Location: Pelham, Alabama (Oak Mountain State Park)
Boasting over 100 miles of the best mountain biking trails in the state of Alabama, The NUE Series Finale will take the stage at Oak Mountain State Park. This is the Southeast’s premier ultra-endurance—50 or 100 miles through diverse, challenging terrain for the best-in-class event in the region.
Coldwater Trail MTB Race
Date: October 24–25, 2025
Location: Anniston, Alabama
Early this year, Lifetime events announced the first mountain biking qualifier in the southeast for the Leadville 100. Mountainbikers in the southeast are sure to enjoy having the chance to compete for Leadville on the 35 miles of trail at Coldwater!
Festivals Honorable Mention
Elevate Mountain Bike Festival
Date: June 6–8, 2025
Location: Stowe, Vermont (Trapp Family Lodge)
A three-day festival for women and gender-expansive riders—offering rides, workshops, clinics, and community in the Kingdom Trails network. 2026 will mark the fourth year of this exciting event!
Roam Fest
Date: September 19–21, 2025
Location: Fruita, Colorado
The world’s first and longest-running femme & women’s mountain bike festival—celebrating community, rides, clinics, and inclusivity. 2025 is the last year to Roam in California, but we on the Discover Shelby team are gearing up for Limitless MTB fest at Oak Mountain State Park in 2026. Stay curious!