Mountain biking is a grassroots sport, meaning there is no enforcement of hard-set rules telling you what is and isn’t allowed. This lack of clarity can be intimidating, as it’s unclear what actions you should take to ensure you respect other riders, the trails, and your safety.
It’s not complete chaos out there, though, with most riders following a mountain bike trail etiquette (expanded from IMBA’s Rules of the Trail) that allows everyone to enjoy the thrill of mountain biking safely and harmoniously.
So, whether you’re a newbie to the sport or a long-time rider needing a refresher, read on, learn the etiquette, and live your life on the trails as a model mountain biker!
This post is part of my beginner mountain biking series, which also includes the following:
How to Buy a Mountain Bike – [Beginner’s Guide]
13 Best Beginner Mountain Bikes in 2023
How to Buy the Best Used Mountain Bike for You
The Do’s and Don’ts of Mountain Biking
Mountain bikers yield to everyone
Whether it’s hikers, equestrians, or someone else, mountain bikers yield to everyone. That said, this is highly dependent upon the person you’ve encountered. Those walking or on horseback will often move off the trail and let you pass as soon as they see you. So, yield to everyone, assess the situation, and proceed appropriately.
Stay on the trail
Countless time and effort is spent planning, building, and maintaining the trails we ride. Whether for drainage, erosion control, environmental protection, or some other reason, the trail you’re riding was put there for a reason. So, respect the forest, respect the builders, and stay on the trail!
Don’t block the trail
Whether it’s to take a drink, grab a snack, or catch your breath, we all stop during our rides. When you do, make sure you’re not blocking the trail. Other riders are going to come by, and they don’t want to maneuver around you. So, clear the trail and stay out of their way when you stop.
Don’t ride wet and muddy trails
The general mountain bike trail etiquette is not to ride trails when they’re wet. Doing so adds ruts and increases erosion, which can seriously impact the trail’s rideability over time. That said, certain areas like the Pacific Northwest, New England, and the UK have trails designed to be ridden in the wet, meaning this rule doesn’t apply. So, wherever you are, I recommend you speak to your local mountain bike shop or trail association to learn what conditions they deem acceptable for riding.
Don’t change trail features
A lot of time and effort has been put into building the trails and features you’re riding. If you come across a feature you cannot ride, don’t change it – just because you can’t ride it doesn’t mean others can’t. Instead, bypass the feature, improve your skills, and return another day when you’re ready to take on the challenge once more.
Announce yourself
Making yourself known keeps everyone safer. Two common examples are coming up on a slower rider and letting them know you’ll pass when they’re ready or calling out “rider” or ringing a bell before coming around a blind turn or hill. Both occurrences let others know you’re there and what to expect.
Pass when it’s safe to do so
As you get better, you’ll encounter slower riders in front of you who you want to pass. Don’t pressure the rider to move over immediately and get out of your way. Instead, let them know you’ll pass when they feel safe and wait until they pull off to the side to go around them.
Let others pass when you feel it’s safe to do so
If you’re the slower rider, you’ll inevitably face impatient riders pushing to get around you. In this case, don’t immediately pull off or abruptly stop to let them pass. Instead, let them know you’ll pull over when you see a safe spot and continue until that comes. Even if this annoys them, it keeps you and them safe and ensures no unnecessary crashes happen from a simple pass.
Share the size of your group
When passing others, let them know how many are in your group. For example, if you’re the first person in a group of five, a simple “four more to come” lets the other riders know how many must pass before returning to the trail. If you’re alone, say “solo” to let others know no one else is coming. This is especially helpful when groups get stretched out and the next person isn’t immediately visible.
Downhill riders yield to uphill riders
Whenever riding a hill, the downhill rider must yield to the uphill rider. The idea here is that it’s challenging for the uphill rider to start riding again if they stop, so they get to continue while the downhill rider has to stop. That said, situational awareness is essential here, as some uphill riders may yield to the downhill rider if they feel it’s easier for them to stop or too tricky for the downhill rider to stop due to momentum, trail conditions, etc. So, when you see someone riding up towards you, assume you are stopping, and then proceed from there.
Stay in control
You need to remain in control of your mountain bike at all times. This means riding at speeds that allow you to maneuver your bike in case of any sudden changes comfortably. If you can’t come to a controlled stop, avoid a person on the trail, or assess a feature ahead of you, you’re out of control and not following good mountain bike trail etiquette.
Ride within your ability
Riding within your ability is incredibly important. Not only does it allow you to progress comfortably, but it keeps other riders on the trail safe. As difficulties increase, speeds become greater and features more consequential. If you cannot handle these conditions, you are putting yourself at risk of crashing, and others on the trail at risk of crashing into you.
Go through puddles, not around them
For most, this is counterintuitive. When you’re on the trails, your instinct is to avoid puddles. But, by doing so, you widen the trail and the puddle you’re trying to avoid, resulting in a never-ending cycle of a bigger puddle and increased trail erosion. Instead, ride through the middle to keep the puddle and trail the same size.
Don’t stop in blind spots
Even if you’ve cleared the trail, you shouldn’t stop in blind spots. Instead, stop in areas with good visibility, like straightaways or open clearings. Avoid stopping around turns, on hills, or near a jump, drop, or other feature. It can be pretty jarring to come over the crest of a hill or around a tight berm and be suddenly met with a rider just off the trail.
Move off the trail after crashing
If you’re capable, move off the trail after crashing. If you’re severely injured, this won’t be possible. But, if the crash is minor enough that you can get up and move, you should first move your bike off the trail. This will stop others from crashing into you, protecting you and them from further injury.
Bring out what you bring in
This one’s as simple as it gets. Whatever you bring in, you have to bring out.
Say thanks
A simple thanks can go a long way. Whether it’s a hiker stepping off the trail to let you pass or a fellow rider yielding to you as you climb, a nice thank you keeps everyone on good terms.
Ask others if they’re okay
When you see someone pulled off on the side of the trail, ask if they’re okay. 99% of the time, the person will be stopped for a drink or to catch their breath, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask, and you’d feel terrible riding past someone needing help. Even if you cannot help on the spot, you can ride elsewhere to get help or recruit other riders.
Don’t ride with speakers
Riding with Bluetooth speakers playing out loud is amongst the worst mountain bike trail etiquette. Trust me; no one wants to hear your music blasting through the forest. If you’re going to listen to music, wear headphones, but even that comes with some caveats.
Don’t ride with two headphones in
If you are going to wear headphones to listen to music, don’t ride with both in. Whether it’s someone behind you asking to pass or a group of hikers on the blind side of a hill, hearing and reacting to your surroundings is incredibly important and keeps everyone safe. If you’re dead set on listening to music, consider a pair of bone-conducting headphones that allow you to hear your surroundings while still enjoying your music (these also make a great gift for mountain bikers who love to ride with music).
Don’t skid
If you’re like me, you loved skidding your bike around as a kid. But, when on the trails, skidding is a big no-no. It creates ruts and erodes the trail, damaging the builders’ hard work and increasing trail maintenance. Instead, slow down in a controlled manner.
Ride open trails only
No matter how tempting it may be, if a trail is closed, you don’t ride it. Not only does this keep you safe, but it also keeps those who may be working on the trail safe. You have no idea who or what is on the trail, and you’re just asking for trouble or an injury but jumping on a closed trail.
Don’t ride up downhill trails
Some networks will have trails marked as downhill only. Respect these signs, and never bike up the trail. Riders will be coming down at a high rate of speed, meaning there is little to no chance they’d be able to avoid you climbing up. So, even if it’s a shortcut to where you want to be, take the appropriate trails and don’t go up a downhill-only trail.
Don’t expose hidden trails
You may sometimes find yourself riding a trail that doesn’t show on Trailforks or Strava or isn’t widely known within your local riding community. This is on purpose. Whoever built the trail doesn’t want others to know about it. So, don’t expose it. Keep it to yourself and enjoy your hidden gem.
Remove hazards when you see them
Often you’ll be riding down the trail when you come across a branch, rock, or some other hazard that isn’t supposed to be there. In this case, quickly stop, jump off your bike, and remove it from the trail. This will protect others from accidentally hitting the hazard and potentially crashing or damaging their bike.
Final Thoughts
This list is extensive and may feel like a lot to remember. But, mountain bike trail etiquette all simplifies to being a friendly, courteous, and respectful person. Like everywhere, the age-old adage of treating others how you want to be treated also applies to mountain bike trails. Follow it, and you’ll be good to go!
