11 Exciting National Parks for Biking With Kids

If you’re looking for a way to beat the hiking crowds, consider biking in US National Parks. Finding National Parks for biking as a family is a great way to see a lot of different places in a short period of time, and still get the benefits of slowing down in the park.

Whether you’re biking National Parks with kids or just on a solo National Park bike ride, we’ve put together a list of our top 11 National Parks for biking.

14 Incredible National Park Bike Trails for Kids

Yellowstone National Park Bike Trails For Kids

Yellowstone is one of the most fun National Parks for biking with kids. We’re written another article about lots of bike trails all over the park for biking with kids in Yellowstone, so make sure to read it for more details.

Old Faithful Bike Trail

Length: 4 Mile Round Trip
Type of Trail: Old, paved road that is falling apart/flat
Difficulty: Easy

This trail stretches from the Old Faithful Inn to the Morning Glory Pool (which is about 2 miles roundtrip). The path is paved and somewhat level, and you’ll be treated to beautiful sights of the geysers. Bikes are not allowed on any unpaved sections or the boardwalks, but everywhere else is fair game, so don’t worry about it too much. If you want to stop and walk to other geysers, there are many places where you can park your bike along the trail. Many people walk this path, and you might also see bears, wolves, and bison while biking – make sure to keep your distance!

Lonestar Geyser Bike Trail Yellowstone

Length: 4.8 Miles
Type of Trail: Mostly level dirt, although broken up by periodic spots of patchy ground.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

This path stretches about 4.8 miles that follow the famous Firehole River to the geyser. It is one of the few backcountry trails that allows biking and is absoluely amazing. At the end of this trail, you will be able to watch Lone Star erupt (which it does about once every three hours). This is also a great Yellowstone bike ride for a hot While the small trailhead, with limited parking, may feel crowded, it’s actually one of the least crowded geyser trails in all of Yellowstone and is the best bike trail in Yellowstone.

Bryce Canyon National Park Biking
Shared-Use Path

Length: 10 miles (roundtrip)
Type of Trail: Paved mountain (dirt and loose rocks)
Difficulty: Easy (strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes can be used on this trail)

This Bryce Canyon bike path gives guests a unique and exciting new way to experience the Bryce Canyon National Park. This trail starts at the Bryce Canyon National Park shuttle station and wanders through the forest until you’re gifted a stunning view of the whole canyon. Bring the whole family, as this path is accessible to people of all ages and exercise levels.

Red Canyon Trail (Outside of Bryce Canyon)

Length: 10.8 miles
Type of Trail: Paved desert (Sand/Dirt, Loose Gravel)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

This bike trail near Bryce Canyon will offer some incredible red rock views and desert scenery as you bike through the trail near Bryce Canyon National Park. You’ll get to enjoy stunning landscapes, tunnels, and stone hoodoos. You’ll only gain about 750 feet of total elevation, but during that time, check out the ponderosa pine forest and stunning rock formations along the path. This path was recently paved, so is an easy bike ride.

Read more about the Best Biking Around Bryce Canyon With Kids

Grand Teton National Park Bike Trails
Multi-Use Pathway

Length: 8 miles, one way
Type of Trail: Paved
Difficulty: Easy

The Multi-use Pathway is a popular biking trail in Grand Teton National Park, and it’s used by those who use roller blades, walkers, and bikers. This Grand Teton bike path will give you wonderful views of the Teton mountains as you bike. This pathway is closed from dusk to dawn for the safety of the public and all wildlife in the area. With the doubletrack nature, if there is no oncoming traffic, you can bike alongside a child or elderly individual and have leisurely conversations as you bike.

Zion National Park 
Pa’rus Bike Trail Zion

Length: 3.4 miles, out and back trail
Type of Trail: Flat and paved
Difficulty: Easy

This trail is extremely popular for biking, trail running, hiking, and walking. It’s a flat, paved trail that is great for children and also for anyone who would like to be social. If you have a dog who wants to come with you, it’s allowed so long as it’s leashed. See the Virgin River along the path and go off-path (if you want) to check out the waterfalls and cascades. Also, try birdwatching along this route, and whatever you end up spending your time looking at, make sure you have enough water. You can bike this trail all the way up to the Narrows Trailhead and it’s a great way to get around Zion without having to deal with the crowded shuttle buses. This is the best bike trail in Zion National Park because it allows you to get early morning or late evening access to the canyons after the shuttles stop and the crowds die off.

Acadia National Park 
Carriage Roads Bike Trails

Length: 45 miles
Type of Trail: Unpaved/gravel (for pedestrians, bicyclists, and horse-drawn carriages)
Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous (depends on route choices)

Rustic carriage roads were carved out by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family. These paths weave through the nearby valleys and mountains of Acadia National Park, and, to this day, they remain motor-free as per Rockefeller Jr.’s wishes. The roads you can travel on were created to preserve the trees, hillsides, and natural landscape of the area, which allows for beautiful and scenic views. At 45 miles, this can be a tough one to navigate, so make sure to bring lots of water and snacks.

Canyonlands National Park
White Rim Bike Trail

Length: 100 miles
Type of Trail: Dirt (but steep, sandy, rocky, and rough in certain areas)
Difficulty: Moderately rough but semi-maintained 4-wheel drive road (7500-foot elevation change)

This Canyonlands bike trail is extremely popular in the park and stretches across the Colorado and Green Rivers. Make sure you have vehicle support (most people will do this trail over the course of several days) and plans to camp out at specific campgrounds in the evenings (advance reservations are required and fill quickly). This path can be done starting from either end of the path. Considering this path will require multiple days to travel, it’s best to ensure you have everything you need packed into your car just in case.

While you’re in the area, make sure to check out The Best Bike Trails in Moab For Kids

Yosemite National Park
Valley Loop Bike Trail

Length: 11.5 mi round trip
Type of Trail: Partially paved
Difficulty: Moderate

This Yosemite bike trail moves along some of the Valley’s very first east-west wagon roads and trails. With a mostly level elevation, this trail takes you through meadows, the base of granite cliffs, and even nearby roads. Make sure to bring a map so you don’t get lost on the path and don’t hesitate to look out for signs.

Redwoods National Park
Davison and Stool Creek Trail

Length: 6.1 miles out and back trail
Type of Trail: Varied terrain, mostly old gravel path
Difficulty: Easy

Very nice Redwoods bike ride for kids of all ages. Experience a great ride through the woods and use the shady trees as cover. The first half or so of the trail is wide enough for multiple riders at a time, but then it becomes narrower, so make sure you’re calling out if you’re biking near someone else. Most of this trail is considered “gentle,” although it has a few steep sections, so if you’re with a family member who uses a stroller or a wheelchair/another mobility device, they might need help on these steeper sections.

Fern Canyon

Length: 1.1 miles
Type of Trail: Rough dirt and sections that cross over streams
Difficulty: Easy

Although you might not be able to see redwoods on this path, there are conifers and Sitka spruce to keep the view interesting. This Redwoods bike path is extremely short and hardly has any gain of elevation (about 150 feet total), and there are many sections where you might have to travel through/over streams, so make sure you either bring waterproof shoes or a change of shoes for afterward.

Grand Canyon National Park Biking
Greenway Section of the Rim Trail

Length: 13.1 miles, about 980-foot elevation gain
Type of Trail: Smooth, paved asphalt
Difficulty: Easy

This Grand Canyon bike trail is a paved pathway that is great for cycling or walking at the Grand Canyon. With smooth, paved asphalt under your tires, you’ll love how simple this ride is, and with incredible views along the rim of the Grand Canyon. Most of the path is considered gentle, but some areas are steeper.

Cuyahoga National Park Biking
Towpath Bike Trail

Length: 20 miles
Type of Trail: Compacted/crushed limestone
Difficulty: Easy (strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes can be used on this trail)

The Towpath bike trail is considered the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This trail follows the route of the Ohio and Erie Canals, and you can reach many historical sites along the path. This canal was one of the first areas that allowed crops to get from the fields to the markets and connected Ohio to the rest of the United States (in the East).

Mesa Verde National Park
Wetherill Mesa Trail

Length: 5.9 miles (374-foot elevation gain)
Type of Trail: Paved road
Difficulty: Moderate

The Wetherill Mesa section of the Mesa Verde National Park is made up of many trails and pathways, such as the Long House Loop, the Kodak House Overlook, the Badger House Community Trail, the Nordenskiöld Site #16 Trail, and the Wetherill Mesa Trail. The paths offer many easy bicycle rides that will give you access to stunning views, scenic overlooks, and archeological sites. Keep in mind that certain trails don’t allow for pets, so check before you make any plans.