Longboarding Places In The US
Longboarders across the US can find some great places for downhill longboarding. This exciting sport is best enjoyed on a long downhill slope with a good surface. It should ideally be on a route that does not need to be shared with too much other traffic. One of the main factors to take into account when choosing the best place to go downhill longboarding is the steepness of the hills and the sort of speed that can be attained. Some of the best places for longboarding are located in an urban setting, while other spots are located in beautiful natural places.
The length of a good downhill longboarding spot can be anything from less than a mile to a challenging route of many miles. For longboarders with a real taste for excitement, there are some challenging spots with the fastest downhill slopes, which should appeal to someone of greater abilities and more experience than the gentler routes that run downhill along more gradual slopes.
Longboarding is allowed on many of America’s finest cycle trails, most of which have a smooth asphalt surface, while others might have to be shared with road traffic. Some of the best trails form a link between nearby towns, and one trail will take longboarders across a state border on a high mountain pass.
New York: Length 1.8 Miles
Ithaca, NY has become a highly popular place for longboarders in the northeast. Fast speeds are easily attainable on some of the hilly roads around the area. One of these is on Lake Street, and is close to the Ithaca Falls Natural Area. Here there is a good steep stretch, lasting for just over a quarter of a mile, where speed can pick up very quickly.
Washington State: Length 3 to 5 Miles
Green Lake Park in Seattle, WA is much more suitable for boarders who are new to longboarding, and for those who prefer to ride down more gentle slopes. For just under 3 miles this asphalt covered path goes all the way around the lake. It runs alongside a separate granite trail designed for walkers.
Soos Creek Trail in King County, WA follows a quiet scenic route running 4 miles or more through wild woodlands. Do not be disappointed by the more gentle gradients encountered on the main part of this route, because toward the end of this trail there is a very fast downhill ride for longboarders.
Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA is far more of a challenge for those who are experienced at longboarding. Here it is possible to reach speeds of between 20mph and 40mph on some of the steeper hills along a five mile trail. There is one section, which lasts for about a tenth of a mile, where longboarders have to take quite a steep uphill ride, but there are also plenty of flat areas and some side tracks that are worth exploring.
South Dakota: Length 12 Miles
Spearfish Canyon is located at the northern edge of South Dakota’s Black Hills. This is a varied 12 mile trail with some good long slopes for downhill longboarding. The deep narrow gorge also has some narrow bends to add a little more excitement to the challenge of riding through Spearfish Canyon.
Kansas: Length 17 Miles
The Indian Creek Trail is a 17 mile paved way running between Olanthe and Kansas City. Parts of the broad asphalt path on this partly urban lead through dense woodlands. Although much of it is flat, the Indian Creek Taril does provide some fast slopes for downhill longboarders.
Montana and Wyoming: Length 21 miles
Bear Tooth Pass, at the highest point of the Bear Tooth Mountains, links the south of Montana with the north western part of Wyoming. This very exciting route is 21 miles long and takes in some thrilling downhill slopes along the way. This may well be the longest downhill longboarding trail in the US. It is certainly one of the most beautiful regions to ride through on a longboard.
The best longboarding trails in the US provide plenty of thrills for longboarders of all abilities, in some great locations with varying distances of grades of steepness.
Depending on your longboarding skills and experience, and whether you prefer to be in a natural or city environment, there are plenty of popular places for downhill longboarding in the United States.
Some of the best places in the US for downhill longboarding are close to urban areas, while others are far more remote with long distance trails leading through natural areas. There can be no greater thrill than fast downhill longboarding on a steep slope that has a good smooth surface.