Seven events span mountain biking season to showcase great trails and communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Quebec.

Mountain bikers in the Northeast and visitors to the region can sample the wide range of trails available in the region over the course of the 2023 Tour de Borderlands.

From May through October, each network in the Bike Borderlands collaborative will be hosting an event as part of the Tour de Borderlands. Like each hosting trail network, every event will be different, ranging from group rides to scavenger hunts, and featuring food trucks and community spirit.

The Bike Borderlands collaborative consists of nine destinations in three states and two nations. Connecting Québec, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, the Borderlands are home to the Northeast’s most exciting and diverse mountain biking, featuring fast and flowy singletrack, old-school technical trails with rocks and roots galore, machine-built trails with rollers and berms, and hybrid trails with all the above; all situated in endless northern forests. Discover eye-popping scenery, small villages, craft breweries, local farm stands, and a down-to-earth, friendly scene.

The Tour de Borderlands debuted in 2019 and was then sidelined by the pandemic. The Borderlands trail networks used the hiatus to add new miles of trail and improve some old favorites.

“We are very excited to have the Tour de Borderlands 2023 at Circuits Frontières. It’s the perfect day to visit us in Quebec, especially since crossing the border has become simple again. And the businesses in the region greatly appreciate the visit of our friends from the south,” said Ugo Desgreniers, board member of Circuits Frontières, which opens this year’s Tour de Borderlands with its event on May 20.

Bike Borderlands is part of a larger effort led by the nonprofit Northern Forest Center to energize rural communities and help more people discover the Northern Forest. “This is an amazing region for people who like to be active outdoors,” said Joe Fox, outdoor recreation manager for the Northern Forest Center. “It’s a wonderful place to live, start a business, or raise a family, and the Bike Borderlands destinations are eager to show off what the region has to offer.”

The Tour will include group rides and giveaways, and prizes to reward riders who make it to all seven Tour events.

“It will be great to welcome riders back to the Tour de Borderlands 2023 so we can show off the best of what our region has to offer to riders,” said Josh Tauses, Trails manager at Carrabassett Region NEMBA (New England Mountain Bike Association) in Carrabassett Valley, ME. “Late fall in western Maine will provide great trail conditions and beautiful colorful scenery. Locally sourced harvest time vegetables, regionally available brews, and welcoming local folks are excited to showcase what’s new and not so new in the Carrabassett Region.”

Carrabassett Region NEMBA closes out the Tour de Borderlands with the final event on October 21. Other event locations and dates include Coos Cycling Club in Gorham, NH, on June 3; Inland Woods + Trails in Bethel, ME, on June 16; Kingdom Trails in East Burke, VT, on June 23; Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, VT, on July 22; and North Country Tricycle in Littleton, Franconia, and Bethlehem, NH, on Sept. 16-17.

The Northern Forest Center and the Bike Borderlands locations also partner on the Ride With Gratitude campaign, which urges mountain bikers to respect the land and other trail users. “We’d love to see all mountain bikers join this campaign, wherever they bike and whether or not they can take part in the Tour de Borderlands,” said Fox. “Riding with an ethic of appreciation and gratitude is key to keeping the trails open.”