Here Are 7 Stunning National Bike Trails to Explore

What if you could ride actual national bike trails from one end of your country to the other, without ever facing off with a car? Well, maybe not ever, but suppose that most of your route was an off-road path. You start your journey on a national border or coastal point; then you pedal through the heart of your homeland, safely sampling its vistas and communities along the way.

Well, some countries have pulled this off, or are on the cusp of doing so. Not only can you ride a bicycle across these nations, but you can do so on – primarily – non-motorized bike trails.

Granted, the concept is pretty loose. What does it mean to bike “across” a country, especially for lands with peculiar shapes and topography? How much of a route can be motorized before it no longer counts as a dedicated bikeway? And what do we mean by a “path”? Is this just flat asphalt for hundreds of kilometers, or is there gravel and singletrack mixed in?

Well, bike routes aren’t an exact science, but these are some trail networks that have impressed us in recent years. Each of these nations has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, cordoned out cars as much as possible, and blazed a path through its cultural heartland. As borders (hopefully) start reopening this spring, these passages may tempt you to take a far-flung tour.

Did we miss one? (Or two, or a dozen?) Let us know in the comments!

Belgium: Meuse Cycling Route

The EuroVelo network is easily the most sophisticated cycling infrastructure in the world, with a web of 17 routes connecting every corner of the European continent. EuroVelo is the envy of cyclists everywhere, both for its ease of use and diversity of people and landscapes.

Lucky with my two days off, profiting from these late Summer days in September. #Cycling the river #Meuse cycling route 🇳🇱, starting from The Hague via Hoek van Holland, first leg to Dordrecht. pic.twitter.com/5AENGKyn5c

— Arjen Uijterlinde 🇳🇱💫 (@arjenuijterlind) September 14, 2020

That said, most routes are a mix of roads and paths, and they don’t always lie “across” a country so much as “through a small section of it.” But the Meuse Cycle Route goes directly across Belgium, following the eponymous river through the fairytale countryside. Here you’ll find level pavement, stately architecture, and all the waffles you can eat.

Norway: The National Cycle Routes

Norway’s National Cycle Routes offer some of the most spectacular cycling experiences in Europe, with over 10 long-distance routes spanning the country. These paths weave through a landscape of fjords, mountains, and picturesque coastal towns, allowing cyclists to explore Norway’s famous natural beauty without too much traffic interference.

One of the most notable is the North Sea Cycle Route, part of the EuroVelo 12 network, which follows the dramatic coastline of western Norway. The route takes cyclists past deep fjords, rugged cliffs, and charming fishing villages. The trails range from smooth asphalt to gravel, offering both easy and more challenging sections depending on your preference. Norway’s dedication to cycling infrastructure means that the routes are well-marked, and many feature dedicated bike paths or low-traffic roads.

In addition to breathtaking scenery, Norway’s national routes include well-maintained camping spots, ferry connections, and bike-friendly accommodations, making it easier to embark on multi-day rides across this stunning country.

South Korea: 4 Rivers Path

For our money, the 4 Rivers Path is by far the most polished example of a national bike path. The bike trail is mostly smooth and level, and it crosses South Korea diagonally from the capital of Seoul to the port city of Busan. Offshoots extend the route in several directions, skirting the four most significant rivers in South Korea. The path is popular among Koreans and tourists alike, and riders can claim a 4 Rivers passbook, which can be filled with stamps along the way and even traded in for a medal, once you’ve finished the 633-kilometer journey. The off-road system is part of a larger environmental effort, the Four Major Rivers Project.

Cycling in South Korea (photo: Visit Korea)

Taiwan: National Cycling Route #1

Cycling Route #1 is the only route on this national bike trails list inspired by an indie movie. Island Etude tells the story of a hearing-impaired cyclist riding the circumference of Taiwan. The 2006 film was so motivating that the island nation spent more than US$36 million on cycling infrastructure. Separate paths and bike trails follow the ovular coastline, with one small section passable only by car or train. The 968KM route cuts through cities, rice paddies, and subtropical forest, with plenty of hotels and beef noodle stands along the way. Taiwan is also the home of Giant Bicycles, and tourists are welcome to rent a bike from one Giant location and drop it off at any other Giant store along the way.

Bike trail in Taiwan

United States: The Great American Rail-Trail

The Great American Rail-Trail is an ambitious cross-country route that’s still under development but is already becoming a cyclist’s dream. Spanning over 3,700 miles (around 6,000 kilometers), this trail is designed to connect Washington, D.C., on the East Coast to Washington State on the West Coast. It predominantly follows former railway lines, repurposed into smooth cycling paths that wind through stunning landscapes.

Palouse to Cascades Trail, Great American Trail (photo: Scenic Washington)

As of now, about 54% of the route is complete, offering a mix of dedicated bike paths, gravel trails, and low-traffic roads. The completed sections let you ride through some of the country’s most iconic landscapes, like the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains, all while avoiding cars for much of the way. Once finished, this will be one of the most extensive non-motorized trail networks in the world, making coast-to-coast bikepacking accessible for cyclists of all levels.

Israel: National Bike Trails

The most rugged trail on this list is the Israel National Bike Trail, which starts on the Lebanese border and winds its way down to Eilat, on the Red Sea. Note that this is a mountain bike trail, which crosses the same rugged mountains that mystics and merchants have traversed for millennia.

The Israel National Trail is an invitation to take on an unforgettable outdoor adventure, and Chris Froome has certainly experienced that!

With 56 diverse sectors immersing you in stunning vistas and thousands of years of history, what will you see on the Israel National Trail?… pic.twitter.com/D5YfGncMCZ — Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) July 21, 2023

As of this writing, the trail is also incomplete, but you can ride long segments through the Negev Desert and find ample trailheads and camping spots along the way. The desert is beautiful, but it’s also unforgiving. There’s no shame in an organized tour, and full-suspension bikes are a must.

Qatar: Olympic Cycling Track

Technically, the Olympic Cycling Track does not run “across” Qatar. But given that the pristine path is 32.8KM long and the Middle Eastern nation is less than 200KM across — and mostly desert — the route seemed fitting for the list.

Virgin ride on the Olympic Cycling Track with the Malaysian Qatar Cycling Community. Dedicated 33km (one way) cycling track. Tak payah nak risau pasal motorcycle or cars. Perit nak ikut otai-otai ni ride. Habis ride 730 pun dah panas macam ape. pic.twitter.com/S5Der6QUPU

— Wazien Wafa (@wazienwafa) May 3, 2024

Aside from its flawless pavement and breezy riding through the outskirts of Doha, the Olympic Cycling Track also holds a Guinness World Record as the “longest continuous bike path in the world.”

Germany-Austria-Hungary: Danube River Trail

Many know this ride as the second half of EuroVelo Route 6, which starts in southern Germany and follows the Danube River to the Black Sea. It’s not a single “national route,” but the Danube is famous for flowing through 19 countries and four capital cities.

One of the most awesome eBike rides we have done is riding along the Danube Cycle Path from Passau in Germany to Vienna in Austria. What a sublime experience – check out the story here: https://t.co/n4gp1JKPoR.#ebiketour #danubecyclepath pic.twitter.com/RTMu7ohcQI

— eBike.Touring (@ebike_touring) October 2, 2020

The “path” part of the Danube River Trail is best maintained in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Travelers routinely ride from Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest, which offers a soul-stirring cross-section of languages and heritage. You can continue on, but the route becomes far hillier in the Balkans, and national bike trails are replaced with country roads. Still, once these nations open up again, those roads may very well call you.