What's the best US Outdoors Venue?

Edited Date/Time 9/18/2026 6:46am

Current or olden days, reasons solicited. Freestone, Lake Elsinore and Pala included. Photos encouraged, especially legendary golden oldies like Camelback. 

Poll

Best MX Venue, (Sorry if I Left One Out!)

Choices
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9/17/2026 4:50pm

I'll prime the pump: Budds Creek20160820080051 BuddsCreekPits

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5
30minmotos
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1149
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8/7/2025
Location
Rising Sun, MD, USA
9/17/2026 4:52pm
I'll prime the pump: Budds Creek

I'll prime the pump: Budds Creek20160820080051 BuddsCreekPits

It’s been so insanely one lined since Ezra took over I can’t agree with that any more. I’d vote red bud or Millville.

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Nairb#70
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4210
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Ivoryton, CT, USA
9/17/2026 5:01pm

The missing one must be Southwick. I picked Unadilla because I love the smell of dairy cow shit. It used to be a very pleasant and overpowering smell there.

 

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ShellyMX
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1203
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3/22/2026
Location
Smyrna, GA, USA
9/17/2026 5:15pm

Where are Troy, Gatorback, and Steel City?

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The Shop

wwoberg
Posts
752
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11/19/2010
Location
Soddy Daisy, TN, USA
9/17/2026 5:41pm

Carlsbad and Saddleback should be on that list.  But that's too old school.

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gt80rider
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Location
Boulder, CO, USA
9/17/2026 5:46pm

Old school grassy dilla /thread

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3
9/17/2026 5:56pm

Added glaring omissions. Others?

9/17/2026 6:06pm

I am not surprised Glen Hellen is commanding big numbers. I see it as the quintessential American track: BIB step-up, BIG bowl turn, BIG holeshot, BIG hill.  Kind of the opposite of the Euro-style ‘Dilla. 

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2
9/17/2026 6:13pm

Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of guys launching into the void. IMG 7197 3.jpeg?VersionId=f1anFsx2Q90VFFl0l0T

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9/17/2026 6:16pm
Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of...

Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of guys launching into the void. IMG 7197 3.jpeg?VersionId=f1anFsx2Q90VFFl0l0T

IMG 7198 3
Mount Martin as it was. 
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Moto520
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Location
Schaumburg, IL, USA
9/17/2026 6:25pm
Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of...

Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of guys launching into the void. IMG 7197 3.jpeg?VersionId=f1anFsx2Q90VFFl0l0T

IMG 7198 3
Mount Martin as it was. 

Holy crap….that’s f-cked

9/17/2026 7:28pm

Millville is the greatest track run by the best people.  Stamp it,

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JMR1976
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Location
Aptos, CA, USA
9/17/2026 7:43pm

Lake Whitney

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Phillip_Lamb
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2128
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12/14/2010
Location
ORANGEVALE, CA, USA
9/17/2026 7:46pm

Hangtown is missing.

It's not the best track but for a fan its pretty nice. Area is closest to a stadium being set in the middle of two hills

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TG130
Posts
1279
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4/13/2008
Location
USA
9/17/2026 9:57pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2026 10:00pm
Hangtown is missing.It's not the best track but for a fan its pretty nice. Area is closest to a stadium being set in the middle of...

Hangtown is missing.

It's not the best track but for a fan its pretty nice. Area is closest to a stadium being set in the middle of two hills

It should be the old Hangtown track at Plymouth. At one time back in the day, MXA called Plymouth one of the 5 best tracks ever and Prarie City one of the 5 worst. That was quite some time ago and PC has since improved into a much better and respectable facility.

prozach
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1328
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7/1/2008
Location
Eureka, CA, USA
9/17/2026 10:21pm

I think hangtown is awesome for a national.  But it didn't even make youy list...lol

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urbanlift707
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1182
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9/27/2006
Location
Humboldt, CA, USA
9/17/2026 10:40pm Edited Date/Time 1 day ago

I’ve been to Washougal twice, Hangtown 5x, GH 3x and red bud once. Although it’s not the best dirt or looking track. Hangtown is by far the best track to actually spectate at. You can actually watch the entire race. The other three you watch your section and that’s it, no idea what’s going on for over half the track. 

The one big drawback about Hangtown is by the time the race comes around it’s just dead brown grass everywhere, Feb- April it’s actually somewhat pretty. And don’t get me started on camping. Washougal felt like we’re camping in a national park, hangtown camping is a gravel parking lot. 

This is what hangtown looks like in March. IMG 6202 4

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matze
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3/1/2014
Location
Stuttgart, DE
9/17/2026 10:40pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2026 10:55pm

WW Ranch worth adding too no?

matze
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3/1/2014
Location
Stuttgart, DE
9/17/2026 10:53pm Edited Date/Time 9/18/2026 12:21am

I cant really decide u have so many great tracks, comes down to the condition on the given day really. Obv GH is up there but there have also been years where I didnt like the layout at all (on the flat part). Sad its gone from pro mx. Red Bud ever since the MXON where they made it so sandy idk lost its soul. Same as Ironman, got also destroyed before mxon. Budds Creek is probably fun as fuck to ride but most of the time very boring to watch cause its extremely one lined. 

Currently I would say Millville with the current layout, love the changes they made to mt martin  

9/18/2026 3:18am

For viewership I think steel city was pretty hard to beat. 

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Bigshow
Posts
288
Joined
2/27/2011
Location
Jerusalem, OH, USA
9/18/2026 3:46am

Old MT Morris/High point.

Bradshaw BLVD, the triple behind the starting gate.

Have only went once since the changes, don't know that I will be back.

Steel city was awesome and I enjoyed Troy/Kenworthy's.

Would like to make Red Bud someday.

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9/18/2026 6:09am

Saddleback would be a bad ass track with modern prep. It would be so cool watching a 450 triple up suicide mountain. 

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Chris_Buehler
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7/21/2019
Location
PORTLAND, CT, USA
9/18/2026 6:28am

Millville is the greatest track run by the best people.  Stamp it,

Yeah really thinking of flying out from the Northeast to see the National next summer

Dave v3.0
Posts
730
Joined
7/15/2022
Location
Ozark, AL, USA
9/18/2026 6:36am

Burnt Hickory in Dallas, GA was one of the best.  
Unfortunately, long gone and since the cartel doesn't do races in the Southeast anyway (because we have Summer here), it doesn't matter.😎Screenshot 2026-09-18 at 8.36.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=FEpTg2fhfcVmfD khd8ia

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9/18/2026 6:48am
Nairb#70 wrote:
The missing one must be Southwick. I picked Unadilla because I love the smell of dairy cow shit. It used to be a very pleasant and...

The missing one must be Southwick. I picked Unadilla because I love the smell of dairy cow shit. It used to be a very pleasant and overpowering smell there.

 

2014Unadilla115441.jpg?VersionId=r4Am dABqbLwCN6
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Flatliner
Posts
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11/3/2009
Location
CA
9/18/2026 8:17am
Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of...

Does anyone like what they did to Mount Martin? I don’t. Chopped up a great uphill-downhill. Better than Glen Helen’s hill. Served up fabulous photographs of guys launching into the void. IMG 7197 3.jpeg?VersionId=f1anFsx2Q90VFFl0l0T

I don't love the changes, but its much safer now.

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1
9/18/2026 8:56am

Hollister Hills, California. 
Used to run Golden State’s, MXGP and Nationals.

Best weather and best spectating. 

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J-Rock27
Posts
41
Joined
11/10/2021
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Fantasy
9/18/2026 9:05am

Not including repeats, I've been to nine different outdoor national tracks and races. The only one that made the hairs on my arms stand up plus loudly say the words 'holy shit' occur... was at the Glen Helen National.

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mx519cali
Posts
76
Joined
9/12/2026
Location
San Barnardino, CA, USA
9/18/2026 9:08am

Glen Helen with the booters

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pummel
Posts
999
Joined
6/2/2010
Location
Salem, OR, USA
9/18/2026 9:09am Edited Date/Time 9/18/2026 9:44am

Of tracks I've been to- 

  1. Red Bud
  2. Thunder Valley
  3. Glen Helen
  4. Ironman
  5. Budd's Creek
  6. Washougal
  7. Hangtown
  8. Loretta's 
  9. Pala
2

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