Each spring, the Quantico Epic brings riders onto trail systems that are otherwise rarely accessible. In the months leading up to the 2025 edition of the event, volunteers from the Quantico Mountain Bike Club spent countless hours preparing the trails aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico for another demanding and memorable day of riding.
The Quantico Epic has become a fixture on the regional mountain biking calendar, not just for its challenging courses, but for the opportunity it provides riders to experience the Main Side, OCS, and Geiger trail networks. For many participants, this event represents their only chance to ride these classic Quantico trails in a given year.
The 2025 event featured four carefully designed routes, each testing riders in different ways:
Main Side Mini-Mayhem (18 miles)
Main Side Singletrack Mayhem (30 miles)
Give Me Some PT – OCS Style (35 miles)
Montezuma’s Revenge (50 miles)
Even the shortest option, Mini-Mayhem, is widely regarded as a demanding ride—rewarding those who take it on with technical terrain and relentless elevation changes.
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Deconstruction
QMTB and NREA volunteers work to remove the old rotted out decking.
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Construction
QMTB volunteers work to attach the new decking to the existing, still solid, structure.
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Finishing Touches
QMTB Volunteers put on the finishing touches on the new decking, including adding toe kicks and trimming the edges.
The QMTB and NREA volunteer team takes a break during day two of the project to pose for a photo.
Trail Work and Stewardship
Behind the scenes, trail preparation is an ongoing effort. QMTB volunteers maintain and improve the trail system throughout the year, working closely with Quantico’s Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs (NREA) to ensure that all work complies with base regulations and environmental guidelines.
One of the most visible improvements leading into 2025 was the continued investment in infrastructure along the Northbank trail. In the previous year, QMTB financed and coordinated a complete replacement of the Northbank Boardwalk decking, partnering with NREA volunteers to complete the project over a single weekend. Improvements like these not only enhance the event experience but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the trail network.
The club has also submitted a multi-year plan aimed at addressing unsustainable trail sections and exploring opportunities for new singletrack corridors—work that will benefit both future events and the broader riding community.
The People Behind the Event
The Quantico Mountain Bike Club is made up of active-duty personnel assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Department of Defense–affiliated individuals, and a limited number of sponsored members from the local mountain biking community. Access to the trails—and events like the Quantico Epic—is made possible through this unique partnership and the dedication of volunteers who give their time year after year.
As event coordinator Michael Mullins noted during preparations for the 2025 edition, putting on the Quantico Epic is a year-round effort. From clearing trails and marking courses to setting up the start/finish area and executing race day logistics, it takes a coordinated volunteer effort to make the event successful. The reward, as he put it, comes from seeing riders finish the day smiling, exhausted, and accomplished.
About the Quantico Epic
For more information about the event and the organization behind it, visit:
April 2025
All images © Bruce Buckley.