Is it just me or have a ton of new trails popped up in the last few years?

Covid…that is where the sudden growth is coming from.

Seriously when the covid lockdowns hit a lot of people went to outdoor activities because you can distance from others and health was a big concern so activity keeps you healthy. A lot of people returned to or picked up mountain biking (among all other forms of cycling) which increased the numbers. Some of the people who got into it actually stuck with it and a number of those people either had a way in with local governments or found a way in and pushed for trail expansion and development, which leads us to the exponential growth of trail systems. I do find it interesting that it took longer for MTB to see this growth than it did for skateboarding with local governments building skateparks long before they would approve a simple trail system but it has finally happened and it is awesome to see and be a part of.