Iconic Pro Motocross Tracks

By the Motocross Trivia editorial team · Updated October 2026

American outdoor motocross is raced on some of the most famous tracks in the sport, and many of them have hosted nationals for more than 40 years. Hangtown in California is the oldest race on the schedule, first held in 1969. RedBud in Michigan is home to LaRocco's Leap and the biggest crowds of the summer. Unadilla in New York has Gravity Cavity, Southwick in Massachusetts is the sport's toughest sand track, and Thunder Valley in Colorado sits more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Here is a tour of the tracks that define the Pro Motocross Championship.

Unlike stadium supercross tracks, which are built for one night and torn down, outdoor tracks are permanent and have their own soil, terrain and history. Riders talk about them the way golfers talk about famous courses, and certain obstacles are as well known as the riders who first conquered them.

The tracks at a glance

Hangtown: where it all started

The Hangtown Motocross Classic began in 1969 in Placerville, California, a gold-rush town once nicknamed Hangtown, which gave the race its name. It predates the AMA's professional championship and is the oldest race on the schedule. Today it is held at Prairie City near Rancho Cordova, outside Sacramento. Hangtown is usually an early-season round, so it is often where riders discover whether their winter supercross form carries over to the outdoors.

Fox Raceway at Pala

Southern California's Fox Raceway, in Pala, is the modern opener of the Pro Motocross season. Many riders live and train nearby, which makes it something like a home race for half the field. Its hard-packed hillside soil and long downhills make for a fast, demanding first test.

Thunder Valley: thin air

Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, Colorado, sits at about 6,128 feet. At that altitude engines make noticeably less power and riders get less oxygen, so a moto at Thunder Valley tests lungs as much as skill. Teams adjust engine settings for the thin air, and riders who handle it well can make up ground on rivals who are struggling to breathe.

High Point: Pennsylvania tradition

High Point Raceway, in Mount Morris in southwestern Pennsylvania, joined the national schedule in 1977 and usually hosts its round in June. It is known for elevation changes and slick, hard-packed sections that reward smooth riding.

RedBud and LaRocco's Leap

RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan, hosts its national on the Fourth of July weekend, and it draws one of the biggest and loudest crowds of the season. Its signature obstacle is LaRocco's Leap, a huge jump built in 1991 and named for former champion Mike LaRocco, who is from the area. LaRocco and track co-owner Tim Ritchie designed it to copy a jump from LaRocco's private practice track, and LaRocco was the first to clear it, on a 125. It is often called the most famous jump in American motocross. RedBud has also hosted the Motocross of Nations, including Team USA's 2022 win, which you can read about in our Motocross of Nations guide.

Southwick: the sandbox

The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts, is the most famous sand track in American motocross. The first Southwick National was held in 1976, and 2026 marked 50 years of pro motocross there. Sand changes everything. Deep, rolling bumps form quickly, the bike moves around constantly, and riders have to stay on the throttle to keep the front end up. A fast rider who isn't comfortable in sand can lose a lot of time, while sand specialists can turn Southwick into a statement win.

Spring Creek: Minnesota's river valley

Spring Creek MX Park sits in the Zumbro River valley near Millville, Minnesota, a small town for which the July national is the biggest event of the year. The national has been held there since 1983. The track climbs and drops through the valley's hillsides, and the soil can turn rough and rutted as the day goes on.

Washougal: America's most scenic raceway

Washougal MX Park, founded in 1971 in the forested hills of southwest Washington, calls itself America's Most Scenic Raceway. It is one of the most physically demanding tracks on the schedule, with long climbs and fast descents, and it is the only Pacific Northwest round.

Unadilla and Gravity Cavity

Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York, opened in 1969 when founder Ward Robinson built a track in a natural valley. It uses the steep terrain for some of the most famous obstacles in the sport, including Gravity Cavity, The Wall and Sky Shot. Gravity Cavity is tied to Bob Hannah, whose leap there became one of the iconic images of 1970s motocross. Unadilla's dramatic elevation changes make it a favorite of riders and fans who love old-school outdoor racing.

Budds Creek

Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, established in 1973, is the East Coast's fast, flowing classic. Big hills, fast straights and late-summer heat usually make it one of the last tests before the finale.

Ironman: the finale

Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, began as a venue for Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) off-road racing in 1995 and held its first pro motocross national on August 16, 2014, when Ken Roczen won the 450 overall. It has since become the traditional season finale, where championships are often decided, including both 2026 titles. In 2025 it hosted the Motocross of Nations, won by Australia.

Why the tracks matter

In supercross, every track is a variation on the same stadium format. Outdoors, every round is different: sand at Southwick, altitude at Thunder Valley, hills at Washougal, hard pack at Pala. A champion has to be good everywhere, which is why outdoor titles are considered such a complete test. To learn how a national is raced and scored, read our guide to how Pro Motocross works.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest race on the Pro Motocross schedule?

Hangtown. The Hangtown Motocross Classic was first held in 1969 in Placerville, California, and is now raced at Prairie City near Rancho Cordova.

Where is LaRocco's Leap?

LaRocco's Leap is at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. Built in 1991, it is named after Mike LaRocco, who was the first rider to clear it.

Which Pro Motocross track is a sand track?

Southwick, in Massachusetts. The Wick 338 is the most famous sand track in American motocross and has hosted a national since 1976.

Which motocross track has the highest elevation?

Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, Colorado, at about 6,128 feet. The thin air reduces engine power and makes the motos physically harder for riders.