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Mountain biking and skiing go hand-in-hand. After the snow has melted, biking down a trail provides much of the same adrenaline as downhill skiing or snowboarding, though of course falling down in fresh powder is much more forgiving than falling on dirt and rocks. Many renowned ski resorts have turned to offering lift-served mountain biking, with some of them being nearly as famous for their bike parks as they are for their ski slopes. Let us show you some of North America’s best ski resorts for mountain biking.
The Best Ski Resorts for Mountain Biking
Killington, Vermont
Guests are greeted with nearly 2,000 feet of vertical and more than 30 miles of classic New England trails served by three high-speed lifts at Killington Mountain Bike Park. Three unique mountain areas make up Killington’s gravity-fueled bike park and offer a great experience to any skill level. Snowshed is the beginner terrain, which includes some intermediate trails for maximized progression. Ramshead is home to Killington’s freeride trails, which have a mix of intermediate and advanced terrain. Killington Peak offers classic New England trails with plenty of rock and roots to keep you honest. Plus, Killington offers several camps during midweeks (for youth) and weekends (for adults). Season passes, packages, and rentals are also available.
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Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Deer Valley Resort’s mountain biking trails are spread over six mountains, where riders will find 3,000 feet of vertical and some 70 miles of mountain biking trails, including four flow trails by Gravity Logic. Trails are accessed via three chairlifts: Silver Lake Express at the resort’s base, with Sterling Express and Homestake Express located mid-mountain. Several of Deer Valley Resort’s mountain bike trails connect with Park City Mountain Resort’s extensive 450-mile network of singletrack mountain biking trails.
Adults can choose from clinics or private mountain biking lessons at Deer Valley to improve their skills, while kids clinics enhance skills and confidence for younger riders. Packages include a full-day bike rental, bike clinic, and lift ticket.
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Whistler, Canada
Whistler Mountain Bike Park has often been touted as the top lift-accessed bike park in the world, boasting 4,900 feet of vertical and more than 50 miles of lift-served terrain. It’s separated into four main zones, Fitzsimmons, Garbanzo, Creekside, and Peak, each of which offers unique trails with natural features. Whistler’s gravity-fed downhill biking experience includes green trails, technical double blacks, and jump trails. Whatever you’re looking for from a bike park, you’ll find it here.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s summer programming includes adult, teen, and kids’ lessons, camps, private lessons, women’s and men’s nights, kids’ clubs, and instructor training programs. First-timers to Whistler Blackcomb can download their Trail Progression Scale Orientation Guide, which provides information on which trails you should ride based on your ability.
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Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor Resort is Oregon’s premier lift-served mountain bike park with over 13 miles of trails for all ability levels. Excavated single-track enduro and downhill trails flank the Oregon volcano, with intermediate and expert trails descending from Pine Marten Lift. The Little Pine lifts take families and beginners up the mountain so that they can descend on immaculate machine-built and single-track trails.
Established in 2013, Mt. Bachelor Bike Park has 16 trails that contribute to the region’s 300-plus mile network of mountain biking trails. New features appear in the skills park, and more trail miles are dishing up new challenges each year. Redline is Mt. Bachelor’s flagship jump trail, while the double black diamond Rockfall Trail draws expert thrill-seekers for its 20 percent average slope, lava rock, and technical lines. There’s no skirting the technical features right under Pine Marten Lift, so the pressure is on to nail your drops.
Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park is called Mountain Bike Capital USA, thanks largely in part to the 600-plus miles of trails throughout the Winter Park and Fraser areas. At the ski resort itself, Trestle Bike Park offers some exciting riding, and is a favorite for locals because of its convenient access from Denver, which is just 65 miles away. Trestle Bike Park is self-proclaimed as North America’s fastest-growing bike park with over 40 miles of lift-served trails to drop into.
Trestle Bike School offers full-day programs for riders of every level and a number of different camps and skills clinics for a variety of ages and skills. The Women’s Breakthrough Clinic is a fun, full-day clinic taught by women for women on select dates throughout the summer. Find out more about camps and clinics on their website.
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Northstar, California
Northern California’s largest mountain bike park beckons riders to the north shore of Lake Tahoe with beginner to advanced cross-country and downhill mountain biking trails at Northstar California. Favorite technical descents include Sticks N’ Stones and Boondocks, while anti-gravity rides on the jumps of Livewire and Gypsy are popular. Lap the Big Springs Gondola to warm up, then head to Vista Express or Zephyr Express for more.
Northstar’s group bike lessons are a great entry-level experience for anyone over age 9. Kids and teens (9-17) can enroll in the 5-day mountain biking camp, featuring 4 days of instructor-led lessons, daily coaching, and a water sports day.
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Boreal, California
The Slabs is Boreal’s fun lift-accessed downhill mountain bike park in Soda Springs. Get into the zone with access to The Slabs downhill mountain bike trails, dirt jumps, a pump track, and indoor/outdoor concrete parks. The Slabs consist of 6 freestyle trails ranging in ability level, while The Trenches are the playground for dirt lovers looking to start tricking. Riders of all abilities will find something to love.
The Woodward Tahoe Mountain Bike Camp is popular for learning or progressing. Once instruction groups are formed, each day is split into parts: A morning and afternoon instruction session. Week-long day camps offer 5 days of sport-specific instruction Monday to Friday in June, July, and August. Campers are dropped off each morning and picked up each evening following camp activities and instruction.
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Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park was established in 2009, designed to meet the needs of all riders, from beginners to gravity experts. The lift-served bike haul, via the Red Lady Express, has a network of trails containing both lift-served downhill trails and cross-country rides that connect to some popular rides in and around Crested Butte. Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park has more than 30 miles of lift-served singletrack, while it connects to more than 800 miles of singletrack throughout the Gunnison Valley.
Crested Butte offers professional guides who teach the essentials like proper braking skills, technical descents, and how to traverse challenging terrain. These certified guides offer 2-hour group lessons, 2-hour, 4-hour, and 7-hour private lessons. The packages include bike rental and lift tickets.
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Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Grand Targhee, featuring 2,000 feet of vertical lift-served downhill and 70-plus miles of multi-use trails, has long had a great reputation among downhill mountain biker as the first downhill mountain bike destination in the Tetons. The two-mile long, machine-built Rock Garden trail, accessed from Dreamcatcher Chairlift, descends a technical 1,527 feet, making it one of the most demanding and steepest black diamond trail at the resort. Yet newer riders will also find plenty of great terrain to enjoy.
Grand Targhee hosts a number of bike camps, including women’s mountain bike camps. These are offered in several two-day sessions in July and August. Fun biking events, such as the Grand Teton Dirt Series, happen all summer long at Grand Targhee.
Snow Summit and Snow Valley, California
Don’t let the names fool you. Once summer arrives, Big Bear’s Snow Valley and Snow Summit turn into what it refers to as SoCal’s “Mountain Biking Mecca.” The two bike parks, located less than 15 miles from one another, are chock-full of fast downhill trails, scenic cross-country trails, and more. The two bike parks offer a combined 21 downhill runs (11 downhill trails at Snow Summit and 10 at Snow Valley) and more than 60 miles of cross-country trails. Buy your tickets online ahead of time to save. Pro tip: if you’ve got an Ikon or Big Bear Mountain Resort winter season pass, you can get 20% off bike park tickets at the window.
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Snowshoe Mountain Resort, West Virginia
Snowshoe Bike Park is home to one of the largest trail systems in the East, with nearly 40 trails and 1,500 vertical feet of descent. These trails feature legendary berms, jumps, drops, and flow for every ability level. The park is recognized as one of the best in the U.S., as evidenced by its hosting events like the 2023 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. First-time riders, pro downhillers, cross-country lovers, and everyone in between can find their trail.
Snowshoe Mountain also offers Specialty Skill Clinics, which focus on specific skills, such as drops, berms, and jumps. 90-minute and three-hour private lessons give riders a chance to work on skills with an instructor in technical terrain.
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Angel Fire, New Mexico
Angel Fire Bike Park, frequently voted Best in the Southwest by MTBparks.com, is the largest bike park in the Rocky Mountains. It features 2,000-plus vertical feet and 60 miles of lift-served terrain consisting of skinnies, jump lines, manicured flow, and super chunk trails. The personalized approach here accommodates beginner riders, and group sizes are never more than 5 to a class.
The 3-hour lessons include half-day bike rental, full armor, and a full-day lift ticket. Each lesson is geared toward individual goals. Angel Fire also offers private 3-hour lessons. Bike and gear rentals are available through the on-site bike shop.
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Header image ©Northstar/Vail Resorts
March 17, 2026
