Single-track downhill mountain bike descents open up the throttles every summer at ski resorts across North America. New skills features, flow updates to old trails and steep-pitched downhill rippers should be on your list for must-rides this summer. Below is some of the latest and greatest in lift-accessed mountain biking trails at ski areas around North America.
Lift-accessed mountain biking around North America
1. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor Resort is Oregon’s premier lift-served mountain bike park with 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 Sunshine Accelerator Lift takes families and beginners up to descend on the 7 percent grade First Timer Line, while mountain biking lessons and camps are available for first-timers.
New features appear in the skills park, and more trail miles each year are dishing up new challenges. The double black diamond Rockfall Trail draws expert thrill-seekers for its 20 percent average slope, lava rock and natural jumps. There’s no skirting the mandatory technical features right under Pine Marten Lift, so pressure will be on to nail the drops.
2. Whistler, British Columbia
Ride mountain biking icons with spruced up lines at Whistler in North America’s biggest mountain bike park. The latest news in the ongoing development of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park begins with the opening of the Creekside Gondola. The Creekside Gondola provides access to the Fitz and Garnanzo Zones via Expressway, Lower Freight Train and No Joke. Note, however, that it’s recommended for advanced and experts only.
Riders can now upload from Creekside Village and connect into the bike park at the Raven’s Nest. Trails allow riders to exit back out to the creek for another lap. Or, once you’re done for the day, après-bike at Dusty’s.
With an eye toward aiding newcomers to mountain biking, Whistler’s bike park guides hang out at the top of the Fitzsimmons Chair to provide complimentary trail orientation sessions. They can send you down a trail appropriate for your skill level where you won’t unwittingly huck yourself off a monster jump.
3. Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Grand Targhee has long had a great reputation among downhill mountain bikers. The two-mile-long, machine-built Rock Garden accessed from Dreamcatcher Chairlift descends a technical 1,809 feet, making it the most demanding and steepest black diamond trail at the resort. Grand Targhee hosts a number of great camps, including women’s mountain bike camps to get riders going to the next level with confidence. These are offered in several two-day sessions in July and August.
Great biking events happen during the summer at Grand Targhee, including the Grand Teton Dirt Classic and the Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Mountain Bike Fest.
4. Snow Summit and Snow Valley, California
Big Bear’s Snow Valley and Snow Summit are what it calls So Cal’s “Mountain Biking Mecca.” The two bike parks, located less than 30 minutes apart, feature fast downhill trails, scenic cross-country trails, and more. All total the two bike parks offer 20 downhill runs and more than 60 miles of cross-country trails. Buy your tickets online ahead of time to save.
5. Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley has several new and updated trails. Naildriver, for one, has been reworked for better rideability. Fast machine cutting on the new intermediate flow trail already has mountain bikers hitting two of the three stages. The Mid-Mountain Trail has added two new miles that make the connection between Silver Lake and the Deer Crest Trail.
6. Crested Butte, Colorado
Evolution Bike Park, a favorite stop for many speciality races like the Powerade Mountain Race Series, continues to see upgrades. More descents include a blue intermediate trail, a technical expert route cut through big rock features and a connector link from the Westside Trail to Upper Loop Forest Service trail to town. All total, Crested Butte’s bike park has more than 30 miles of lift-served single track, and the resort connects to more than 750 miles of singletrack throughout the Gunnison Valley.
7. Lookout Mountain, Montana
Lookout Mountain, on the Idaho-Montana border, began it’s lift-served mountain biking in the summer of 2021. In addition to the popular Hiawatha Scenic Trail, riders and hikers can now take advantage of chairlift rides to Lookout’s family-friendly trails.
The park appeals to a wide range of riders as there are no wooden features or jumps to scare off the wary. There are both singletrack and wider mountain access roads to explore. And the views? They are impressive, overlooking the sub-alpine mountain terrain of the St. Regis Basin.
8. Stratton, Vermont
Stratton Mountain Bike Park is bigger and better than ever thanks to the completion of several phases of upgrades in recent years. The Stratton Bike Park features 10+ miles of downhill mountain bike trails. Machine-built lines and hand-shaped features create fun, flowing elements designed for progression. The intermediate trail, next to Styles Brook, should be considered a step up for new riders.
Stratton now has 9 downhill trails and 1 uphill climbing trail. Check out the Bike and Stay package, which is great for those who want to make a weekend of mountain biking at Stratton.
9. Killington, Vermont
Killington is affectionately known to skiers and riders as “The Beast of the East,” and for three decades it has been growing its Bike Park. Today it offers more than 30 miles of trails served by three high-speed lifts. Trails are designed for beginners to experts. Three areas make up the gravity-fueled bike park, including beginner terrain at Snowshed, progressive intermediate trails at Ramshead, and classic New England terrain at Killington Peak.