Downhill Mountain Biking at Resort’s Bike Parks

In the summer, our beloved Colorado ski resorts switch gears and become a heaven for downhill mountain biking and mountain bikers in general. With the advent of mountain biking, Colorado’s ski resorts have designed and developed “bike parks.” These bike parks have designated mountain bike trail systems and features. You can expect top-notch mountain biking trail systems and features at Colorado’s ski resorts. These designed bike parks include specific trails for downhill mountain biking, lift service for downhillers, uphill routes, cross-country trail access, and other bike park features. The best part about resort town bike parks is all the activities, lodging, and dining options that come along with resort towns. It’s a win for the entire group.

Downhill Mountain Biking Trails

Downhill mountain bike trails are designed to be an adrenaline-pumping, fast-action sport. Downhill trails include big banks or berms, rocky terrain, boardwalks, and jumps. Resorts sell lift tickets that provide access to these amazing downhill trails. Downhill mountain biking is all about going fast, rock’n the big bank turns, and getting air. Downhill bikes are designed and set up for just this type of action. The last thing a downhill mountain biker wants to encounter is an uphill biker or hiker on the trail. So, to keep the experience safe and fun for everybody, the resorts have developed trail systems to satisfy different disciplines.

Uphill and Two-Way Mountain Biking

Not everybody wants only to go downhill mountain biking. There are plenty of folks who like the uphill experience. So, resorts have defined dedicated uphill mountain biking routes. However, it’s not uncommon for many of these uphill routes to also have downhill traffic. Instead, these routes are labeled two-way routes versus a dedicated up or downhill route. Two-way routes alert riders to use caution and be aware of possible opposing traffic. These routes won’t have the designed features found on downhill-only trails. Often, bike parks require uphill riders to register, but no fee is charged.

Cross-Country Trails

Besides uphill and two-way routes, there might be trails that are considered cross-country bike trails. These trails combine uphill and downhill aspects and are usually part of a longer trail that ends or starts outside the designated bike park.

Bike Parks and Colorado’s Resorts

Colorado Resort’s mountain biking trail system is called a “bike park, ” defined by a boundary. The bike park might also include features such as a pump track, a BMX course, or a downhill bike slalom course. A bike park defines an area at a resort facilitated by a lift service and has a designed trail system and features.

Resort Hiking Trails

Hiking on resort trails is also popular, and resorts will have trails dedicated to hikers. Hikers can access these trails via the resort’s lift service if they want to. Resort hiking trails are not designed for bikers; they have the hiker in mind. Mountain bikers are not allowed on resort hiking trails.

Featured Downhill Mountain Biking Parks

Snowmass Bike Park

Snowmass Bike Park offers over 3,000 vertical feet of bike trails that extend for over 25 miles of purpose-built terrain, from beginner-friendly and flowing singletrack to fast action downhill. If you’re looking for a real challenge, check out the three Vs—Viking, Vapor, and Valhalla—which offer a ton of fun technical challenges. There are only six IMBA Gold-level Ride Centers in the world, and Snowmass Bike Park is one of them. Take the Elk Camp Chairlift to Snowmass Base Village to reach the bike park.

Steamboat Bike Town

Steamboat Bike Town’s bike park is rated an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center with over 2,200 vertical feet and miles of cross-country trails filled with man-made and natural features, dedicated downhill mountain biking trails, and hiking trails. Riders of all levels will find an experience that’s just right for them. Gondola access lift service will keep the downhillers going all day or access mountain-top hiking and dining. Resort mountain biking lessons and rentals are conveniently located at the base.

Trestle Bike Park in Winter Park

Trestle Bike Park is truly a downhill Mountain biking-focused park. Over 40 miles of downhill mountain bike trails include designed freeride features such as large jumps, tall drops, wide gaps, big berms, rocky descents, wooden trestles, and high-speed sections. The park emphasizes safety, which includes riding downhill-specific bikes, well-fitted gear, and promotes skills classes for all ability levels. It’s a super fun place to learn downhill skills as a beginner or advance your skills as an experienced downhill rider.

Crested Butte Bike Park

For some odd reason, Crested Butte Bike Park does not have an IMBA rating (the Executive Director of IMBA lives down valley?). It is a very popular resort town for mountain biking and hosts a famous Bike Week, usually held in August, and has added a junior Bike Week in June. Crested Butte has been fundamental in promoting mountain biking from the start. It is famous for its gorgeous (wildflower-filled) and meandering cross-country trails. The Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park (CBMR/Evolution Bike Park) has over 30 miles of singletrack trails for all skill levels. The park includes downhill and cross-country routes. The park also has a pump track, skill zones, jump lines, and a bike fix-it station. In addition to the Silver Queen Express lift service, there is the Red Landy Express bike haul.

Vail Valley Bike Park

Vail Valley Bike Park is rated an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center. Its total vertical drop is 3,706 feet and includes 34 mountain bike trails. Many of the downhill mountain biking trails have old-school fall lines, dropping straight downhill through a cascade of rock gardens, drops, and roots. Occasional massive jumps and sudden drop features pop up on the advanced trails. Gondola One and Eagle Bahn provide lift access, a bike rental, and lunch, which can be included in your lift ticket.

Keystone Bike Park

Keystone Bike Park is a downhill mountain biking dream with 34 impeccably maintained trails featuring gentle and steep descents, berms, rock gardens, jumps, and a huge wooden feature called “the Yacht.” Keystone Bike Park has over a hundred miles of singletrack where everyone, from beginners to professionals, will find something to love. They even have an instructional program for all ages and camps for kids.

Copper Mountain Bike Park

Copper Mountain is a great place to learn or improve mountain biking skills. In addition to renting various types of bikes, they offer lessons and clinics. Buy a bike haul pass and take the Woodward Express chair lift daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the top of the mountain or ride the service roads if you prefer to ride uphill. Be warned that you’ll head up steep grades at elevations of 11,000 to 12,000 feet.

Powderhorn Bike Park

Powderhorn, located about 40 miles east of Grand Junction in Mesa, has a good mix of trails for beginners and advanced riders. They have 13 miles of dedicated downhill mountain biking trails. With multiple tracks on some trails that are of various difficulties, so if you’re a beginner riding with a more advanced friend, you won’t have to worry about feeling left behind or holding them back. Powderhorn’s location also means winter arrives much later than other downhill bike parks at higher elevations, so the season is much longer. It’s not uncommon for riders to still get some great biking in as late as November.

Purgatory Bike Park

Back in 1990, Purgatory Bike Park was the home of the inaugural World Mountain Bike Championships, which should give you an idea about how great their trails and terrain are for mountain biking. Trails at Purgatory feature everything from berms, tabletops, boardwalks, and rollable downhill mountain biking terrain that’s a blast to ride no matter your skill level. It’s also home to some of the steepest tracks, constantly maintaining and modernizing intense terrain.

Telluride Bike Park

The mountain bike trails at Telluride can be reached via the Village Express Chairlift. Riders will find four brand new and expertly maintained beginner and intermediate trails, as well as the older but no less fun advanced trails with their technical features and challenges.

Downhill Mountain Biking in Colorado

These ten bike parks are just a handful of Colorado’s downhill mountain biking options. Vacationing in one of Colorado’s many ski resort towns is a great option for the serious downhill biker. These resorts have done a great job of developing safe and fun trail systems to suit the needs of various downhill riding skill levels and mountain bikers in general. If your group or family has diverse activity interests, resort towns are the place to be. Many resort areas have activity centers nearby, dedicated hiking trails, rafting, horseback riding, and the list goes on and on. Plus, there is an extraordinary choice of lodging, shopping, and dining.

By Kathleen Fitzsimmons