There’s Still Time to Ride These New PNW Bike Parks Before Snow Falls
This article originally appeared on Ski Mag
Bike parks at ski resorts aren't exactly a new trend. The pertinent question is, what ski resorts don't have a bike park? Well, as it turns out, several Pacific Northwest ski resorts didn't have bike parks until recently. Timberline Lodge just opened its bike park in 2019, and numerous ski resort bike parks have opened since. Below, see a few of the newest bike parks to open at Pacific Northwest ski resorts. Timberline Lodge, Oregon In 2019, Timberline debuted its lift-assisted Timberline Bike Park, which opened with 12 trails totaling 16.2 miles this year. As I recently wrote, nowhere else in the summer can you ski in the morning and mountain bike in the afternoon on the same mountain.
This season, however, you only have five days to do that since ski operations close on August 21. While a snowy spring resulted in great spring and summer ski conditions, it delayed the bike park’s opening, which didn't open until July 26. Nonetheless, Timberline plans to remain open until October, Mother Nature dependent.
Purchase a Timberline Bike Park season pass for $249, and it’ll come with two free bike park days at Mt. Bachelor, Grand Targhee, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and Whitefish Mountain Resort. For first-timers and expert shredders alike, Timberline Lodge offers a variety of lessons, plus a bike rental fleet for those who don't have a bike. Stevens Pass, Washington July 29 marked the return of Stevens Pass Bike Park after a 2-year closure due to the pandemic. Washington's only lift-assisted trail system, Stevens Pass Bike Park, has 11 miles of downhill riding across ten trails.
Riders load onto the Hogsback Express, which takes them to the top, where there are several green, blue, and black single-track trails and several machine-cut, freeride trails with manufactured features, jumps, wall rides, and berms. Like Timberline Lodge, Stevens Pass opened later this year due to spring snow, but it plans to stay open until October 2, from Thursdays to Sundays every weekend. Single-day tickets are $54, while unlimited bike park passes are $309, which include five friends and family passes.
For those ready to return to school--bike school--Stevens Pass has group and private lessons. Stevens Pass has many different bikes for rent, including full suspension and e-bikes. Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington Washington's number of lift-served bike parks doubles later this month with the debut of the Summit at Snoqualmie's new bike park. The Bike Park at Summit opens on August 26, with plans to remain open through at least September on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Summit Bike Park will operate out of the Silver Fir Lodge, with lift access on the Silver Fir Express.
Beginner and immediate flow trails meander downhill through the forest down to the base, while more advanced trails weave to the Central Express lift before returning to the Silver Fir Lodge area. Unlike Stevens Pass, Summit Bike Park won’t have lessons or bike rentals, although there are local and Seattle vendors that rent bikes.
Soldier Mountain, Idaho, located two hours east of Boise in Sawtooth National Forest, Soldier Mountain opened this summer for its second bike park season. A new 1.5-mile trail brings their network up to 5, covering more than 9 miles. Mountain bikers will have to earn those turns since the resort isn't turning lifts this summer. This is for training purposes for the Interscholastic Cycling Association Youth Bike Race, which Solder Mountain is hosting this fall.
On the upside, tickets are just $10, and riders can hit the trails anytime, day or night. Bogus Basin, Idaho Bogus Basin, located just 40 minutes northeast of Boise, debuted its lift-served bike park, The Basin Gravity Park, in 2021, making it the Treasure Valley’s only lift-served downhill mountain biking park.
The bike park has 12 trails and claims that riders can get up to 6 laps per hour, thanks to the Morning Star Express lift. The Basin Gravity Park has 10 miles of downhill trails and another 18 miles of cross-country trails. Day tickets are $45, while twilight tickets are $29, which are good from 3 p.m. until closing at 7 p.m.
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