Dodge Ridge Resort in Sierra adds chairlifts for mountain biking, disc golfing
Highway 108 — long a biking, hiking, camping, fishing gem in the high Sierra — just became more with addition of lift-served mountain biking and slopeside disc golf to the venerable Dodge Ridge Resort just a few miles above Pinecrest Lake.
As a 27-year National Ski Patroller at Dodge Ridge (now an alumni), I’ve long been touring up Highway 108, to the Pinecrest area and Sonora Pass. In 1852, 75 pioneers in 13-mule-drawn wagons departed from Ohio and Indiana, headed west to California’s gold and promise of a better life, blazing the rugged Sonora Pass route.
Today, it's one of the highest passes in the state, and the area just west of the pass is a summer and fall mecca for fisherman, hikers, bikers and admirers of the high Sierra.
Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort opened the mountain to chairlift-accessed mountain biking on Aug. 13, making it one of two lift-serviced mountain biking resorts in the Central Sierra (along with Bear Valley) between China Peak near Fresno to Northstar on Lake Tahoe.
Dodge Ridge cyclists descend from the top of the Motherlode Chairlift 3 at the 7,400 foot elevation and traverse across the mountain with nearly five miles of beginner/lower-intermediate freeride rollers and banks; trail crews are also working on additional intermediate technical and intermediate freeride trails to open shortly, with approximately nine miles planned for this season (DodgeRidge.com/Mountain for updates).
Hayden Price and Douglas Lowe of Tracy were both near the head of the line at 9 a.m.
“We’ve been skiers and long-time passholders here, but now look forward to using the area through the summer and fall for both mountain biking and disc golfing.” Price said. I watched as they loaded mountain bikes onto one of the chair’s bike carriers for the six-minute ride to 7400 feet.
The bike park will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through the end of October (weather permitting), Jeff Hauff, a resort spokesman said. November biking will be evaluated based on conditions at that time.
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Single day lift tickets are $49 for ages 13 and older, $39 for kids 12 and under. Mountain bike season passes are $199 and $139 respectively, with mountain bike season pass discounts available for 2022-23 Dodge Ridge winter season pass-holders. Rental packages are also available with full suspension bikes, along with helmet, knee and elbow pads.
Mountain biking adds to summer fun at Dodge Ridge, including chairlift-accessed disc golf, picnicking and hiking, along with yoga classes and bounce houses for kids. The new menu at the resort’s Base Camp Bar & Grill matches up with free live music every Saturday and Sunday, including a full list of free backyard summer games like cornhole, ping-pong, foosball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, giant Jenga and more.
Pinecrest is a self-contained resort area, on the shores of Pinecrest Lake, with Dodge Ridge Resort just three miles above the lake. At almost 6000 feet, the lake features cool mountain climate and draws tourists, campers and cabin owners all summer and fall. The area offers a fine, family-friendly restaurant, the Steam Donkey, and lodging options at both Pinecrest Lake Resort and Pinecrest Chalet. Two large campgrounds can fill fast during the summer, so book early for best selection.
Additional hiking and biking trails bisect the area; stop at the Stanislaus Ranger Station, corner of Highway 108 and Pinecrest Road for tips (or, use the AllTrails phone app). A favorite is a rail Trail following the old Sugar Pine Railway and S. Fork, Tuolumne River, from nearby Strawberry west five miles to Lyons Lake (no lift-service, you’ll have to rely on leg-power).
Heading higher into the Sierra, you’ll find nearly a dozen campgrounds along the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. Our favorite is reached via the Clark’s Fork Road turn off; the Clark’s Fork Campground on the river of the same name offers 80 campsites on two loops, with the river running alongside and crisp nights at almost 7000 feet. The Clark’s Fork Road dead-ends a few miles north in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, offering a variety of hiking trails and fishing options nearby.
For more information: Dodge Ridge Resort, dodgeridge.com; for restaurants, Steam Donkey Restaurant, 209.965.3117, Strawberry Inn (both restaurant and lodging), 209.965.3662. For lodging: Pinecrest Lake Resort, 209.965.3411, Pinecrest Chalet, 209.965.3276; Kennedy Meadows Resort, 209.965.3900; camping, Stanislaus National Forest, fs.usda.gov/stanislaus/, (209) 965.3434.
Contact Tim Viall at tviall@msn.com. Happy travels in the Sierra.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Dodge Ridge Resort adds chairlifts for accessible mountain biking
