Each summer as The Greatest Snow on Earth recedes from the slopes of Utah’s famed ski resorts, ribbons of dirt emerge revealing an intricate network of mountain bike trails weaving their way down mountainsides. Fields of untouched powder and immaculately manicured corduroy corridors transform into sun-kissed, gravity-fueled gauntlets of dirt and rock. With Utah resorts spinning the lifts for mountain bikers during summer, there’s no need to kick your gravity addiction just because it’s warm out.
These are our favorite mountain bike trails at each Utah resort with lift-served riding. From sidewalk-smooth flow trails just begging you to hit berms with more speed to ragged downhill tracks with brake-scorching steeps, there’s something for every level of rider on any type of mountain bike. Read on and get ready to dig your knobbies into some brown pow.
Deer Valley Resort: NCS
The course for some legendary NORBA downhill races a few years back, NCS is among the best expert-only downhill trails in in Utah. NCS is unrelentingly steep and rough, with enough roots, drops, rock gardens, off camber sections and alternate lines to keep any rider on their toes. The techy chunder of the Barney Rubble section has humbled its share of accomplished riders. If you’re looking for raw, natural terrain, it doesn’t get any better.
Snowbasin Resort: Green Pond
Beginner trails deserve some love too, and beginner riding doesn’t get any better than Green Pond. The smooth trail meanders through the forest on Snowbasin’s flank. The rolling terrain features the occasional rocky sections that spice things up, and there’s an obvious intermission along the way to check out the mountain pond for which the trail is named.
Brian Head: Tank’s Track
Brian Head has long attracted gravity-loving bikers with rugged downhill trails, and recently they’ve been adding some flow to the mix. Tank’s Track is a modern flow trail with floaty tabletop jumps and swooping berms. By riding Little Glitter from above to Tank’s Track, you can shred uninterrupted, top to bottom flow.
Sundance Mountain Resort: Rock Drop
Riders looking for an opportunity to progress their riding skills without blowing by their comfort zone should check out Sundance’s Rock Drop. The trail features mostly intermediate terrain with a single expert feature—the aforementioned Rock Drop—to tackle on the way down. Scout the feature, watch an experienced rider and take it on yourself. Afterwards, bask in well-earned satisfaction while taking in the views of nearby Mt. Timpanogos.
Park City Mountain: Silver Queen
Starting right from the top of the Crescent Chair, Silver Queen is the newest flow trail at Park City Mountain. The trail dives down in aspen-filled forest through sweeping turns and berms with rollers you can pump or double up along the way. The fast, smooth trail surface will have you feeling you’ve hit warp speed through the trees. Connect it with some old-school tech on Red Bull or CMG to the bottom.
Woodward Park City: Parley’s Way
Woodward Park City is Utah’s newest lift-served bike resort and is proof their reputation for building immaculately manicured flow trails is well earned. Parley’s Way is Woodward’s intermediate jump trail with a line of lofty tabletops and flowing berms that are suitable for a wide range of riders. Woodward also has beginner and expert flow trails and an array of dirt jumps.
Solitude Mountain Resort: Queen Bess
Solitude's Sunrise chairlift runs from Friday through Sunday for mountain biking, providing access to more than 20 miles of singletrack for riders. Queen Bess is an intermediate trail with fast, winding singletrack that descends through gorgeous aspen forest. Shredders looking to add some technical spice can opt to lap it up on Kruzur all the way to the resort base.
To learn more about Utah's resorts offering lift-served mountain biking, click here.
