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The First-Timers Guide to Snow Summit Bike Park

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The First-Timers Guide to Snow Summit Bike Park

bigbearmountainresort.com

About a year ago, I was introduced to the mountain bike world and had my first taste of the cycling craze. Though it took some time to build my interest in the sport, having now logged in over 500 miles in the saddle, mountain biking has become a new obsession of mine. Even before I was bitten by the cycling bug, I was always well aware of the Snow Summit Bike Park, as it’s a common destination for two-wheeled enthusiasts in Southern California.  Though I had heard great things about the bike park from friends I was never able to schedule a trip; largely due to my lack of knowledge about the options that Snow Summit Bike Park offers to first-time riders. That being said, I was really excited when the park opened its doors for the 2019 season and swap asked me if I wanted to take my first trip. 

 

Donn laughed when I grabbed my traditional MTB gear. After learning what to wear when riding a DH bike I brought the new Fox V3, some Alpinestars knee pads, and my favorite pair of Afton shoes.

 

After packing our gear, we headed for the mountains. Though the drive up the windy road takes less than an hour, I found myself gazing ahead and searching for the resort after each blind corner. At last, we arrived at Snow Summit, parked the truck, and walked over to grab our lift tickets. While in line we learned a little trick to bypass the waiver line and shed off some time in line; if you use your phone and head to bigbearmountainresort.com, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Activity Waiver Release – under Quick Links – you can then fill out the waiver on your phone and go straight to the lift ticket line. Ticket prices vary as you can earn a 20% discount online if you purchase at least 72 hours in advance, and there are also two-day passes that pack more bang for your buck, too. A standard, one-day adult pass is available the day of for $32. The best value, however, is a season pass, and we guarantee that you will probably want one after your first day riding down the mountain. Best of all, you can apply your single-day pass to the cost of a season pass if you purchase it on the same day!

 

 

Renting a Bike

After grabbing our lift tickets, I went to the pro shop to rent a downhill bike so I could capture the full Snow Summit Bike Park experience. I have to say I was quite surprised when I learned that the resort has a fleet of new Trek Session 8s for guests to rent. Not to mention the Remedy 8s they have for those wanting a little less travel, and the long list of rental bikes they carry for kids. (They also have a bunch of last season’s rental bikes – completely refurbished – for sale, too.) During the rental process, the technicians properly set up the bike’s suspension for your height and weight, to ensure you have the most comfortable ride on the trails. All of the rental bikes come equipped with flat pedals, but I have recently grown to love riding clipped-in so I brought my pedals with me and they had no problem swapping them out.

While they set up my bike, a few riders came in with flat tires and the staff repaired them quickly. It’s nice to know that even if things don’t go your way, you can take your bike into the shop, get it fixed, and be back on your way to get the most riding in possible. That was especially comforting to see because swap seems to get a flat every-other time we ride.

Following my trip through the Snow Summit bike shop, we walked a few hundred feet to the lift area. The ride on the lift takes roughly 5-10 minutes, though it goes by quickly thanks to the beautiful scenic views from high above. On that first ride up; I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t initially afraid of the heights we were at. I think the adrenaline rush I got on the lift helped when I got up top because my heart rate was already elevated before we started pedaling. At the top of the lift; there is a station with tools and air pumps for last-minute adjustments. Along with the tools, a group of staffers is on hand to welcome you and help answer any questions you might have. 

Trail Variety

Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of our trip was figuring out what trails to ride, as Snow Summit Bike Park offers six different trails for all skill levels. Even after choosing a downhill we came across parts where the trail later split into option lines and provided more ways down the mountain. Party Wave was one of our favorite downhills; the course is littered full of exciting jumps, fast berms, extraordinary wood features, and even some more technical rock sections. Throughout the ride, we found ourselves going through a section and wanting to hike back up to repeat the same section; just because of how much fun the trail is. With lengthy downhills that take you back down 1,200-feet to the base of the park; It’s nearly impossible to spot every line in just one run down a trail. Even on our third trip down the same downhill, we found ourselves taking new lines and launching jumps even further. 

Dining

So you spend your whole morning shredding downhills and burning calories, where are you and the friends going to dine before going back out? With a handful of delicious stops throughout the park, Snow Summit Bike Park has you covered. From a full bar and Mediterranean meals up on-top of the mountain to BBQ favorites, Mexican food, sandwiches, Coffee, and more down by the lodge. With food just a lift-ride up or a bike-ride down, there is literally no need to leave the park, so “a day of riding” can actually be a full day of riding. 

Basecamp Activites

For those of you that have been dying to experience what Snow Summit Bike Park has to offer but can’t convince the wife and/or kids to spend a day in the mountains while you ride your bike, stop your begging and share some of the ‘Basecamp Activities’ with your family. Snow Summit offers an almost endless amount of activities that aren’t spent on two wheels; from bungee jumping to zip lines, they have you covered. Though, we are a media outlet primarily focused on the passion of two wheels so of course, we’re going to encourage that you go rent bikes for the whole family and take them down the trails. 

With multiple trails littered with endless lines of which lead you down from 8,200 ft in elevation, it’s no question that we could spend a whole weekend out there and not get bored. Personally, I wish we had spent more time on the mountain and were able to experience more of what Snow Summit Bike Park has to offer. Whether you want to go out with your buddies for a day of riding or you want to take the family on a vacation in the mountains, Snow Summit Bike Park seems to be the perfect destination for every outdoors lover. To my knowledge, the park has added some new wood features and jumps for 2019, so even if you’ve been before, make sure you head out this season and see what all the hype is about. Click on the link below for more details on Snow Summit Bike Park. We hope to see you out on the trails soon! 

Start planning your trip HERE

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Chase Curtis

Chase Curtis is an avid motocross and MTB rider, and he is the SML Video Editor. Completely self-taught, Chase is one of the best video editors in the sport and one of our biggest assets.

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1 Comment

  1. Jordan June 8, 2019

    My cousin loves doing downhill. He grew up with Canadian downhhill champ Brett rheeder