Adaptive Trails and Mountain Biking in Park City

Flying is liberating. Wind on the skin while floating through the high desert is a cornerstone of the Park City lifestyle. During the warm months, the method of movement shifts from planks to wheels. Mountain bikers crawl up and soar down slopes as the blanket of snow gives way to green meadows, even for adaptive trail users.

Gold Level Trails for Every Body

Park City earned the first International Mountain Biking Association designation as a Gold Level Ride Center in 2012. Only a handful of areas worldwide hold this prestigious title, which requires masterfully designed trails and experiences for all skill levels. Fortunately, Park City doesn’t view the Gold Level credential as an end point. Organizations like the National Ability Center (NAC), Mountain Trails Foundation, and Basin Recreation are dedicated to ensuring that mountain biking in Park City is an experience everyone can enjoy. These builders are giving special attention to creating and modifying existing mountain bike trails for adaptive riders.

“Adaptive mountain biking (aMTB) has blown up in the past five years,” explains Colton Bradley, the NAC’s Program Operations and Senior Manager of Equipment. Speaking with two adaptive riders helped me understand the reasons behind the explosion of the sport. “The overall feeling I get from it [adaptive mountain biking] is uplifting,” explains adaptive athlete Brian Cone, who had a road bike accident in 2021 that resulted in an incomplete C6 spinal cord injury. “The mobility the bikes provide for people who are otherwise mobility compromised is almost unparalleled… It levels the playing field, allowing me to expand the entire radius of where I get to live, play, and experience by a factor of 10.”

Louis Arevalo was paralyzed from the chest down in a ski accident about five years ago. He shares, “The biggest takeaway for me was how much I enjoy getting away from the pavement… I've always respected and enjoyed my time outside. Once I lost it and got it back . . . it gave me a renewed perspective.”

Brian, who is an engineer with a hobby of mapping and gathering data about mountain biking accessibility, describes the requirements for adaptive mountain bike trails. “Some of the main considerations are the camber of the trail, the width of the trail, the radius of the turn, along with the berms.”

What Makes a Trail Adaptive

The Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association’s Adaptive Trail Standards aim to define these terms and criteria. The recommended aMTB trail widths are 6 feet for green or easiest trails, 5 feet for blue or intermediate trails, and 4 feet for black or advanced trails. The document states, “Traversing off-camber terrain can be difficult on an aMTB.” There should not be any off-camber or one-sided obstacles that exceed a 12% slope, and obstacles should match trail difficulty. The radius for corners is 20 to 25 feet, and as trail speed and berm size increase, this radius will become tighter.

Adaptive mountain bike equipment ranges from cross-country recumbent (one wheel in the front and two in the back) to all-mountain recumbent (two wheels in the front and one in the back) to all-mountain kneeling (two wheels in the front and one in the back) to fully electric recumbent. Each of these bikes is best suited for specific trail and riding conditions.

Mountain Biking with the National Ability Center

Where does someone interested in trying or new to aMTB start? “The best first step to take is to get in touch with your local adaptive program or an adaptive program in an area that you're going to be vacationing,” Brian explains.

Colton describes Park City’s local adaptive organization, the NAC’s adaptive mountain biking motto: “We will get anyone on a mountain bike regardless of ability! First, we fit someone to the appropriate bike; fit and comfort can mean everything. We will then start a progression from dirt to double track, then to single track, depending on the individual. The goal is to create a memorable mountain biking experience.”

The motivation for purchasing individualized aMTB equipment is independence. “The ultimate goal is for people to have their own bike, be able to do it on their terms, and create experiences with their friends and family,” Brian exclaims.

How does a biker embark on a successful adventure? “The most important thing that you can do as an adaptive biker is have a safe experience,” Brian explains that safety begins with knowing personal limits and comfort level. The next consideration is, “quality experiences, who you're riding with, where you're riding, how you're riding.” He encourages keeping equipment well maintained and taking precautions like inserting tubeless tire systems, ensuring brakes are in good performance, and being compassionate towards yourself.

Adaptive Mountain Bike Trails in Park City

The next consideration is choosing an appropriate trail for individual skill level and equipment. “I want to highlight the Trail Forks app, which has an adaptive mountain bike filter,” Brian explains. “Green is, this should be rideable for anybody. Blue is, many people would probably want to bring along a friend. Black is, I should definitely bring a friend on this one.”

The cost of adaptive mountain bikes can be intimidating. “Adaptive mountain biking is very expensive. The average bike right now costs between $ 17,000 and $ 25,000,” Colton encourages people to test the equipment through local adaptive programs. “Sign up for lessons; this way, you can find the right bike for you before purchasing. Most programs will also provide good insight on helping find different grants or foundations that assist individuals in purchasing equipment.”

Louis elaborates, “There are different foundations out there that give grants to people with different disabilities.” The High Fives Foundation and Kelly Brush Foundation helped him purchase an off-road handcycle.

Porc-U-Climb and Downward Dog in Round Valley - Beginner

What are Park City’s most beloved aMTB trails? All the interviewees name Round Valley as their top choice for beginner terrain. “My favorite beginner trail in PC is Matt’s Flat to Porc-U-climb to Downward Dog in Round Valley. This loop was one of the first in Round Valley to be cut and designed to be an all-inclusive trail,” Colton explains the NAC programming uses this loop almost daily. the trails are wide to accommodate adaptive equipment and buffed smooth for riders of all levels.

Seldom Seen on Park City Mountain - Intermediate

Seldom Seen is an intermediate flow trail built wide to accommodate adaptive bikes. The trail is descending-only and is wide and smooth and features rollers, moderate jumps with go-arounds, and large berms. The trail is accessed by climbing a few miles on Armstrong-Dawns-Spiro or by climbing Spiro from the bottom. A guide from the National Ability Center is your best bet to navigate these loop options if you're not familiar. 

Pinecone Ridge - Advanced

Louis and Brian both name Pinecone Ridge their favorite advanced aMTB trail in Park City. “Pinecone is not built for adaptive riders, but adaptive riders can ride it if they feel comfortable,” Brian explains. “Pinecone descends from the crest level, and it drops through heavy, dark, black dirt, twisting and turning from about 10,000 feet down to mid-mountain level… It's generally wide enough for most adapted bikes. There are a couple of technical issues where it gets narrow and a little off-camber. There's a rock or two to avoid, but I would consider it an advanced trail.”

A Growing Adaptive Trail Network in Park City

What is Park City doing to ensure that adaptive mountain biking access and opportunity continues to grow? Trail development organizations like Mountain Trails Foundation are consulting the experts, like Brian, who serves as adaptive advisor to the board. “It's all about people being aware of the issues and the desires of the community,” he states. “Then we begin to understand that nothing happens overnight.” More trails are being built every year, especially with adaptive users in mind!

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The McGrath Mountain Center at Park City Mountain