Maine's bike parks are great. But sometimes you want to make a real trip out of it — load the truck and spend a few days lapping a mountain built from the ground up for gravity riding. Here's a comprehensive guide to lift-accessed bike parks across North America, organized by region.
Northeast
Attitash, New Hampshire — Part of the Epic Pass network, Attitash offers lift-accessed biking on White Mountain terrain. A solid option for New England riders.
Cranmore Mountain Resort, New Hampshire — A smaller, community-oriented park in North Conway with lift-accessed biking and proximity to excellent trail riding in the Mount Washington Valley.
Loon Mountain, New Hampshire — Well-established bike park with a range of trails and solid infrastructure. A reasonable drive from southern Maine and popular with New Hampshire and Massachusetts riders.
Highland Mountain Bike Park, New Hampshire — One of the most unique parks in the Northeast — a dedicated mountain bike facility (not a ski resort that also does bikes) with a lift, an enormous variety of trails, and a staff that lives and breathes this stuff. Highland is a must-ride for serious Northeast riders and a regular stop for riders from across the region.
Killington, Vermont — The biggest resort in the East and the most developed bike park in the Northeast. Massive vertical, trail variety from beginner flow to gnarly expert lines, and resort-level infrastructure. A regular Enduro World Series venue. Worth multiple days.
Stratton Mountain, Vermont — A well-developed bike park in southern Vermont with lift-accessed trails covering a solid range of difficulties. Convenient for riders coming from southern New England and a strong option for a weekend trip.
Sugarbush, Vermont — Two interconnected mountains with lift-accessed biking and a well-developed trail network. Big resort feel with Vermont character.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont — Known more for skiing, but Stowe has developed lift-accessed biking on genuine Alpine terrain. Scenic and worth a visit if you're in the area.
Burke Mountain, Vermont — Smaller and more intimate than Killington, with real trail character and short lift lines. Gateway to Kingdom Trails, making it ideal for a mixed riding trip.
Windham Mountain, New York — One of the most respected bike park programs in the region. The trail crew builds technical, thoughtful trails that punch above the mountain's vertical. Strong rider community and a great weekend destination from Maine.
Thunder Mountain Bike Park, Massachusetts — A dedicated bike park (not a ski resort) in Charlemont with a lift, a well-maintained trail network, and a strong local following. Thunder Mountain punches above its size — the trails are thoughtfully built and the park has a genuine mountain bike culture. A great option for a day trip or weekend from Maine.
Southeast
Massanutten Resort, Virginia — A mid-Atlantic option with lift-accessed biking and a growing trail network. Convenient for riders in the DC corridor and worth knowing about for trips down the East Coast.
Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia — The Southeast's premier destination bike park. Bigger than its reputation, with a technically deep trail network and major event hosting including Enduro World Series rounds. A two-day drive from Maine but worth it for the change of terrain.
Beech Mountain, North Carolina — The Southeast's highest ski area, with lift-accessed biking and proximity to the excellent trail riding of the Blue Ridge. A solid destination for riders willing to make the longer drive south.
Rocky Mountains
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico — Lift-accessed biking with challenging terrain in a stunning high-altitude setting. More off the beaten path than the Colorado parks, which is part of the appeal.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colorado — In a town with a legendary mountain biking history, the lift-accessed bike park delivers appropriately serious terrain. The surrounding trail network is world-class for all styles of riding.
Keystone Resort, Colorado — A well-developed bike park with excellent flow trails and progressive features. Part of the Epic Pass network.
Steamboat Resort, Colorado — Extensive lift-accessed trail network with a range of terrain and a relaxed resort atmosphere. Strong option for a Colorado bike trip.
Winter Park Resort, Colorado — One of the original destination bike parks and still one of the best. Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park has over 100 miles of trails, a dedicated trail crew with decades of experience, and terrain that covers every skill level. A bucket-list park for East Coast riders.
Park City Mountain, Utah — One of the largest ski resorts in the US also operates a substantial bike park. Epic Pass access and proximity to excellent trail riding in the Wasatch make it a strong destination.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah — Known for perfectly manicured ski runs, Deer Valley brings the same attention to detail to its bike park. Immaculate trails, outstanding grooming, and terrain that rewards precise riding.
West Coast
Mammoth Mountain, California — High-altitude lift-accessed biking on volcanic terrain in the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth's bike park is extensive, the trails are unique, and the setting is extraordinary.
Northstar California, Lake Tahoe — One of the premier destination bike parks in North America. Northstar has consistently built some of the most progressive and well-maintained trails in the country. A regular EWS venue and a destination that justifies a dedicated trip.
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon — Lift-accessed biking in the Oregon Cascades with volcanic terrain and a growing trail network.
Canada
Whistler Bike Park, British Columbia — The benchmark. The park that defines what lift-accessed mountain biking can be. More trails, more vertical, more terrain variety, and more consistently progressive trail building than anywhere else. Go at least once. Bring your best gear and realistic expectations about consequence levels even on intermediate terrain.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia — One of the most exciting newer bike park destinations in BC. The mountain is massive, the terrain is serious, and Revelstoke has invested heavily in its summer operations. On the radar of every rider paying attention to where the sport is going.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, British Columbia — Extreme vertical, serious terrain, and one of the most dramatic mountain settings in North America. Not a beginner destination, but for riders ready for it, Kicking Horse is exceptional.
Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia — World-class terrain in the Rockies with a strong local riding culture. Fernie is one of those places that keeps riders coming back year after year.
Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia — A significant and often underrated bike park in the BC Interior. Large trail network, great infrastructure, and a fraction of the crowds of Whistler.
Silver Star Mountain Resort, British Columbia — Known for its extensive trail network and strong community. Excellent all-around destination in the BC Interior.
Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia — Lift-accessed biking with a growing trail network and a family-friendly atmosphere. Solid addition to a Kelowna-area BC trip.
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, British Columbia — Vancouver Island's lift-accessed park, with trails that reflect the island's wet, rooty, technical character. A unique experience and worth the ferry ride.
What to Pack for Any of These
Destination bike parks are a different experience from your local trails. You're lapping lifts all day on terrain that's more demanding and more consequence-laden than what you ride at home. Full-face helmet, goggle, hard-shell knees, and hard-shell elbows are the standard kit. Don't show up to Whistler or Northstar in a half-shell and soft pads.