Check out the series pilot for more information about bike parks in general.
Green River Bike Park, Green River, Wyoming
Located in the southwest corner of Wyoming, Green River is a somewhat unlikely mountain bike destination that is only beginning to gain the national recognition that it deserves. If you drive through the region, you might never know about the riding opportunities that exist unless someone had told you about them previously. Consider yourself told. Green River truly is “an oasis in the High Desert” as GreenRiverBikePark.com claims.
In addition to the excellent backcountry singletrack, Green River also boasts one of the most progressive bike parks in the country. While it is only 3.5 acres in size, the park features a huge pumptrack, dirt jump lines ranging from beginner to expert, progressive drop zone, jump trail, and an “elevated trail” with north shore-style ladder bridges. The park has “one of the most amazing backdrops in the country: sandstone mountains and the Green River,” according to bike park designer and builder Nat Lopes of Hilride. With 30-80 riders per weekday and over 200 riders per weekend day, the social proof is clear: Green River Bike Park has it going on!
The Lair, Bend, Oregon
The Lair is one of the premiere bike parks in Oregon. Designed, built, and maintained by volunteers from the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), the park was built in collaboration with the Forest Service and is located entirely on Forest Service land. Like many of the other park on this list, it is a progression park and features everything from three-foot beginner jumps to 20-foot monsters that look mean and intimidating in person! While the park has been lovingly sculpted into an excellent resource, the volunteers can always use more help. “If you come out to a riding spot and see people digging, ask if you can help. More help would enable things to get done faster, and also allow for more time to improve on what’s already in place,” said Joe Treinen of COTA.
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