Utah Resorts Crank Up Lifts For Mountain Biking

Banking into a berm at Snowbird. (Snowbird/Facebook)

Summertime means getting the mountain bike into the hills where it belongs – and Utah resorts stand ready with lifts running to get bikers to the top.

More than a dozen resorts in the Beehive State spin their lifts this summer for mountain bikers who want to pedal in the highest hills, and reap the thrill of pouring down a single-track trail. Rentals are available at most mountains, and tickets can be had for single, daily or season rides.

Here’s what SnoCountry.com found around Utah for lift-accessed mountain biking:

Brian Head. Southern Utah resort mountain bike park features 100-plus miles of trails, mostly expert but some aligned with easier “B” trails, reached from top of Chair 2. Open Friday-Sunday.

Deer Valley. Resort is opening new Tsunami Trail to add to 70-mile, all-skill system served by three chairs. New expert trail begins on Bald Mountain at 9,000 and descends 900 feet for 1.5 miles of berms, jumps, table tops and step downs. Open every day through Labor Day.

Snowbasin. On weekends, gondola brings bikers to upper mountain and Needles Lodge for both uphill and downhill rides. Northern Utah resort runs three-hour mountain bike intro class on Saturdays for $25, including lift ticket.

Snowbird. Ride the tram to the top and head down new Big Mountain downhill biking-only trail – 2,900-foot descent -- or share a myriad of uphill and downhill routes with hikers off Gadzoom, Gad 2 or Peruvian chairs.

Solitude. Sunrise Chair comes out of main village to reach 20 miles of single- and double-track trails. Lift spins Friday-Sunday, but pedalers welcome all week.

Sundance. Ride Ray’s Chair to top and hit some 25 miles of trails. All trails designed for both uphill and downhill traffic. Lift open daily through Labor Day.