2020 Bike Park Openings

It will be state by state/country by country.

A few may choose to remain closed if regulations allow them to open but most will be compelled to reopen to serve customers and staff.

Also many parks allow riding with lift closed. It’s just a matter of peddling to the top:

Summit wants to open as soon as possible BUT, they are currently fighting with local government regulations. hopefully with things opening back up a restrictions being lifted it will help theyre case but only time will tell!

Blue Mountain (Ontario/Canada, host of 'Canadian Sea Otter') announced they are closed for cycling for the summer, even pedaling up. Chair lifts would be difficult to social distance, but worse would be the accidents/crashes that would end up in the (small) local hospital.

Looks like blue mountain pa is opening for season pass holders with plans for limited day passes going forward. Gotta wear a mask in buildings and Getting on/off lift

Big Sky in Montana is opening June 26th.

Highland says end of may right now for all you New Englanders.

I can’t see that happening. And if they do they will have to run at seriously limited capacity. So at that point that would mean no season passes, no season passes do people really go that often? It may be cheaper to be closed than open at limited capacity.

If I were a bike park, I would try and do an enduro ride up the mountain yourself kind of deal and not run the lifts at all. That way you don't have to pay for running the lifts and social distancing will still be maintained, not having everyone sitting in the same seats and all. Not Ideal for the park rats that only own DH bikes, but for anyone else at least it's something.

I think it's cheaper to keep the lifts running in the summer usually, this is the only reason we have bike parks in the PNW.

Cheaper to run the lifts through the summer than to shut them down and set back up after winter, this is the story I got at silver mtn at least, big ass gondola.

That works for the ride up, but the long lines would stretch for miles.

I would assume (knowing nothing about the business) that chairlifts/gondolas are like airplane bookings - they can only really make money with a certain capacity (maybe 50-60%). If you have a four-person chair/gondola and limit it to only 2 people maximum, that means you would have to run at 100% of this new capacity to really make money which is probably difficult to achieve.
There is also the first responder equation - do all of these parks have enough PPE to dedicate to their emergency staff? They're not doctors or normal paramedics, so will they be viewed the same and get access to PPE?

Some helmet company needs to come up with a full face helmet that integrates with a comfortable, high flow face mask.

Mountain Creek is opening up June 6th

https://www.bigbearmountainresort.com/covid/summer-operations

No specific chairlift info, but they are keeping some of the facilities closed. They will not be weekend-only until after labor day.

Tamarack in Idaho is open now. FYI.
https://tamarackidaho.com/summer-activities/mountain-biking

Brian Head in Utah is getting a few new sections of black diamond trails, some completely new bigger segments and lots of little fixes here and there, and they are planning on opening the 26th of June, possibly a week before. The mountain is mostly snow free (85%) and should be good in a few weeks.

Press Release: Winter Park Resort and Trestle Bike Park to Open for Summer on June 27, 2020

WINTER PARK, Colo., June 5, 2020 – Following state and county reopening guidelines, Winter Park Resort will open its scenic gondola with access to mountaintop hiking trails, the base-area putting course, and its famed Trestle Bike Park for summer guests on Saturday, June 27. Additional base-area services, including various restaurant options, bike rentals and some retail will also open. Guests can already make lodging reservations for resort-managed properties, which open today. The resort will operate its modified summer recreational offerings seven days a week through Labor Day. In September, the resort will operate only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

At the core of Winter Park Resort’s summer adventure is Trestle Bike Park – the U.S.’s premier full-service bike park. Tailored for both the downhill gravity fanatic and all-mountain trail rider, Trestle Bike Park’s 1,800 vertical feet and more than 45 miles of purpose-built trails give adventurers of all levels an unmatched mountain experience. Lift and trail opening specifics will be updated in the coming weeks. Bike rentals and private lessons will also be available, and all bike park products, including passes and tickets will need to be purchased 24 hours in advance.

“We’re excited to open for summer 2020 and to welcome guests back to the mountains we love,” said Sky Foulkes, president of Winter Park Resort. “For 80 years, Winter Park has been inviting people to Venture Out, and after diligent work and creative thinking, our team has modified our operations to meet the new demands of outdoor recreation in the COVID-19 era.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado and Grand County public health officials have recently amended executive orders, clearing the path for Winter Park to open for the 2020 summer season. Winter Park has carefully reviewed all current orders and guidelines and modified its operations accordingly. The health and safety of Winter Park guests, employees and the community remain paramount.

Winter Park is continuing to plan, evaluate and adjust its operations leading up to the June 27 public opening. Currently, guests can book and stay in lodging. They can also learn more, pre-book or reserve other products and services before the opening by visiting www.winterparkresort.com. Because of new restrictions and guidelines, all on-mountain products and services, except food and beverage, will need to be booked online 24 hours prior to arrival.

Among modifications to summer operations are:

Running the Gondola and other lifts to be compliant with capacity guidelines
Opening some resort-owned restaurants for take-out only
New signage to help with social distancing across the resort
Requiring employees to go through a health screening before reporting to work
Requiring employees with direct customer contact to wear face coverings
Strongly recommending that all guests also wear face coverings when on or inside resort property
A contactless check-in process for all resort-owned lodging, where guests will check in via a Text Concierge, allowing them to access keys through a lockbox or receive a key code for keyless entry
Leaving 24 hours in between lodging reservations to properly clean and sanitize each unit

Winter Park is currently planning for a winter season opening in late fall when conditions allow.

About Winter Park Resort
Located just 67 miles from Denver, Winter Park Resort was voted Colorado’s Top Adventure Town, and USA Today’s #1 Ski Resort in North America two years in a row. Winter Park boasts more than 3,000 acres of world-class terrain. Nestled along the Continental Divide, Winter Park is known for its unspoiled and pure nature and authentic Colorado vibe. Winter Park Resort is owned by Alterra Mountain Company and offers the Ikon Pass, the new standard in season passes. For more information, please visit WinterParkResort.com.

Highland, Thunder, Mountain Creek and even Powder Ridge (LOL!) are all open.

In a big announcement from Vail Resorts, reopening timelines for several popular MTB destinations are listed. Note that some do not mention bikes in their list of activities.

__________________________

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — June 18, 2020 — Vail Resorts announced today summer opening dates and operating plans at its North American resorts as well as the Company’s commitment to safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The first set of resorts will open June 26, including Keystone, Crested Butte, Okemo and Mount Snow. Additional resorts are scheduled to open shortly thereafter, including Whistler Blackcomb (June 29, subject to provincial alignment), Vail and Beaver Creek (July 1), Park City (July 2); Heavenly (July 3); and Breckenridge (July 4). A full list of opening dates is below. The resorts will open with a limited summer footprint focusing on mountain access and scenic lift rides. Lodging, restaurants, retail, biking and other activities will vary by location.

As a part of Vail Resorts’ commitment to safety, the Company is establishing certain guidelines across all of its resorts and properties in North America, which include physical distancing protocols, face covering requirements, enhanced cleaning measures, employee health screenings and safety training, cashless transactions, and revisions to regularly offered programs and services. Each resort and property have enacted a unique operating plan that aligns with these guidelines and was developed in consultation with state, provincial and local health officials. Similar to the Skier Responsibility Code, Vail Resorts asks guests and employees to take on a new level of personal accountability to ensure the safety of its mountain communities.

“Summer is a special time in the mountains and we are excited to welcome guests back to the outdoors to have fun, refresh and recharge,” said Pat Campbell, president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division. “While we are offering limited summer activities, we are lucky that our beautiful outdoor settings provide a landscape to experience nature and to easily practice physical distancing so we all can safely return to the mountains we love. It is our expectation that guests help us ensure the experience is safe for them and for our employees by following our new guidelines. As summer progresses, we look forward to opening more activities and adventures at our resorts.”

SCHEDULED OPENING DATES AND ACTIVITIES BY RESORT

Weekly operating days vary by resort; Additional activities may open as summer progresses and restrictions ease.

Attitash (July 18): Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; alpine slide; grab ‘n go food.
Beaver Creek (July 1): Scenic chairlift and gondola rides; hiking; bike haul; Spruce Saddle to offer grab ‘n go food.
Breckenridge (July 4): BreckConnect Gondola; scenic chairlift rides; hiking; alpine slide and alpine coaster; Ski Hill Grill to offer grab ‘n go food.
Crested Butte (June 26): Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; Butte 66 to offer grab ‘n go food.
Heavenly (July 3): Scenic gondola rides; hiking; Tamarack Lodge and Café Blue to offer grab ‘n go food. Mountain coaster opening date to be determined.
Hunter (July 4): Scenic chairlift rides and hiking.
Keystone (June 26): River Run Gondola; hiking; Summit House to offer grab ‘n go food. Golf opened June 5 at the River Course.
Liberty (June 17): Golf
Mount Snow (June 26): Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; Bullwheel to offer grab ‘n go food. Golf and Fairways (grab ‘n go) opened June 17.
Northstar (July 15): Golf to open July 15. Additional activities to be announced by early July.
Okemo (June 26): Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; mountain coaster; golf and disc golf.
Park City (July 2): Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; bike haul; alpine slide and mountain coaster; Jupiter Java to offer grab ‘n go food. Canyons Golf is scheduled to open June 26.
Stowe (June 27): Auto Toll Road opens June 27. Scenic gondola rides and Waffle to offer grab ‘n go food on July 18.
Vail (July 1): Gondola One scenic rides; hiking; grab ‘n go food at Mid-Vail. Mid-July, Gondola 19 is scheduled to open with hiking, Epic Discovery interpretive trails, mountain coaster and grab ‘n go food at Eagle’s Nest.
Wildcat (August 1): Wildcat Express scenic chairlift rides; hiking; cafeteria to offer grab ‘n go food.
Whistler Blackcomb (June 29, subject to provincial alignment): Whistler Village Gondola, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and Blackcomb Gondola scenic rides; hiking; bike park (Fitz Zone and Garbanzo chair). Rendezvous, Garbanzo Bike and Bean, Roundhouse to offer grab ‘n go food.
Whitetail (June 17): Golf

VAIL RESORTS’ COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

Vail Resorts has reimagined the resort experience to further prioritize the health and safety of its employees and guests in response to COVID-19. In addition to complying with local orders, the Company is enforcing its own safety measures to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the mountains this summer. Safety has always been one of the Company’s core values and the new procedures and protocols being implemented have the safety of employees, guests and communities in mind. Protocols include:

Physical Distancing:

On mountain, the resorts’ vast outdoor settings make physical distancing easy. But in the base areas and other locations where it is more difficult to do so, we will have signage and decals to ensure guests remain six feet (two meters) apart.

Guests will be required to wear face coverings in certain areas. This includes in lines, when loading and unloading chairlifts, when loading and riding in gondolas or bubble chairs, on activities such as an alpine slide or mountain coaster, and in indoor resort facilities. Guests are strongly encouraged to bring their own face coverings, but resorts will have them available upon request, subject to availability. Employees will be required to wear face coverings at all times.

Plexiglass barriers have been installed in areas where physical distancing measures are not possible, including at points of purchase.

Capacity of lifts and gondolas will be reduced to allow for physical distancing. Guests will only be allowed on lifts and gondolas with travelers in their party.

Employees may limit the number of guests in any area of the resort to ensure proper physical distancing (e.g. indoor spaces, parking lots, common spaces, etc.).

Employee Protocols & Training:

All employees are required to wear a face covering and follow the Company’s safety protocols and procedures at all times, including regular hand washing and use of PPG.

Employees will undergo daily health screenings and receive appropriate training to ensure safety.

Employees are required to stay home if sick.

Guest Expectations:

Guests are asked to stay home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

Guests are required to wear face coverings in certain areas, including in lines, when loading and unloading chairlifts, when loading and riding in gondolas and bubble chairs, on activities such as an alpine slide or mountain coaster; in indoor resort facilities, and whenever it is not possible to maintain a six feet distance from unknown parties. Guests are strongly encouraged to bring their own face coverings, but resorts will have them available upon request, subject to availability. Guests who are unwilling to comply with this safety requirement will not be permitted to participate in the experience.

All guests are expected to comply with physical distancing guidelines outlined by public health as well as resort signage or as directed by resort employees.

Enhanced Cleaning & Sanitization:

High-touch surfaces will be frequently cleaned and disinfected with EPA-approved products that kill the COVID-19 virus.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting will take place daily in our gondola cabins, frequently throughout the day in our public restrooms and after each use on our alpine slide and mountain coaster carts.

Hand sanitizing stations will be provided throughout the resort. Frequent handwashing is required of employees.

All transactions will be cashless for lift and gondola rides, mountain activities, on-mountain dining as well as at the Company’s lodging, retail and rental locations.

Hospitality & Lodging:

Guests will be asked to maintain physical distancing guidelines and use face coverings when in common areas.

One guest per family will be allowed to enter the lobby for check-in/out.

Transactions will be cashless.

Room keys will be cleaned and disinfected before they are placed into guest packets.

Dining Facilities:

To ensure physical distancing, dining facilities will run at reduced capacity with updated floor plans in common areas. Outdoor seating will be available.

On-mountain dining will only offer grab ‘n go food and all transactions will be cashless.

Vail Resorts will continue to review and update our policies to adhere to the most up-to-date practices to keep employees and guests safe.

https://www.snow.com/info/summer-2020-update

Last weekend we have been to Soelden in Austria, a lot of fun!

Kirkwood is open to bikes, but no lift service. Not mentioned on vail release? not complaining...

This just landed in the inbox, some good news from Northstar. Not the most promising or expansive opening due to construction and trail closures outside of health concerns but still, chairlifts will spin.

Truckee, Calif. — June 25, 2020 — Northstar California Resort today announced additional summer activities to open early July. Scenic lift rides on Big Springs Gondola, hiking access, and grab n’ go food and drink options from the Lodge at Big Springs will open on July 3. The Northstar Bike Park will open with select trails on July 10. Riders are encouraged to pre-purchase a season bike haul pass or day tickets to access a range of beginner to expert rated trails via the Big Springs Gondola and the Zephyr Express chairlift. The Northstar Golf Course will open on July 15.


“We look forward to welcoming Northstar guests back to enjoy family-friendly activities such as hiking, biking, and golfing in beautiful North Lake Tahoe,” said Deirdra Walsh, vice president, and general manager of Northstar California Resort. “Northstar offers world-class singletrack trails for all-levels, golf set among the Martis Valley, and scenic gondola rides to miles of open hiking trails. Our expansive, open-air environment provides an ideal location for families to physically distance while we enjoy the activities that draw us together at this special place.”

Last week Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood shared their operating plans as well as their commitment to safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heavenly Mountain Resort, known for views of Lake Tahoe, will open on July 3 for sightseeing and hiking via the Heavenly Gondola, with the Ridge Rider Coaster and Tamarack Express Chairlift expected to open shortly thereafter. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is currently open for human-powered activities (no lift access), similar to years past.

As a part of Vail Resorts’ commitment to safety, the Company established certain guidelines across all of its resorts and properties in North America, which include physical distancing protocols, face-covering requirements, enhanced cleaning measures, employee health screenings and safety training, cashless transactions, and revisions to regularly offered programs and services. Each resort and property has enacted a unique operating plan that aligns with these guidelines that were developed in consultation with state and local health officials. Similar to the Skier Responsibility Code, Vail Resorts asks guests and employees to take on a new level of personal accountability to ensure the safety of its mountain communities.

Northstar California Resort – Open Thursdays through Sundays, July 3 through Oct. 4*

Scenic Big Springs Gondola rides and hiking trail access beginning July 3 (no hiking access via Zephyr Express until July 10)
Zephyr Express chairlift open for bike hauls and scenic hiking beginning July 10
Advanced purchase for the Northstar Bike Park, scenic gondola rides and hiking are recommended (additional details will be available on NorthstarCalifornia.com in the coming weeks)

Northstar Bike Park will open on July 10 with select trails, from less difficult to expert
Additional details on what trails will be available will be provided closer to opening day
The Bike Park plans to operate the majority of trails throughout the season, subject to change and expects to open with segments of its most popular trails, including Livewire, Coaster, and Tryumph
Intermittent trail closures will be encountered around the Vista Express lift area between August and October as Northstar carries out forest health and snowmaking improvements
In order to remain in compliance with physical distancing protocols while also providing guests with the best possible riding experience, Northstar will have a daily maximum on the number of tickets sold for the bike park - advanced purchase is recommended.

I was going to do Summit next weekend
But Governor Newsom just announced new stay-at-home orders
But they might not apply to everything
But this is California

Summit should still be open. Current lock down is for all indoor actives, so bike parks and motocross tracks are able to still operate. Newsom, put us back to phase 2. I am not stoked on it but at least we can still ride.

Old thread but relevant to MTB bike parks in 2022 and beyond. Any new lift accessed bike parks are a good thing.

https://snowbrains.com/first-ever-dedicated-lift-accessed-mountain-bike…


Also, Bear Valley Resort in Northern California just opened for the first time this summer for bike lift access.