SAM Magazine—Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, Sept. 6, 2023—Just days after it reported its first dusting of snow for the season, Solitude, Utah, will unveil the first phase of its new Solitude Bike Park on Friday, Sept. 8, with four new downhill mountain bike trails—six miles total—that range from easy to difficult. 

“With this initial phase of trails, we really wanted to provide an experience that accommodates riders of all ability levels,” said Tyler Sites, bike park manager at Solitude. The new trails, which will be open weekends through Oct. 8, represent the first step in a larger series of downhill mountain bike trails coming to Solitude, added Sites. All are part of $16 million in planned capital improvements.

Set to debut this week are two freeride trails—Mother Lode and Cobalt Cruise—and two technical trails—Mine Shaft and Holy Schist, all designed by Gravity Logic. All four will be accessible via Moonbeam Express, with one bike carrier for every five chairs.

The rollout has hit a few snags due to “lingering snowpack” from the record 2022/23 season, and some portions of the new trails are still being completed, necessitating a few temporary detours, said Travis Holland, Solitude communications and PR manager. 

Riders will detour via the existing Serenity trail to return to Moonbeam Express while the lower section of Cobalt Cruise is completed. The Holy Schist and Mine Shaft trails will be accessed by temporary connection trails; Mine Shaft will return to Moonbeam Express via a temporary connector trail.

Mountain bike rentals and lessons will be available through the end of the season, and 2023/24 Ikon Pass holders are eligible for a 25 percent discount on full-day bike park tickets and an $80 Solitude Bike Park Season Pass, discounted from $210. The area plans to open for the winter season on Nov. 17. 

In addition to the Solitude Bike Park, planned capital improvements at the resort include three new Wyssen remote avalanche control systems on Fantasy Ridge and the new six-person Eagle Express chairlift, which is expected to be open by mid-December.