Two Wheeling on the Slopes
Two Wheeling on the Slopes
From Avid Biking Enthusiasts to Newbies, There are Trails in Ellicottville For Everyone
Photo Credit / Matt Brahaney
For seasoned mountain bikers, newbies, e-bike enthusiasts, and everyone in between, the perfect trail awaits in Ellicottville! There is no better time to enjoy Ellicottville’s variety of biking trails and the many benefits outdoor cycling provides. Whether indoors or out, there’s no denying the cardiovascular workout one receives while pedaling; however, outdoor cycling has many additional benefits, including exposure to the sun’s vitamin D-generating rays, improved mental health thanks to nature’s stress-reducing power, and opportunities to socialize with fellow riders. What are you waiting for? Grab your helmet and get ready to hit the trails!
THE HOLIMONT BIKE PARK
HoliMont has 16 mountain bike trails that comprise over 12 miles of track and are designed for a range of abilities. Choose from seven Cross Country and nine Downhill trails designed with Technical Terrain and Freeride Terrain for beginners up to expert levels. Snowsports Director Travis Widger welcomes visitors to check out what’s new at HoliMont this summer. “We currently have a new climb trail which is also open for two-way traffic, Burn Barrel in addition to many improvements to Canfield Funnel and the lower section of Newts Tail. We are working on others that we hope to open later this summer,” he said. “We are also expanding our disc golf to make a full 18-hole course that we hope to open in late summer/early fall.”
The 2024 bike park season with lift access continues through October 13th on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am-4:30pm, and starting June 21st, they’ll add Fridays from noon-7:00pm. The Loud Performance trailer is back again at HoliMont offering on-site bike service/repairs, gear, accessories, and parts, as well as kids rentals, full suspension rentals, and full face helmet and pad rentals. Learn more at www.loudperformance.com.
To Widger, one of the best features of the HoliMont Bike Park is the variety of trails for beginners to advanced riders. “Sundown is a wonderful green trail for anyone new to downhill mountain biking, which will get you from the top of the lift directly to the bottom at your own pace,” he explained. “There are also green trails atop the hill that you can play on including Ridgerunner and Sasquatch prior to making your way back to the lift. Canfield Funnel is our main vein and is a wonderful blue flow trail.”
For those who are up to the challenge, HoliMont has plenty of opportunities. “If you are looking for something a bit more techy, check out One or Enduro, and for riders looking to really push themselves, hit up Newts Tail,” Widger recommended. “Looking to catch some air? Crossroads Jump Trail is where it’s at!”
Widger noted that visitors of HoliMont appreciate the variety of activities available for the whole family, including hiking trails, fishing and paddlesports, and the resort’s proximity to McCarty Hill and Little Rock City state land trails. Widger encourages people to visit holimont.com/events to stay up-to-date on mountain biking events including their 3 DH Mountain Bike Race Series on July 7th, August 4th and September 1st, Hill Top Short Track Race on August 10th, and Roots Rocks and Ridges DH September 28th and XC Race on September 29th. “We are also hosting EVL Trail Fest August 9-11th, formerly WNYMBA Camping Weekend where we encourage all to camp and enjoy our wonderful trail networks in Ellicottville,” said Widger.
MTB AT HOLIDAY VALLEY
Five different trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate allow mountain bikers to enjoy the beauty of Holiday Valley with the opportunity to connect to an even larger network of trails. The Spruce Lake chairlift takes mountain bikers to the top of the mountain to choose their trail. Lift-serviced mountain biking is available every Saturday and Sunday from June 29th through October 13th from 11:00am-5:00pm. Bikes must weigh under 60 pounds and be at least 24 inches to ride the lift.
At Holiday Valley, both mountain bikes and e-bikes are available for rent, with options for children and adults. Not familiar with e-bikes? They’re definitely worth trying! Just like regular bikes, e-bike speed is controlled by pedaling, but riders have the advantage of choosing the amount of extra power needed to ascend hills or cover challenging terrain. Eco, Trail, and Boost Mode settings help riders of varying abilities ride together and meet their goals!
Geared primarily for adults and teens, e-bikes (including the Rail 5 and Townie Cruiser) are $80 for a two-hour rental or $100 for a three-hour rental and $20 for each additional hour. (Helmets are included with rental.) Please note that e-bike renters must be age 16 or older. Those looking for hard tail bikes and cruisers won’t be disappointed. TREK Roscoe Hard Tail bikes are available to rent daily from 9:00am-3:00pm, as well as TREK Townie Go! Cruisers for those wanting a non-mountain biking experience. Both 20-inch and 24-inch kids bike rentals are available daily from 9:00am-3:00pm as well. (Please note that lift passes are not available for 20” bikes.) Learn more about mountain biking at Holiday Valley and their many rental options at www.holidayvalley.com.
Be sure to mark the calendar for July 27th, when Holiday Valley is teaming up with 42 North Brewing Co. for the fourth annual HillTAP Festival at Spruce Lake. Enjoy a ride up the chairlift for a full day of music and outdoor fun, including paddleboarding, mountain biking, axe throwing, and live music on two stages. There are options to stay the night through lodging at Holiday Valley or overnight RV parking. Learn more at hilltapfestival.com.
WNYMBA
If you’ve done any kind of biking in the Ellicottville area, then you’ve probably seen the acronym “WNYMBA” at some point. WNYMBA - Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association - is a non-profit organization that aims to “create, enhance and preserve trail opportunities in Western New York State for mountain bikers and hikers everywhere to enjoy.” WNYMBA volunteers work with every major recreation land manager to design, develop, and maintain trails throughout the region. All volunteers are trained by the International Mountain Bicycling Association with standards developed by the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.
If you’re looking to explore the region by way of WNYMBA trails, you won’t be disappointed! Western New York has over 100 miles of public trails, and maps for each area are available to download on www.wnymba.org. Physical maps are also available at select locations throughout the region, including Holiday Valley, Loud Performance/Loud Underground, and Ellicottville Coffee Co. For those who are looking to meet up with fellow riders, there are plenty of opportunities to do so through WNYMBA. Visit the website to view the event calendar, which lists race series, ride groups, mountain bike festivals and much more. If you are interested in supporting local riding and want to be a part of the essential work WNYMBA does, visit www.imba.com/join/chapter231460 for more information.
