Summer on a ski mountain
Bike parks, lift rides, trails and lakes, and where to sleep for them.
Short answer
Of the 405 mountains we cover, 15 have a lift the map marks for bikes and 188 have at least one trailhead within about 4 miles of the base. Summer lodging near a ski base is often cheaper than in winter, and the walk to the lift matters just as much when you are pushing a bike.
What you can do
- Lift-served mountain biking: ride up, ride down. Most parks rent bikes and armor and grade trails like ski runs.
- Scenic lift rides: many gondolas run in summer for sightseers and hikers who would rather walk down.
- Hiking: trailheads at the base or near town; some start at the top of a lift.
- Coasters, slides and ziplines: mapped where they exist.
- Lakes: paddling and swimming nearby are a summer favorite in many mountain towns.
How to read our summer distances
Each place to stay shows the walk to the nearest lift the map tags for bikes, and how far the nearest trailhead is. Tags are added by volunteers and are not complete, so a mountain with a bike park may show none. Opening days usually fall between late May and late June and run to Labor Day or into the fall; the operator's calendar is the final word.