Featured Image: Courtesy of Aspen Snowmass
As the snow fell this winter, so did my bank account balance. From ski tunes and season passes to Bonfire Burritos bought, this winter was expensive. But, we at FREESKIER are determined to keep the downhill stoke alive this summer – on a budget. These are the five most wallet-friendly bike parks for you and your crew to keep the good times rolling all summer long.
1. Snow Valley Bike Park – Big Bear, CA
Day Pass: $25-$29
Snow Valley brings the downhill thrill to the Big Bear area just two hours outside Los Angeles. Small but mighty, the gravity driven park packs 10 trails with a total of seven trail miles and a solid 849 feet of vertical drop. The park hosts two of the five Southwest Downhill Series races in June and August – perfect for adrenaline junkies who like to be in the action or watch from the sidelines. Plus, you can ride all day here for about the same price as lunch at a Colorado resort.
They are open Friday-Sunday from 04/19-10/26.
2. Discovery Bike Park – Philipsburg, MT
Day Pass: $42
Take a step into the wild west of Montana – Discovery is far out. Offering just five trail miles and 1,050 feet of drop, this park digs quality over quantity. Designed with flow in mind, trails are smooth, fast and equipped to keep smiles on riders from top to bottom. Choose between catching the Silver Chief lift for a leisure ride up or huffing it to the top of the access road for a cardio-centric day. Either way, the downhill delivers.
New for 2025, Discovery invested in a fresh rental fleet of Transition bikes, sized M to XL, for all riders looking to dip their toes in the world of downhill.
3. Cranmore Bike Park – North Conway, NH
Day Pass: $45
Nestled in the cozy corner of North Conway, New Hampshire, Cranmore might fly under your radar. But don’t be fooled, it packs a punch. With nine trails stretched over nine miles and 797 feet of vert, this resort dishes out long, flowing runs that are meant to be savored.
This season, Cranmore introduced the new beginner friendly trials and RFID pass scanners to streamline the riding experience and keep the good times rolling. Mark your calendars for July 13: the inaugural Mountain Bike Fest is dropping in with demo bikes from top brands, a full vendor village and tons of swag to go around.
4. Burke Bike Park – Burke, VT
Day Pass: $48
Another East Coast gem, Burke Bike Park is a slept-on summer paradise for downhill enthusiasts. With 15 trails covering 15 miles and over 1,900 feet of vertical, it’s a sendy spot for gravity riders.
This year, Burke invested in new singletrack trails off the CCC access road, unlocking fresh descent options from summit to park. The classic FreeRide trail also got a facelift making it steeper, smoother, and tons more fun.
Out of the saddle, the vibes continue with a summer music series that brings in local bands every week.
5. Bogus Basin – Boise, ID
Day Pass: $49
There’s nothing bogus about this place. Fourteen miles of trail, 633 feet of vert and lift service via the Morning Star Express make the brand-new Gravity Park at Bogus Basin a serious player in the downhill scene.
New for 2025, the Basin launched a fresh slate of trails that make up their brand new Gravity Park. This trail network levels up the resort’s downhill cred and is a must-hit this summer – especially at a bargain price.
A weekly local race series keeps the stoke high: DH races kick off every Thursday at 5 p.m. for $20 an entry, rotating through different trails in the Gravity Park each week. Cross-country riders get their turn every Wednesday at the same time and price.
We get it, riding isn’t always gentle on our wallets. These parks prove you don’t need deep pockets to get dirty this summer. Whether you’re crushing vert in Vermont, cruising flow through Big Bear or cranking laps in the Idaho trees, there’s budget-friendly stoke to be had everywhere. So swap your skis for some rubber, grab your gang and keep the send alive all summer long. We’ll see you out there.
