With mountain biking becoming more and more popular there have been more and more riding destinations showing up around the country. Places that have previously been used for activities such as skiing or hiking are now being used for mountain biking. And many of those places are designed so that you can be taken to the top and then you just have to ride down rather than have to ride up first. And there are many people who don't like to earn their downhill! |
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Depending on the route you decide to take there are a number of different trails you can take to get the most bang for your shuttle buck. Just be sure to talk to someone who knows the trails beforehand so you can plan your ride without getting lost or missing the trails you want to ride. Or be sure to pick up a map and ask what trails offer what kind of riding to get an idea of what you are in for.
Mt. Ashland Video
Mt. Ashland Review
If you are into downhill riding where the trails feature a lot of natural features for you to ride over and jump off then you should give Mt. Ashland a go. Most of the trails include all natural features but there are a couple trails with some manmade jumps. One of the most challenging and therefore most fun trails is called Time Warp and it’s a 4 mile thrill ride with steep technical areas as well as rock drops and log jumps. If you want some man made jumps along with the natural stuff then check out Lynx. But to get to Lynx you will have to ride up the fire road first in order to ride down the fun part. Catwalk is another must do trail since it offers high speed fun with some obstacles to navigate your way over along the way.
If you plan your ride right you can hit one trail after the other and have miles of fun on your way down the mountain. And if you really plan your ride right you can time it to where the shuttle picks up at the bottom of the mountain otherwise you will need to ride the road back to the bike shop where the shuttle leaves from. There is also the option to take the earlier shuttle that picks up from the bottom of the mountain and then you can leave your car there so it's easy to pack up and go when you are done.
None of the trails are too advanced except for the jump line trail that has some large gap jumps. For the most part you are ok using a decent full suspension bike but a downhill bike can also be fun on many of the sections. Just remember that you will most likely have to do some pedaling during your ride to get to the next trailhead. If you are planning on pouring on the speed and taking on the rocks and tree stumps then you may want to consider a full face helmet and some pads. If you are just going out for a nice ride then your standard gear should be fine. Mt. Ashland has trails that will satisfy just about any riders style so it's a good place to go for just about anyone.
Mt. Ashland Pictures
Directions to Mt. Ashland
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To get to the top of the Mountain find your way to the Mt. Ashland ski area. From there you will take the fire road (NE-20) and make your way up to the route of your choice. This is where you need a map or to go with someone who has been there. If you take the shuttle you can most likely tag along with others that have ridden the trails before.
If you do decide to do the shuttle thing then you can contact Ashland Mountain Adventures to make a reservation and get more information. They are located in Ashland and offer shuttle rides as well as bike rentals. They are very helpful and will make sure you get the information you need.