Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, Colorado, is known as a fantastic destination for cyclists of all skill levels. But if you’re a parent of a toddler, you might be wondering: is Valmont Bike Park suitable and enjoyable for the littlest riders? Like many things involving toddlers, the answer is nuanced and “it depends!”
While Valmont Bike Park is primarily designed for school-aged children and older, it does offer dedicated spaces for toddlers. However, these areas are best suited for toddlers who are already comfortable on their bikes, enjoy a bit of speed, and don’t require constant parental assistance right by their side.
Our experience taking our 2.5-year-old, Toddler Outdoor Beginner (Toddler OB), to Valmont Bike Park was insightful. In hindsight, we felt waiting another six months to a year might have been ideal for our cautious child. However, if you have a toddler who is adventurous and loves to ride, Valmont Bike Park could be a great option!
Exploring Toddler-Friendly Zones at Valmont Bike Park
For families with toddlers, Valmont Bike Park offers two specifically designed areas: the XS Toddler Pump Track and the Tot Track.
The Tot Track is the smaller of the two, essentially a simple loop encircling the playground area. This paved concrete track features gentle rolling bumps and very subtly banked turns, making it a very mellow introduction to bike parks.
We decided to start our visit at the pump track, as Toddler OB was a bit hesitant about riding on concrete. The XS Toddler Pump Track is more expansive than the Tot Track but still compact and manageable for little ones, measuring approximately 20 yards across. It features gently banked sides and small bumps, less than six inches in height, with more pronounced banking than the Tot Track, though still not challenging.
Delving into the XS Toddler Pump Track Experience
For those unfamiliar, a pump track is a specially designed bike track intended to be ridden without pedaling. Riders generate momentum by “pumping” their arms and legs, making it perfect for balance bikes and learning bike control.
A quick note: It’s worth mentioning that in 2022, signage at the toddler track referred to it as the “Tot Track,” which could cause some confusion.
XS pump track at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder. A fenced dirt track for toddlers with small bumps and banked turns.
Toddler OB spent around 15 minutes slowly navigating the pump track loop, figuring out the rhythm. Despite being comfortable riding on flat surfaces in our neighborhood, it became apparent that Toddler OB wasn’t yet at ease coasting down even small inclines or bumps. This was perfectly okay, but perhaps indicated that Valmont Bike Park wasn’t the ideal fit just yet for their current skill level.
Pump Track Traffic: How Busy Does It Get?
We were fortunate to have the toddler area practically to ourselves during our weekday visit, as 98% of the park was closed due to rain. Only the toddler facilities and playground were open. Toddler OB’s cautious pace would have likely caused a significant bottleneck if other children had been present. Coupled with the need for us to walk alongside (as discussed below), we would have likely opted to leave if the area was crowded.
Parent Participation on the Toddler Pump Track: Allowed or Not?
Officially, parents are not permitted on the toddler pump track itself. However, as our toddler wasn’t comfortable riding independently and we were the only ones present, we admittedly bent the rules and walked alongside Toddler OB on the track. It’s crucial to emphasize that we would absolutely not have done this if other families were using the pump track.
A father walks beside his toddler on a balance bike on the toddler pump track at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder.
Exploring the Tot Track: A Tiny Track for Tiny Riders
After a few circuits of the pump track, Toddler OB was ready to try the Tot Track. While its smaller size made it a better match for their current abilities, its brevity meant Toddler OB was ready to move on after only about five minutes.
Valmont Bike Park Playground: Beyond the Bikes
Hoping to combine biking with some playground fun, we checked out the Valmont Bike Park playground. Unfortunately, the playground equipment is geared towards school-aged children and is quite limited. Toddler OB attempted a couple of pieces of equipment before we decided to wrap up our visit. On the plus side, the playground surface is made of smooth, accessible rubber, making it inclusive for everyone.
Valmont Bike Park playground with rubber surface and equipment for older kids.
Is Your Toddler Ready for Boulder Valmont Bike Park?
To determine if your toddler is ready to enjoy Valmont Bike Park, consider their biking independence and confidence. They should be able to ride their bike without needing you constantly right beside them, be comfortable with slight downhill coasting, and ideally enjoy building up a little speed.
While our visit was shorter than anticipated and we ended up spending more time at Southern Sun Brewing afterwards, it was still a pleasant outing. We encourage you to try Valmont Bike Park with your toddler and see how they like it! Friends with older, school-aged children report spending hours there.
And remember, always ensure your child wears a helmet whenever they are biking!
