Navigating the trails at Highland Bike Park can be more demanding than what you might be accustomed to at other riding locations. It’s important to understand that our trail ratings are specific to Highland Bike Park and may present a higher level of challenge compared to trails with similar ratings elsewhere. To ensure you have the best and safest experience, familiarize yourself with our trail categories and difficulty levels before hitting the mountain.
Freeride Trails at Highland Bike Park
Highland Bike Park’s Freeride Terrain is a blend of naturally occurring features and expertly crafted, machine-built elements. These trails are designed to thrill, incorporating dirt jumps, rollable features, gaps, narrow ride lines, wallrides, berms, and a variety of other constructed and natural obstacles. Freeride trails are easily identifiable by their difficulty symbol displayed within a distinctive orange oval.
Beginner Freeride
These trails at Highland Bike Park are characterized by smooth, generously wide surfaces, gentle corners, and flowing, rolling terrain. Every feature on Beginner Freeride trails includes ride-arounds, making them an excellent starting point for riders who are new to the bike park environment. They are specifically designed to build confidence and introduce newer bike park riders to the joys of freeride.
Intermediate Freeride
Stepping up from beginner, Intermediate Freeride trails at Highland Bike Park offer smooth surfaces on steeper gradients. Expect to encounter larger bermed corners, rollers, and smaller jumps. You’ll also find raised features such as bridges and wallrides, which may require riders to have some jumping skills and maintain momentum. Crucially, all features still include ride-arounds, providing a margin for error and allowing riders to progress at their own pace. These trails are ideally suited for riders who have confidently mastered all beginner freeride options and are looking to advance their skills.
Advanced Freeride
Highland Bike Park’s Advanced Freeride trails present a more challenging mix of smooth and rugged riding surfaces on steep and fast slopes. Prepare for larger man-made features, including substantial jumps, elevated bridges, and steeper wallrides. While all features still offer ride-arounds, advanced jumping skills are necessary to fully enjoy these trails. These are designed for riders who have conquered all intermediate freeride trails and are ready for a significant increase in challenge.
Expert Only Freeride
For seasoned riders seeking a serious adrenaline rush, Expert Only Freeride trails at Highland Bike Park feature steep terrain, incredibly fast speeds, and demand expert-level jumping skills. These trails include mandatory jump features that require a solid understanding of gaps and landings. There are no ride-arounds on these features, meaning commitment and precision are key. These trails are exclusively for the most advanced freeride riders.
Pro Line Freeride
The pinnacle of freeride at Highland Bike Park, Pro Line trails boast the largest gaps and mandatory jump features with absolutely no ride-arounds. Expert jumping skills are not just recommended, they are essential. These trails are designed and intended solely for professional-level riders pushing the boundaries of the sport.
Technical Trails at Highland Bike Park
Technical trails at Highland Bike Park are crafted to integrate seamlessly with the natural contours and ruggedness of the mountain. Primarily hand-built, these trails emphasize organic obstacles and stunts such as rocks, roots, logs, drops, jumps, and other natural or constructed features that demand refined technical riding skills. Technical trails are identified simply by their difficulty symbol without the orange oval.
Beginner Technical
Beginner Technical trails at Highland Bike Park introduce riders to rougher singletrack experiences, incorporating small rocks and exposed tree roots. These trails are designed for bike park newcomers who are already comfortable on beginner freeride trails and are looking to explore more natural terrain.
Intermediate Technical
Moving into Intermediate Technical trails at Highland Bike Park, riders will encounter rougher terrain characterized by tighter corners and steeper slopes. Larger natural obstacles, including more significant roots and rock features, become prevalent. These trails are a good progression for riders who have mastered all beginner technical trails and are seeking a more demanding natural riding experience.
Advanced Technical
Highland Bike Park’s Advanced Technical trails feature steep gradients and large, technical trail features, including substantial rocks, root sections, and drops. Expect to navigate technical handling challenges through closely spaced trees and rough, uneven sections. These trails are best suited for riders who have confidently mastered all intermediate technical trails and are ready for a serious test of their technical abilities.
Expert Only Technical
Expert Only Technical trails at Highland Bike Park represent the steepest and most technically demanding terrain in the park. While there are currently no Technical Expert Only trails available at The Highlands, riders looking for similar challenges are strongly encouraged to warm up on intermediate and advanced technical trails to prepare for future additions. These trails, when available, will be exclusively for the most advanced technical riders.
Pro Line Technical
Pro Line Technical trails at Highland Bike Park, currently unavailable, will represent the ultimate challenge in technical riding. Proficient handling of all mountain biking skills will be required to tackle these trails. Designed for professional riders only, these trails will push the limits of technical mountain biking.
Currently, there are no Technical Expert Only or Technical Pro Line trails at Highland Bike Park, but keep an eye out for future developments and expansions to our trail network. We encourage all riders to choose trails that align with their current skill level and to progressively challenge themselves as their abilities grow at Highland Bike Park.
