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Park Report | October 2020

Happy October! The changing leaves and a few days of much-anticipated rain have been treating us to fantastic fall conditions. The air is crisp, the trails are well-hydrated, and our team has been making the rounds with the leaf blowers to keep your tires one with the dirt. As temperatures get colder, don’t forget that our COVID-19 guidelines are still in effect. Day passes are limited and must be reserved online in advance. Passes consistently sell out on Saturdays and Sundays, so make sure you’re planning ahead!  2021 Season Passes are now on sale! Get yours today and ride for the remainder of the 2020 season and all of 2021. (Season pass holders do not have to reserve day passes in advance.) We offer a variety of season pass products so you can choose the one that best fits your riding style. Prices go up on November 16, so treat…

Highland is Home Episode 2: Trail Crew

We wouldn’t have a Highland to call home without the dedicated team of builders who design, construct, and maintain the trails we all love to ride. In this month’s episode of Highland is Home, we hear from trail crew members James, Jordan, Whitney, Zach, and Justin about what brought them to this mountain, and why they continue to do what they do. In the fifteen years that Highland Mountain Bike Park has been operating we’ve remained 100% dedicated to bikes, which means that everything the trail crew builds is designed exclusively for mountain biking. “We’ve been fortunate enough thanks to Mark to be able to build some of the coolest, most progressive features and trails anywhere,” says James Patterson, Trail Crew Director. His small crew of builders all bring specialized skills to the table, from hand-building to machine operating to water management and everything in between. James Patterson, Highland Trails…

Highland Is Home | Episode 1: One Passion

For fifteen years, Highland has been dedicated to fostering a bike community that welcomes everyone, from first-time riders to world-class athletes. This year we’re celebrating our Highland Family with a six-part video series exploring what inspires so many of us to call Highland home. When you think of the “Highland Family,” who do you think of? The kids you see popping wheelies in the backyard? The folks you hang out with in the parking lot every weekend? That guy you met in the lift line by chance and now look forward to riding with every year? Maybe you think of the friend who towed you off Tombstone for the first time, or the woman who always pushes you to pedal harder during Wednesduro, or the bartender who remembers your name season after season. For Highland’s staff, it’s all of those and more. As Patrol Director Nick Guiod says, Highland is…

The 2020 Highland Training Guide

School’s out for the summer, which means it’s time to focus on bikes. Is there a technique you’ve been struggling to master? A trail or feature you’ve vowed to cross off your bucket list this season? Did you just pull your bike out of the basement for the first time in years, and now you need a hand brushing off the cobwebs? We’re here to help. Highland Training has a variety of programs available for riders of all ages and ability levels. If you love to ride, we can help you to do it better! Keep reading for an overview of everything we’re offering this season, from the classic introductory Find Your Ride to our brand-new advanced Progression Sessions. If you’ve ridden at Highland in the last ten years, odds are you’ve heard of our Find Your Ride program. The Find Your Ride is an all-inclusive package catering to anyone…

Introducing “Thursduro” | Another Night of Uphill Access

Last Wednesday marked the most popular Wednesduro that Highland had ever seen. We assumed it was just a fluke: the season was delayed, we’ve all been cooped up at home—no wonder everyone jumped at the first chance to ride. This week, we figured, would be quieter. We were wrong! We’re stoked to see this much interest in riding Wednesduro. Starting next week, we will be introducing a second night of uphill access every Thursday: “Thursduro,” if you will. Everything you love about Wednesday, now offered twice a week. Passes are limited and must be reserved online in advance. Let’s get out there and earn those turns! How early can I arrive? You can check in and get your wristband as early as 4:00pm. Uphill riding opens at 5:30pm.  Do I need to reserve a spot online if I have a season pass? No, you do not. I have a Wednesduro…

2020 Opening Weekend | The Details

Hello Highland Family, We’ve been laying low for the last week while we waited for finalized approval to open the park at the end of May. Good news: we have approval! We are officially moving forward with opening the park to 2020 season pass holders on May 27th and to the general public on May 28th, with some restrictions. New guidelines will be in place across the mountain in light of COVID-19. Please read all of the following information closely so that you are aware of exactly how Highland operations will be adjusted this season. (We’ll also be keeping the Highland How-To Guide updated with any and all changes.) On Wednesday, May 27th we will be open to current season pass holders only. You must have a season pass to ride. Season passes can be purchased online here. Starting on Thursday, May 28th, we will be open to the public,…

Parking Lot Policy Update

Good afternoon Highland Family! We hope you’re doing well and enjoying the spring weather. We’re sure that you, like us, are all itching to ride.  Our team is continuing to meet weekly to plan for the year amidst the persistent uncertainty of the coronavirus. We’re taking this opportunity to evaluate our operations and raise our standards for the future. As we gear up for what is certainly going to be an unusual season, we would like to make you all aware in advance of a couple of new policies: First, Highland does not have the facilities in place to support camping. We are aware that in the past, some riders have chosen to take advantage of our open lot and stay overnight in their vehicles or tents. In an effort to maximize the steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our community, this cannot continue. We…

The Push for Sustainability at Highland

Sustainability has always been one of the core values of the Highland Trails business. Maintaining the land we ride on requires planning and careful attention to detail, and it’s something we pride ourselves on. Highland’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond our work on the trails. In recent years Highland has partnered with CLIF to ramp up sustainability efforts in other areas of mountain operations. With CLIF’s support, we’ve been able to implement incremental changes around the park that address our environmental impact day-to-day. Our first target was plastic bottle waste. As mountain bikers, we drink a lot of water. Single-use plastic water bottles are notorious for having a short frame of usefulness and a long-lasting breakdown period. The CLIF water station, located at the base of the lift, provides fresh potable water for refilling your reusable bottle. Similarly, we installed a water fountain in the lower level of the lodge….