Help Build the Salida Bike Park!
The Vision
We’re building a bike park at the F Street Trailhead to serve riders of all ages and abilities—and we need your support to make this vision a reality.
In Winter 2025/26, SMT worked with IMBA Trail Solutions to gather public feedback and develop a vision for what a comprehensive bike park could look like at the F Street Trailhead. The resulting Community Bike Park Report and Preferred Concept Diagram serve as the road map and direction for the next phases of planning, design and implementation.
We are now raising funds for Phase 1, which will revamp and enhance the existing bike park pilot project to provide improved opportunities for progressive skill development and fun.
Phase 1
Phase 1 will enhance the existing bike park pilot, with two types of features geared toward beginner- and intermediate-level riders: Progressive jump lines, and skill-development features (eg. drops, skinnies).
This will entail:
Progressive Jump Lines
- Redesigning existing jump lines to improve flow + fun
- Adding wooden features to provide durable, consistent takeoffs. (Durable = easier maintenance. Consistent = better for practice)
Skills Features
- Creating skill-development features (eg. skinnies, rollers, drops) to practice bike handling
- Top request in community feedback for concept vision
A More Complete Park
- Building a dedicated return trail to separate users at this busy trailhead
- Laying the foundation for future phases, with improved amenities, more advanced riding zones, and a better overall experience for everyone who uses the park.
Get Involved
Your donation will help us develop the Salida Bike Park into a place that serves more riders, supports progressive skills development, and serves as the keystone to the Arkansas Hills Trails.
Salida Mountain Trails is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Why This Matters
Although Chaffee County is known for world-class trails, there is a critical missing link for beginner mountain bikers. This project addresses that need.
This project will transform neglected open space into the keystone of the beloved Arkansas Hills Trail System, providing an easily accessible place for people of all ages and abilities to gain confidence and build skills on bikes. In doing so, the Bike Park will:
Inclusivity
Empower more people to enjoy mountain biking, trails and public lands.
Public Health
Promote active, healthy lifestyles and create a place for social connection.
Youth Development
Provide a low-risk environment for kids to get comfortable on bikes and have fun.
Economic Vitality
Support our community’s recreation-based economy by providing a unique attraction.
Project Background
Trail use has risen 34% at the project site (F Street trailhead) since 2023. Demand for a bike park has likewise grown, with people seeking a low-risk environment to practice skills before heading into the backcountry.
In 2024, SMT and Salida Parks and Recreation created a small pilot project, which demonstrated significant community interest in a bigger bike park; riders used the modest pilot 100,000 times in 2025.
In Winter 2025/26, SMT contracted IMBA Trail Solutions, the international leader in developing bike-optimized facilities, to lead public outreach and develop a “preferred concept” design. With that vision in hand, we are now seeking funds to begin Phase 1 construction.
Future phases envision additional experiences, including some aimed at more advanced riders. The exact scope, scale and timing of future phases will depend on fundraising, and can be modified as needed.