Mountain bikers itching for some lift-served downhill riding can start making plans. Winter Park’s Trestle Bike Park will open on June 27.
Most of Colorado’s ski resorts have been shut down for months. This has left mountain bikers unsure of what summer resort access will look like. Today, Winter Park Resort offered some clarity.
Following state and county reopening guidelines, Winter Park Resort will open its gondola with access to mountaintop hiking trails. It will also open its base-area putting course and its Trestle Bike Park for summer guests.
Additional base-area services, including various restaurants, bike rentals, and some retailers will also open. Guests can already make lodging reservations for resort-managed properties, which open today.
Winter Park Will Be Open Summer 2020
The resort will operate with “modified summer recreational offerings.” This means visitors can expect some modifications to help protect them, and employees, from COVID-19. (We outline these in detail below.)
But otherwise, the park will be open 7 days a week through Labor Day. For the remainder of September 2020, the resort will operate only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Trestle Bike Park Opens June 2020
At the core of Winter Park Resort’s summer activities is Trestle Bike Park. Tailored for both the downhill and all-mountain riders, Trestle Bike Park has 1,800 vertical feet of elevation drop and more than 45 miles of purpose-built trails.
Winter Park noted in a release that it will update lift and trail opening specifics in the coming weeks. Bike rentals and private lessons will also be available, and all bike park products, including passes and tickets, must be purchased 24 hours in advance.
“We’re excited to open for summer 2020 and to welcome guests back to the mountains we love,” said Sky Foulkes, president of Winter Park Resort.
“For 80 years, Winter Park has been inviting people to Venture Out, and after diligent work and creative thinking, our team has modified our operations to meet the new demands of outdoor recreation in the COVID-19 era.”
Winter Park noted that Colorado Governor Jared Polis, along with Colorado and Grand County public health officials, recently amended executive orders, clearing the path for the resort to open for the 2020 summer season.
Winter Park is continuing to plan, evaluate, and adjust its operations leading up to the June 27 public opening. Currently, guests can book and stay in lodging. They can also learn more, prebook, or reserve other products and services before the opening by visiting www.winterparkresort.com.
Because of new restrictions and guidelines, all on-mountain products and services (except food and beverages) must be booked online 24 hours prior to arrival.
Modifications to Summer Operations
- Running the Gondola and other lifts to be compliant with capacity guidelines
- Opening some resort-owned restaurants for takeout only
- New signage to help with social distancing across the resort
- Requiring employees to go through a health screening before reporting to work
- Requiring employees with direct customer contact to wear face coverings
- Strongly recommending that all guests also wear face coverings when on or inside resort property
- A contactless check-in process for all resort-owned lodging, where guests will check in via a Text Concierge, allowing them to access keys through a lockbox or receive a key code for keyless entry
- Leaving 24 hours in between lodging reservations to properly clean and sanitize each unit
Winter Park is currently planning for a winter season opening in late fall when conditions allow.
