Mountain Creek Bike Park

The Gondola Doesn’t Care If You’ve Never Ridden Downhill Before

That’s the whole appeal of Mountain Creek Bike Park. A high speed gondola hauls riders and bikes 1,040 vertical feet to the summit in about six minutes, and from there the mountain sorts itself out into roughly 60 trails, from smooth machine-groomed flow lines to technical rock gardens and jump-heavy downhill runs. It’s been ranked among the best bike parks in North America by MTBParks.com two years running, and it’s the closest lift-served downhill scene to the New York metro area.

Trails for Every Level

Beginners start on wide, forgiving flow trails built to teach line choice and braking before speed becomes the focus. More experienced riders can move into technical sections with roots, rock rolls, and drops, or chase jump lines with 60-plus built features scattered across the mountain. Children under 5 aren’t permitted on the downhill trails, and the park strongly recommends adult supervision or a lesson for riders under 14.

Rentals, Lessons, and Gear

Mountain Creek Bike Park stocks rental bikes from Trek and other major brands, and its lesson program runs from a two-hour beginner package (bike, gear, and guided instruction included) up through coaching for riders looking to progress into steeper terrain. Helmets are required on both the lift and the trails, no exceptions.

Season and Tickets

The bike park typically opens in late April on a limited spring schedule before shifting to daily summer hours, and it runs one of the longest lift-served biking seasons in the country. Full-day tickets and twilight tickets (starting at 3 p.m.) are both available, along with season passes and a Triple Play card for riders who come back often.

Getting There

The bike park sits on the same Vernon Township property as Mountain Creek Resort’s ski hill and waterpark, at 200 NJ-94. General parking is free for mountain bikers.