Northstar Bike Park

Dank!!

This was my first time riding at the Northstar bike park. I had high expectations since I rode their "sister" bike park at Keystone last year.

Overall, I had a great day! After the crazy CA winter, many of the trails are still in maintenance - hopefully "coming soon". There was still plenty to ride, and a good day in the sun.

The one oddity of Northstar is the trail rating system. From what I can tell, "black" means there are jump lines (but the trails are usually very smooth/flowy). "Blue" means few or limited jumps, but the trails tend to be more narrow, and have more rocks/roots. "Green" is (generally) a fireroad. "Double-black" has some very technical jumps/drops.

The terrain in NorCal gets dusty - to the point that they periodically close the trails to water them down. This seems to be for 10-20min and there are usually other choices.

I go to Northstar a couple of times every summer for the last 4 years. Always a blast!!!! I can get some double diamond runs in and my kids love riding the fire roads and easy rider trails. It's got something for every skill level and is a great place if your new to lift riding. I would also recommend lessons for the kids. The instructors are great and my kids confidence is always sky high after.

Rode this park in Aug of 2000. Brought my shoes and pedals and tore this place up. Glad to see that it's still the baum.

I took my XC bike on my trip to Cali and rode here. It was free as I didn't get a lift ticket. Lots of climbing but every bit worth it for the rides back down. Trail map is a must and you need to watch for the gravity riders hauling ass coming down the trails if youre climbing the singletrack off the gravel roads.

Rode Northstar on 9/20/2015. The trails are in great shape for late in the season. It was extremely dusty. Some of the double diamonds are irrigated to keep the dust down, which is a big plus! Plenty of jumps, tabletops and stunts to play on.

Beginner to Advanced DH riding is fun for all ages. Ability to shuttle to the top of the trail via chair lift is a huge plus.

Rode on 6/8/13, about 1/2 the trails were open. Rest of the mountain is supposed to open on 6/14. The new trail Sawmill was awesome! Fun berms and features!

Park opens for the summer on June 7!

This is the Disneyland for mountain bikers!!! I've been here a few times & I still dream about my next trip back. The first time here, I did a morning "Ride 101" class (I knew it was pretty basic, but it was my first time at Northstar & it was only $15 & figured it'd help me get familiar with the terrain). IMO, Ride 101 is pretty much useless unless you've never ridden on dirt before. Did "Bumps & Bends" that afternoon ($35) & this class helped me gain lots of confidence on riding rock & log drop offs as well as cornering & jumping. I enjoyed the class so much I did it again on my 2nd trip to Northstar... this time it was a really small class of 3 students... we focused mostly on jumping. In my regular xc rides, I really don't do much jumping (just little small bunny hops over obstacles) but after Northstar, I've been itching for more.

Great place to ride DH for everyone from complete beginners to pros. Sign up for DH 101 if you've never tried downhill before, otherwise hit the lifts and ride down! My fave has to be Live Wire because it's so fast and flowy.

Fun time, bring your full downhill bike.

Woods had some good sections, Gypsy and Flameout were two of my favorites with lots of rocks, Big trees has a cool elevated wood structure, Three Amigos and Manure were fun as well. Many more trails, all were lots of fun-----Labor day weekend has the rib cookoff in Reno. So we hit that as well. Great weekend!* Review edited 9/7/2009* Review edited 9/7/2009

Had alot of fun riding the HUGE network of trails...but definately not for kids. my 9 year old went along with us and he didnt have such a great time, as his hands started hurting from having to use his brakes alot...but the wife and I loved it and a ready to go back* Review edited 7/23/2009

yep, northstar is crazy fun but central coast is way better. Face is crazy, If you don't ride tech don't ride Face you will fall and hurt yourself. and once you get on your feet you will slip and fall off some huge drop or rock face. Ride Towers it is actually ridable! northstar is fun and you can bring the kids...... mabye?

We always do Backside first to a lake to the south. East/east side of the lake there is a small trail that leads back to Northstar. Then spend the rest of the day shuttling till we can not stand up any more* Review edited 8/21/2007

Another great version to this is not to take the lift and actually ride up the mountian, itís a 9 mile climb via the service roads (bring your lungs!). Start from the village and make your way up to the second lodge then take the service road that heads to the west. That will lead you around lookout Mt, up by Watson Lk and a paved FS road for about a mile then a left onto gravel that will take you to the Tryumph Tr or take the second left that will climb up to the peak of Mt Pluto - from here itís a cool, less traveled, downhill ride to where the lift is dropping people off or any other run on the mountain.

Great ride! Northstar has done a lot of work keeping up their summer riding program. They've also stepped up the quality of their rental bikes, if you're renting one for the day.

By that time my lungs were aching for air.

The elevation got to me. I'll admit it. But it was great riding. One warning, though. When the the sign has two black diamonds on it ... chances are you will be encountering sharp, pointy rocks. But what a rush.

Do Back Side. find the lake on the back side of lake is rustic single track back to north star. Wife and I have never shared this info.