When most people think of Nevada, they imagine the bright lights of Las Vegas or its vast desert landscape. But far from the glitz and glamour lies Ely, a town embracing the rugged beauty of its surrounding mountains. With over 50 miles of singletrack worth exploring, one of the oldest enduro MTB races in the US, and another 50 miles of trail in development, this historic mining town will soon be on every mountain biker’s radar.
Ely’s passion for mountain biking stretches back to the early 90s, when one of the main trail networks — Ward Mountain — was designated as a recreation area and became non-motorized. This transition from dirt bikes to mountain biking also inspired a group of local riders to start a race in 1995. Based on the moto enduro format but adapted for mountain biking, they called it Fears, Tears, and Beers. It’s now the oldest enduro MTB race in the country.
After almost two decades, the event now sells out in less than 24 hours, and the community’s dedication to mountain biking has only grown stronger. Doubling down on this excitement, Ely, with support from the Great Basin Trails Alliance, is on its way to reaching their vision of 100 miles of singletrack trails.
A lot of “blood, sweat, and tears” have gone into making sure these new trails are well-planned and constructed, creating a cohesive trail system. The work has been a collaborative effort between White Pine County, the Forest Service, BLM, Nevada State Parks, the City of Ely, and White Pine County to ensure careful consideration is put into the design of the trails and that the construction is executed by professional trail building companies. As the Director of White Pines Tourism, Kyle Horvath, put it, “Quality facilities are our guiding light. No interest in cheapskating.”
As of today, you need to drive to reach one of the trail networks. However, the long-term goal is that, in the future, once you hit town, you’ll never have to get back in your car again. Just hop in your saddle, embrace the mountain biking Wild West, and head out onto the trails.
To achieve this goal, Ely plans to create a cohesive trail network with three main hubs in downtown, all accessible without driving once. These hubs will include the Nevada Northern Railway, Broadbent Park, and the Aquatic Center. Think of them as super-trailheads, where you’ll find amenities like bathrooms, parking, and water both before and after your ride, as well as other entertainment to add to your day. This connectivity and modern trail development will help Ely achieve the coveted IMBA Ride Center status.
Phase 1: Ward Mountain expands from 20 to 50 miles
Currently, the largest trail system in Ely is Ward Mountain. According to Horvath, “It’s adventure cross-country with the right amount of roughness and flow.” The network currently boasts 20 miles of singletrack, including a mix of old dirt bike bermed-in trails, fully hand-built singletrack, and seven miles of new machine-built trails.
After years of anticipation, the Forest Service awarded the construction of 30 miles of new trails on Ward Mountain to the International Mountain Bike Association’s (IMBA) Trail Solutions division. While IMBA Trail Solutions are currently working on a new trail network in Pioche, they’ll soon head north to Ely and start work there. This is thanks in part to a $2 million grant obtained by the US Forest Service via the Southern Nevada Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA) and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Along with new trails, there are plans to upgrade two existing trailheads: Upper and Lower Ice Plant. Lower Ice Plant is located just outside of town, offering easy access to the bottom of the Ward Mountain area. The Upper Ice Plant trailhead will receive improvements to make shuttle laps even easier.
They’ll also be adding one-of-a-kind interpretive signage throughout Ward Mountain, introducing you to the stories of the area’s first peoples, miners, travelers, and landscape. For instance, you might find information about a particular wildflower, including its Shoshone name and the story behind it.
Phase 2: Garnet Hill adding another 20 miles
The Garnet Hill/Murry Peak area, just north of downtown, is the second focal point for trail development. Ely’s two signature rocky, steep descents are currently located here — the Whorehouse Downhill and Rob’s Knob.
More than four years ago, the Great Basin Trails Alliance and White Pine County Tourism and Recreation were awarded a $10,000 Trail Accelerator grant from IMBA to help develop a plan for Garnet Hill. The Accelerator Grant didn’t just spark the concept of new trails — it energized the BLM to create a whole new vision of the lands under their management. The plan created with the $10,000 grant eventually led to a larger $10 million grant obtained from the Southern Nevada Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA) as well. This funding will help the BLM upgrade its campgrounds, improve its roads, and for mountain bikers — build 20 miles of new singletrack!
Currently, both iconic trails are only accessible via a steep jeep trail, which can be shuttled or pedaled up. The vision for this area is to connect these two expert trails and develop a full trail network with more variety and easier access. This will ensure riders of all skill levels, from beginners to experts, can enjoy them.
The nation’s only steam train mountain bike shuttle
The plans for Ely’s mountain bike scene extend way beyond its new trails. Ely aims to weave the town’s history and culture into its mountain biking experiences. As an example, the Northern Nevada Railway is a national historic landmark with over 30 miles of track and the last remaining working steam train yard. It will serve as what might be the only steam train mountain bike shuttle in the country. Currently, you can ride the steam train if you’re up for a gravel grind. But as part of the broader trail network vision, singletrack trails will connect to both ends of the railway line, including a trailhead across the street at the mine stop providing access to the other side of Garnet Hill.
With a community that’s passionate about mountain biking and land managers willing to do the heavy lifting of obtaining grants, the future looks bright for this eastern Nevada town. It’s not “if” but “when” Ely will become a national-level destination in its own right.
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