Baldridge Bike Park
Fundraiser
Ali Plantz
Ali Plantz
A purpose-built mountain bike park that will give riders of every age and ability a place to learn, progress, and ride. Right here in Montrose.
As the Western Slope region continues to grow as a mountain biking destination, much of its existing network consists of technical, hand-built-style trails. The Montrose Uncompahgre Trails, a chapter of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (MUT - COPMOBA), has recognized the opportunity to complement those legacy systems by introducing a modern, machine-built flow trail area within Baldridge Regional Park.
Baldridge Regional Park serves as one of Montrose’s most active and diverse recreation hubs, hosting amenities such as the Rotary Amphitheater, disc golf course, water park, and multi-use pathways. Integrating a mountain bike flow trail system here will expand the park’s appeal, offer skill-building opportunities for new riders, and provide experienced mountain bikers with a fresh, purpose-built venue close to town.
A purpose-built, full-bench singletrack climb that serves as the primary return route from the base area back to the start hub. This alignment is designed for an efficient, steady ascent with predictable grades that support comfortable climbing rhythms and continuous looping of the gravity system. The corridor threads across steep side slopes, requiring precise bench construction, well-managed drainage, and thoughtful tread shaping to ensure long-term stability. Because the adjacent terrain is narrow and steep, it will be difficult for the trail to meet adaptive standards and special care will need to be taken in making the switchbacks to ensure proper width and grade.
A smooth, welcoming descentdesigned to introduce new riders to flow-trail dynamics, this green-level trail emphasizes safety, progression, and full rollability. Gentle berms, broad rollers, and small, optional tabletops provide playful opportunities without requiring riders to leave the ground; any dirt features should remain off to the side so beginners can comfortably ride the main tread without encountering mandatory obstacles. Alignment prioritizes consistent grade and speed control, avoiding steep fall lines, while the downhill element alone supplies enough momentum for a confidence-building ride. The corridor will require full bench cuts on the lower slopes—especially near the steeper hillside at the bottom. As designed, this route will serve as the most adaptive-compatible downhill option in the system.
A second intermediate descent that bridges the gap between the beginner-friendly green line and the feature-heavy blue jump trail. Riders drop in from a wooden start ramp onto a narrow, fast, and terrain-responsive corridor that rewards momentum, timing, and bike handling. The line is designed to feel more natural and textural, emphasizing pumpy rollers, smaller tabletop options, and quick rhythm changes rather than big airtime. Throughout the descent, riders will encounter a varied mix of dirt features, compact wooden elements, and selective rock placements, offering multiple micro-skills to refine along the way. The lower section may culminate in a small terraced rock garden built with imported angular stone, introducing a controlled, technical challenge that remains appropriate for intermediate riders. This trail delivers a contrasting experience to the blue jump line—less airtime, more ground feel, and an emphasis on terrain-driven speed and precision—providing a natural step forward in progression for riders looking to develop confidence and control on more technical flow terrain.
The most advanced and technicalline in the system, this trail is designed for confident riders looking for higher speeds, precise control, and a full suite of gravity-driven maneuvers. Riders drop straight off the start hub via a wooden launch feature, immediately entering a supportive catch berm that sets them up for a dynamic sequence of terrain. From there, the line unfolds into a series of six or more extended tabletops, then into three substantial berms, each paired with optional shark-fin style jumps that reward speed and clean technique. The mid-trail wooden wall-ride berm introduces a dramatic, high-angle moment that punctuates the final descent, including an optional wood feature at the very bottom. The trail blends natural hillside textures with meticulously crafted flow features, creating a smooth yet demanding ride experience. Construction will rely on a combination of native soil and engineered wood elements to reinforce landings, support berm structure, and ensure long-term durability across the steep terrain.
A compact, beginner-friendly skills and pump-style loop designed for youth, new riders, and families looking to build confidence before entering the main gravity system. The track features a sequence of gentle rollers, on/off wood features, elevated banked corners, and a small, predictable rock garden, all crafted to introduce core bike-handling skills in a safe, approachable setting. With fully rollable features and mellow grades, the Skills Track functions as both a low-risk learning environment and a quick warm-up zone for riders preparing to take laps on the downhill trails. Its placement near the top of the park ensures high visibility, easy supervision, and a natural gathering space for families and youth programs.
A purpose-built, full-bench singletrack climb that serves as the primary return route from the base area back to the start hub. This alignment is designed for an efficient, steady ascent with predictable grades that support comfortable climbing rhythms and continuous looping of the gravity system. The corridor threads across steep side slopes, requiring precise bench construction, well-managed drainage, and thoughtful tread shaping to ensure long-term stability. Because the adjacent terrain is narrow and steep, it will be difficult for the trail to meet adaptive standards and special care will need to be taken in making the switchbacks to ensure proper width and grade.
An existing corridort that will be widened and regraded to create a smooth, intuitive connection between the main parking area and the start hub. This segment provides a simple, direct approach route for riders and park users, requiring only minor surface repair, tread widening, and targeted drainage improvements to meet the standards of the new trail system. Its gentle grade and straightforward alignment make it a reliable and accessible link for riders preparing to enter the gravity zone from the south side of the park.
A short, scenic stairway trail designed forhikersand runners on the south side of the system. This route provides direct pedestrian access to hillside viewpoints while maintaining clear separation from bike traffic, improving safety and circulation throughout the park. The alignment follows the natural fall line of the slope and integrates well with the park’s existing walking infrastructure. Modeled after the timber steps already used elsewhere in Baldridge Regional Park, this segment is anticipated to include approximately 150 wooden stair steps, offering a consistent and approachable ascent with durable construction suitable for year-round foot travel.
The Plan
The new system will include a beginner-rated dedicated climb/return trail, as well as a beginner (green), two intermediate (blue), and one expert (black) downhill flow trails offering a more natural-style experience. Together, these lines create a compact, modern riding zone that supports learning, progression, and repeat laps.
All features will be rollable and designed to support safe progression, with no mandatory gaps due to the park’s public setting. The entire trail system will total approximately 12,520 linear feet (2.3 miles), including 1.43 miles of downhill flow trail and roughly 4,925 linear feet of climbing and skills-area trail.
2.3 Miles
Purpose-built trail system
5 Downhill Trails
Progressive difficulty levels
80,000+
Annual park visitors
Adaptive Friendly
Designed for inclusive riding
Top Community Priority
Ranked #1 in the Baldridge Master Plan
The Community Asked for This
Trails ranked the #1 community investment priority
10,000+ public engagement points
400+ survey responses
80,000 annual park visitors
Partnership between COPMOBA and the City of Montrose
The Baldridge Bike Park is a planned network of professionally designed mountain bike flow trails within Baldridge Regional Park in Montrose. The project will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails, a skills area, and dedicated climbing routes to create a safe, progressive riding experience for all ages and abilities.
Absolutely! GVT will schedule bike park specific dig days in coordination with Thunderbird Trail Works. See our Events page and follow our social media for upcoming events!
Kindly do not dig or work on the bike park without prior coordination with COPMOBA.
Thanks so much for your generosity! Please reach out to COPMOBA Executive Director, Faith Rodriguez (faith@copmoba.org) with the details and quantity – we’d love to see how your donation could support the overall construction.
Yes—this park is being designed for beginner to intermediate(plus) riders. Riders will be able to start with rollers and small jumps, then work up to features that introduce airtime in a controlled, approachable way. As skills build, more advanced lines will offer increased size and speed. In the Grand Valley, where the riding baseline tends to be higher, “intermediate” reflects a more advanced skill level than in many other areas—but the park is designed to help riders grow into that. A dedicated skills zone will also provide a place to practice technical features in a lower-risk environment, building confidence before taking those skills onto the trail.
Don’t worry advanced riders, we’ve been thinking about you. Rather than forcing advanced lines into the low-angle terrain of the current footprint, we’re exploring the possibility of a future expansion into an area known as Painted Bowl. This would allow for more appropriate terrain and a better overall riding experience for advanced lines. Please note this is still in the concept phase and has not received City approval. Our priority is to complete the core bike park rebuild first. If you’re interested in helping shape this next phase, we’d love your involvement. Reach out, attend a chapter meeting, or connect with our PRS subcommittee focused on expanding progressive riding opportunities in the valley.
The agreement with the City of Grand Junction includes the current footprint. While the features and layout will be fully redesigned, the overall size and boundary of the park will remain the same for this phase. We have ideas for expanding outwards, but this phase is to include only the existing area.
People like you—through organized volunteer efforts with COPMOBA. We’ll coordinate regular maintenance, from replacing damaged materials to hosting bike park–specific dig days. With the addition of wood lips, the park is also designed to require less upkeep overall.
Want to get involved? We’d love to have you—sign up to volunteer and be part of keeping the park running strong.
Yes. All donations through the Lunch Loops Bike Park fundraiser will support the build and/or maintenance of the bike park.
Disclaimer: If project needs or scope evolve, funds may be used to support COPMOBA’s broader mission in Mesa County, including trail planning, construction, maintenance, and advocacy.