Mt. Airy Forest is Getting a New Bike Skills Course
Cincinnati Parks has officially broken ground on an exciting new addition to Mt. Airy Forest: a Bike Skills Course designed for riders of all ages and abilities. This project is only possible thanks to a collaboration between Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA), the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, and American Ramp Company.
A First for Cincinnati
The Mt. Airy Bike Skills Course represents the city’s first beginner natural-surface trail experience. Spanning 3,710 feet, the course will include:
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27 obstacles to practice skills
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An adaptive perimeter path for riders of all abilities
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Bike racks, repair/pump station, picnic area, and drinking fountains
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Accessible features such as ADA access from the parking lot, accessible benches and picnic tables
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Direct access to hiking trails
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A zero-carbon footprint design that preserves the forest setting
What Riders Can Expect
The new facility will have two main components:
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Pump Track + Skills Zone – A progressive open-field course with wooden obstacles, ramps, and multiple tiers for beginners through advanced riders, including adaptive-friendly features.
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Cross-Country Trail Loop – A winding natural-surface trail that uses Mt. Airy’s hilly terrain, with dirt swales, cutbacks, and boulders for a real-world trail experience in a controlled environment.
Why Mt. Airy, Why Now
The course is being built in Area 23 at the end of Trail Ridge and Ponderosa Ridge Roads, which is currently a large open field that has long been underutilized. The site is perfect: it already offers parking, a comfort station, hiking trail access, and a scenic overlook. As part of the project, the long-closed restrooms will be fully repaired and made accessible, and the overlook will finally get the care it deserves.
What’s Next
Construction on the Bike Skills Course is already underway, with completion anticipated in late fall. A separate bid package is being developed for the restroom and overlook improvements, which will follow on their own timeline.
Cincinnati Parks shared that this project is part of their ongoing investment in making Mt. Airy Forest, already Cincinnati’s largest park at 1,459 acres, an even more dynamic place to ride, hike, and connect with nature.
Stay tuned for updates on the official opening date. We can’t wait to see riders of all backgrounds and abilities enjoying this new addition to the city’s trail network!
(Information courtesy of Cincinnati Parks.)
Source: Work Begins on Bike Skills Course in Mt. Airy Forest