The Wood River Valley has miles and miles of mountain-biking trails that vary in length and difficulty. In the past few years, Sun Valley has been promoting mountain biking to visitors and residents as one more exciting and exhilarating outdoor activity that the region offers. But like every sport, there is a learning curve.
The Idaho Bike Ranch opened this summer, 28 miles northwest of Fairfield, to offer riders an opportunity to enhance their mountain-biking skills. The ranch's main goal is to promote riding the Wood River Valley trails and anywhere else as an enjoyable experience.
On more than 100 acres of pristine property in the Smoky Mountains, owner and developer Mark Baumgardner has added a summer component to his Idaho Smoky Mountain Lodge, the only fly-in heli-skiing lodge in the lower 48 states.
"Lots of things have been tried in the area, from mining to ranching," Baumgardner said. "My passion has always been recreation. The bike ranch is a unique and good fit."
Set in beautiful wilderness with first-rate amenities, the Idaho Bike Ranch is a premier terrain park designed for everyone from novice mountain bikers looking to break into the sport to advanced riders eager to improve their skills.
"We give you the tools you need to ride with your friends and spouse," said Jennifer Biondi, director and developer. "We work on proper body position, force you to break bad habits and be safe and comfortable."
Biondi said Baumgardner took her to the property a year ago for a tour and she was "blown away."
"He asked me, if it was mine what would I do, and I told him to develop a mountain bike training facility," she said.
Biondi put all of her own knowledge in creating a training facility equipped with progressive stunts, pump tracks, a BMX course and a network of technical and adventurous single-track trails. In addition, the facility offers skill-building components, including jibs, teeter-totters, skinny boards and drop boxes.
"It's technical stuff to expand the rider experience," she said. "It's built to take a rider to the next level. If people want to corner faster and maintain speed, we provide a service for experienced riders."
Biondi said it's a facility that can be used for team-building meetings for companies outside of the office. The ranch can also host gatherings of friends and family, such as the Dirt Divas weekend, when girlfriends gathered for a weekend of mountain biking.
"It's safe and comfortable," Biondi said. "There are no other outside influences at the bike ranch, so riders can focus on riding. Spotters and multiple coaches are on hand and instructors are professional mountain bike instructors who have been certified."
The idea of the bike ranch has been Biondi's dream since she was 9 and built ramps to jump from her bike into her neighborhood lake in California, charging all the boys $1 to try it on their own. Biondi has always been an adventure seeker, including appearing as a contestant on the first season of the reality TV show "The Mole" with news anchor Anderson Cooper.
Baumgardner said that next year the ranch will work on building a trail system, and since the property borders the Sawtooth National Forest on three sides, visitors can ride off property and stay at the lodge.
Staying at the lodge is another part of the experience. Visitors enjoy gourmet meals, a wood-burning sauna and fire pits under the stars. The ranch's remote location offers an Idaho experience where bright red kokanee salmon travel the rivers and mountain peaks are plentiful.
The bike ranch facility is not nearly as busy as the woods around Sun Valley during the summer. It's off the beaten path, halfway between Boise and Sun Valley.
"It's about enjoying where we live," Biondi said. "Don't be afraid to ride."
The Idaho Bike Ranch will offer a free range day open to everyone on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring a helmet and bike and ride for free. The lodge is 28 miles northwest of Fairfield.
For details and directions, call 720-6679 or visit www.idahobikeranch.com.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Mountain bikers at the Idaho Bike Ranch work on their riding skills.
Courtesy photo
