Western Slope Int MTB

OVERVIEW

It’s not your first time around the block, but you are still looking to build your skills. Sure, you have ridden your bike before, but you truly long to shred the trail. Or perhaps you’re tired of riding in Charlottesville and want to get some backcountry-esque experience without being miles and miles from civilization? Western Slope is calling your name.

Not to be confused with the bike park, the Massanutten Western Slope trail system is located just outside Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley Bike Coalition maintains top notch mountain bike trails there that are open to the public. Seriously, if you think O’Hill, Ragged, or Preddy are awesome, Western Slope will blow your mind. To ride here, you must purchase a day pass for Friday ($10) (unless you have an annual pass already), but the fees go back to the SVBC to do more trail work and bike advocacy! Purchase a pass here: https://svbcoalition.org/ride/trail-passes/#page-content

I plan to ride around 10 miles (w/ breaks), though a route is not set in stone and neither is the distance (let me know in the comments if you’d prefer something else and if you are okay/not okay with this distance.

Check out a trail map here: https://www.massresort.com/upload/photos/page_606_massanutten-western-slope-2022-map.pdf
as well as on MTBProject: https://www.mtbproject.com/directory/8012375/massanutten-western-slope

***Please read***
Some of the trails here have challenging, rocky, and steep sections. However, you can get off at any point and walk features or sections you are not comfortable riding. So, while this will be a challenging ride, it does not demand pro skills and I can promise that this place is super fun even if you don’t ride everything. If you have questions/concerns, let me know in the questionnaire or email/text me.

Rough time plan:
– 1 pm: Meet at the Shred Shack (116 Washington Ave.) and depart
– 2:30: Arrive at Western Slope
– 3:00-5:30: pedal pedal pedal, breaks for lunch/water/snacks
– 5:30: Back at the car (maybe sooner, idk)
– 7 pm: Arrive back in Cville

You bring:
-water 2L: I can put 1-2 bottle cages on each bike (let me know in the questionnaire). I recommend wearing a backpack (not your school bag) with water/food, if you don’t have one, let me know and I’ll try to secure one for you
-snacks
-a way to carry your water and snacks (backpack recommended, see above)
-gloves
-weather-appropriate clothing – current forecast is a high of 83 degrees with a 30% chance of showers
-closed-toe shoes
-DAY PASS for Western Slope – purchase here: https://svbcoalition.org/ride/trail-passes/#page-content
–> I recommend waiting until you are let off the trip to purchase a day pass so you don’t purchase a pass you can’t use if you aren’t let off the trip

I bring:
-bikes
-racks
-helmets
-tools

Driver(s) needed! I don’t have a car, so this trip can’t happen without a driver – drivers get priority off the waitlist and gas reimbursement + 50% tip! Please let me know about your bike carrying abilities if you have a car.