Access to the Best Mountain Bike Parks in the Wasatch
This summer, Deer Valley and Solitude – two of Utah’s most distinct ski resorts turned bike parks – have done something that feels both overdue and oddly daring: they launched a shared mountain biking pass. It’s called the Wasatch Gravity Pass, and for $450, you can now ride both mountains, all summer long, without having to choose between manicured flow and rugged alpine gnar. Think of it as a dual-citizenship deal for your bike – one that opens the gates to two very different but equally compelling styles of lift-accessed riding.
While the news might seem like a strategic sidestep around Deer Valley’s partial trail closures (more on that later), the bigger picture is one of evolution – a rare collaboration that benefits riders more than spreadsheets. This pass isn’t just a ticket. It’s a statement: two resorts realizing that together, they’re more than the sum of their trail maps.
Background: Lift Lines, Construction Zones, and Gravity Logic
The history is worth noting. Deer Valley has long been Utah’s white-glove gravity destination. It features manicured berms and sculpted jumps tended by lift operators who know their way around both trail maps and modern bike lingo. But 2025 brings a complication: the construction of the new Pinyon Express lift has effectively closed the upper-mountain zones, limiting trail access nearly by half. It’s not merely a construction zone; it’s a temporary ceiling on trail volume and vertical feet for Deer Valley regulars.
Solitude, meanwhile, has been quietly building something significant. Historically known more for its powder stashes than pedal-stroke stoke, Solitude has been reshaping its bike park with new trails and a renewed focus on summer. When Deer Valley needed a backup plan for displaced riders, Solitude wasn’t a fallback – it was a co-conspirator with a full trail plan and the ambition to match.
Enter the Wasatch Gravity Pass, a joint effort underpinned by Gravity Logic – the same firm that built out both resorts’ trail systems. If you’ve ridden Whistler, you’ve already felt their influence: big lines, sustainable design, and that subtle push to try a feature just outside your comfort zone. Their involvement means this isn’t a one-sided arrangement; it’s a well-aligned marriage of topography and intent.
For riders, this collaboration means expanded access and diversified terrain. For the resorts, it’s a lifeline that turns potential customer churn into something that actually builds loyalty. And for the local scene, it signals a maturing ethos – bike parks aren’t just side gigs for ski resorts anymore. They’re the main act, at least from June to September.
Trails Included: What You’re Actually Riding
Let’s be blunt: not all access is equal. Deer Valley’s offering under the Wasatch Gravity Pass is, at best, a curated sampler. With the upper-mountain trails closed for lift upgrades, the resort is showcasing its lower-mountain highlights – namely Ripple, Regulator, and Undertow. These are not consolation prizes. Ripple, for instance, offers a ride smooth enough to distract you from the fact that half the mountain is off-limits.
But still – it’s half a mountain.
Solitude, by contrast, is in full send mode. The Sunrise, Moonbeam, and Link chairlifts are all operational, and the resort has added four new downhill trails that aim to prove a point: we’re not just the quiet cousin anymore. Expect terrain that blends technical rock work, machine-built speed, and enough line variation to keep you debating tire pressure over lunch.
The real value, of course, is the contrast. Solitude brings texture – less polish, more grit, and trails that ask for a little more attention and a lot more traction. Deer Valley delivers precision – well-shaped features and fast lines built with the kind of care that’s easy to take for granted until you ride elsewhere. Together, they offer something rare in a lift-accessed pass: terrain for both your inner racer and your inner explorer.
Organizations and Intentions: Who’s Pulling the Strings
This isn’t a non-profit endeavor. But it’s not just capitalism on a trail map either. The collaboration between Deer Valley and Solitude is an acknowledgment that mountain bikers are not a niche market – they’re the market in summer. By pooling assets, the resorts can court a wider audience, buffer against infrastructure gaps, and build a brand around shared gravity.
Gravity Logic’s role isn’t just that of trail architect – it’s part evangelist, part quality control. Their blueprint ensures that both resorts speak a consistent dialect of design, even if the terrain sings a different song. Riders used to flow lines that double as tutorials will feel right at home, but even the hardtail masochists will find lines that keep them honest.
The stated goal is to offer “seamless access to premier downhill terrain.” The unspoken goal? To set a regional standard for cooperation in a sport that’s often balkanized by boundaries and branding.
Environmental and Positive Impacts: Dirt With Intention
Consider sustainability – not the greenwashing kind, but the measurable, trackable kind. Deer Valley has committed to a 100% waste diversion rate by 2050. As of now, they’re halfway there. That’s not just a statistic – it’s an infrastructure investment that includes trail maintenance, composting systems, and a landfill diversion program that doesn’t read like a tax write-off.
Solitude brings its own credentials. The resort partners with the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, a group that sounds suspiciously gentle until you realize they’ve been quietly eliminating invasive species and reinforcing trail networks for years. It’s the behind-the-scenes effort that prevents erosion, preserves trail integrity, and keeps ecosystems intact – without flashy headlines or photo ops.
By funneling more riders through managed lift-access points, the pass may also reduce the pressure on sensitive backcountry zones. It’s a smart way to manage rider impact by concentrating use in areas designed to handle the traffic.
What It Costs: Because You Asked
At $450, the Wasatch Gravity Pass is either a bargain or a bank-breaker, depending on how often you ride. If you’re local and lift-happy, it’s a no-brainer. If your bike rarely leaves the garage once ski season ends, it might be a tougher sell.
But break it down: a single-day lift ticket at either resort runs around $70. That means the pass pays for itself in about seven days. And you get two distinctly different experiences. For Ikon Pass holders, there’s also a 25% discount on Solitude Bike Park tickets – a modest bonus for the multi-mountain faithful.
And let’s be honest – how many of us have dropped more than that on drivetrain swaps or cockpit tweaks that made us feel faster without shaving a second?
The Real Benefit: Why This Pass Actually Matters
Here’s the secret sauce: it’s not just about quantity. It’s about quality of options. This pass gives you contrast. A chance to switch from flow to tech without a long haul or a precarious bike rack solution.
There’s also something intangible at play: the idea that mountain biking, as a culture, is evolving past its teenage years. We’re seeing a shift from siloed resort experiences toward ecosystems – networks of trails, businesses, events, and yes, passes – that make a region more than the sum of its singletracks.
And this is what the Wasatch Gravity Pass represents. A shared ticket. A handshake between two mountains. A summer-long invitation to ride more, think less, and maybe – just maybe – get your money’s worth.
Want the last word? Bring your bike. The dirt will speak for itself.
