Mountain biking is a relatively new sport, not really getting its wheels on the ground until the late 1970s to 1980s. Of course there were people biking off-road for decades. Bicycles modified for off-road use were provided to the Buffalo Soldiers for an expedition from Missoula, Montana, to Yellowstone in the 1896. They covered 800 miles traveling to Yellowstone and back to Missoula. Then they mounted up the bicycles and took off on a 34-day, 1,900-mile trip from Missoula to St. Louis.

The bikes, with food and supplies, weighed 76 pounds, a far cry from the high-tech, and lightweight mountain bikes of today. 

Many young people have enjoyed taking whatever type of bicycle they owned and taking them off-road, from cruisers to the famous Schwinn Stingray. There has always been a desire to ride through the backcountry.

In 1966 a man named D. Gwynn built a rough terrain bicycle in Oregon he named a “mountain bicycle.” This was possibly the first time the term was used. 

In the late 1970s and 1980s, numerous groups, mostly in the Western states, made claim to helping create the sport of mountain biking. Most of the early bikes were based on the frames of cruisers and then modified to withstand the rigors of off-road biking. In California, Tom Ritchey, Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly formed a company called “MountainBikes” and began building mountain bike frames. The company was later changed to Fisher Mountain Bikes and then sold to Trek.

Many traditional bike-building companies felt the mountain bike industry was going to be a short-lived fad and failed to see the future. This allowed many new companies to start up and get a strong foothold in the burgeoning industry.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the mountain bike industry continued to grow, even becoming an Olympic event. As the industry grew so did the technology of building mountain bikes. Some became very specialized. For most riders, a mountain bike is used for a variety of reasons. 

The materials used to build mountain bikes vary from various types of metals to extremely lightweight and strong carbon-fiber bikes, which can cost several thousands of dollars.

According to mtbproject.com, a website providing information about trails throughout world, Wyoming has 273 recognized trails. The largest numbers of trails are in northwestern Wyoming with 136 trails. There are 18 trails in southwest Wyoming and seven of those are in the Evanston area and can be accessed through Bear River State Park.

These rides can be challenging and fun. If you are in excellent condition and have proven to be a highly skilled mountain bike aficionado, then you may be looking for something a little more difficult — don’t worry we have you covered. 

The River’s Edge trail is an intermediate trail that is 1.7 miles long and connects riders to all the other trails along the Bear River. It begins next to the back parking lot at Bear River State Park. Riders will enjoy a 255-foot ascent and a 29-foot descent along the way with an average three percent grade and a maximum 14 percent grade.

Riders go along the Bear River, and then through a short technical traverse along a cliff edge followed by a steep climb up the hills.

The “Horny Toad” trail, according to mtbproject.com, is a “smooth, fast connector with an easy climb and high-bermed corners. The berms are followed by a four pack of table top jumps.” The jumps can be by-passed if the rider desires. The trail is a 0.6 mile single track with a 12-foot ascent. The average grade is 2 percent and the maximum grade is four percent and is considered an intermediate trail.

The Owl’s Roost trail is a short 0.3 mile trail that has a 148-foot descent. It is considered an “intermediate difficult” trail. It is a short, fast descent to the Bear River and is not recommended for climbing. 

Ant Hill trail is another fast, winding descent to the river. It is .04 miles long and has a maximum grade of 20-degrees as the rider descends 194 feet to the river. There are some sandstone overhangs along the trail. This is considered an intermediate trail.

Dead Goat trail is an “easy intermediate” trail that is 1.5 miles long. The average grade is four percent with a maximum grade of 18 percent. 

According to mtbproject.com, the trail is a “steady moderate climb from the river bottom to the top of the trail system. This is the easiest recommended route up to connect with Dry Hole Loop and Horny Toad.”

The trail has excellent views of the Bear River Valley and the Uinta Mountains.

Dry Hole Loop trail is a 2.4 mile long trail with a 150-foot ascent and a 229-foot descent. It averages a four percent grade with a maximum of 13 percent. The difficulty varies from easy/intermediate to intermediate. 

This loop will add miles to ride and mtpproject.com suggest riding it counter clockwise for a few berms and jumps. It is easily accessed from the Horny Toad trail.

Just a short drive to the Bridger-Teton National Forest, along Teton Pass highway is a fun little trail known as “Fuzzy Bunny.” 

As cute as the name of this trail sounds, I am certain it was named by someone who had watched Monty Python’s Holy Grail where a cute, white fuzzy bunny beheads soldiers. This 1.3 mile trail is considered extremely difficult and will put your muscles, balance and lung capacity to the test. There is an 864-foot descent with a maximum grade of 33 percent and it is a downhill only trail. 

Riders take off from the Blacks Canyon parking lot just east of Teton Pass summit. The trail begins fast and then gets faster. There are steep berms, jumps and “wooden stunts.” Riders can bypass the jumps if they desire. 

Reviews say this is a demanding, expert-only trail with numerous man-made features.

Before heading out to challenge the outdoors, make certain you have what you need for an enjoyable ride.

Talk with people familiar with the sport and find a good bicycle shop to help you choose a bike that will suit your needs and is the right size for your build.

Safety glasses to help protect your eyes from debris on the trail are a good thing to use and maybe even choose tinted glasses for those bright, mountain days.

You need good gripping soles on your shoes. These are unlike the smooth-soled shoes used in road cycling. 

For cross-country biking many riders wear Lycra shorts and road-style jerseys to remain comfortable but downhill riders choose heavier fabrics and moto-cross style trousers to protect themselves from falls.

It is wise to bring plenty of water on the trail.

It is a good idea to bring some tools along, such as small tire pump, a multi-purpose wrench, an extra inner tube, and a small first aid kit.

Make certain to wear a helmet at all times. There are many styles of helmets used in mountain biking depending on the kind of riding you enjoy. Some riders will wear body armor and pads if the riding they do increases the chance of a crash.

Gloves are important; they help you keep a grip on the handlebars and can keep you from getting road rash on your hands if you fall.

To fully enjoy the sport of mountain biking you should work to stay in good physical condition to prepare for the trail. Mountain biking requires a lot of core strength, balance, and especially in high altitudes, great lung capacity.

Choose trails that are within your experience level and make certain you are fit enough for the trail.

Maintenance on a mountain bike used for trail riding must be carried out more frequently than other bikes to ensure a safe and satisfying ride.

Mountain biking is still a relatively new sport and the impact on the environment is poorly understood. Because of this, there has been opposition to the sport, which has led to the development of numerous advocacy groups across the nation. These organization work diligently to keep trails open, educate riders, create new trails, maintain existing trails and works with state, federal, municipal and private landowners, to ensure the future of the sport. Look up clubs in your area and participate in their efforts.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is the largest of these groups and their mission is to “create, enhance, and preserve trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide.”

IMBA has issued their “rules of the trail” to ensure the longevity of the sport.

The Bureau of Land Management estimates more than 13.5 million mountain bikers visit public lands each year. 

Prepare yourself physically, wear proper safety gear, select the proper bicycle, maintain it well, follow the rules when on the trails and keep your impact on the environment to a minimum. You and your family can enjoy some of the best times riding the trails of Wyoming and throughout the world.