The Telluride Bike Park opens Friday, July 5 and we couldn’t be more excited.

With routes for all ages and abilities, the Telluride Ski & Golf Resort’s new bike park sprawls across with mountain with flow trails that meander through meadows and glades of aspens before finishing in Mountain Village. The network is served by both the Gondola and Lift 4, meaning no lugging or trekking, just an easy journey back to the top.

Already a favorite at the bike park is the Tommyknocker, a beginners’ flow trail with wide, banked turns and gently arching bridges that winds and undulates along 5.8 miles and gives newbies the perfect experience to introduce them to the joys of mountain biking. There are also more technical trails to excite intermediate and advanced riders.

Tickets and passes can be purchased at the Oak Street and Mountain Village ticket windows, and staff is on hand at the Mountain Village window to answer any questions about the park. Part of the proceeds from pass sales benefit the National Forest Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, which in turn supports local hiking and biking trail maintenance.

And while the new park is getting a lot of attention this summer, Telluride and Mountain Village still offer biking trails galore away from the park. In Mountain Village, much-loved trails include intermediate-level Jurassic Trail and the more challenging Prospect Trail, both of which offer jaw-dropping views and the possibility for wildlife sightings.

In Telluride, a mellow option is the River Trail, which is accessed anywhere along the San Miguel River. Here you have two options: head east where the route eventually becomes the Idarado Legacy Trail with interpretive signs that detail Telluride’s colorful history. Or go west along the Valley Floor, 4 acres of land preserved as open space that acts as Telluride’s front yard. The River Trail is mostly flat and perfect for younger cyclists, although be mindful that the path is shared with walkers.

An exciting day-long venture is the Galloping Goose Trail, which follows the grade of the old Rio Grande Southern Railroad. Cyclists take the paved bike path or the River Trail west along the Valley Floor to Society Turn where an underpass accesses the Galloping Goose connector, a half-mile-long trail that links to the Galloping Goose Trail. From there, the easy-to-moderate route is diverse, taking cyclists along a mix of single-track, forest roads and portions of the old railroad grade through aspen woods and wildflower meadows. Follow the trail to Lizard Head Pass for a ride of about 8 miles, with numerous scenic overlooks that make the perfect stop for a picnic or photo. Local outfitters can drop you at points along the trail to give you a shot of scenery without too much hard work, or take you on a guided historical tour along the route to view artefacts from the area’s mining days.

No matter which biking option you go for, hit up local outfitters for the correct bike and gear rental, as well as advice and information.