Whitefish Mountain Resort opens for summer

Whitefish Mountain Resort’s summer season kicks off Saturday and will include a new trail-riding zone in its bike park along with the Aerial Adventure Park, zip-line tours and other seasonal attractions.

The Whitefish Bike Park will feature three new trails and additional lift access on the Bad Rock chairlift.

Some trails will not open this Saturday and detours will be in place. The bike park includes more than 30 miles of mountain bike trails, including 22 downhill trails in three zones served by two chairlifts.

“As the sport of downhill mountain biking continues to grow, we are stoked to unveil the new Bad Rock Zone, featuring three new trails designed to help riders hone their skills and build confidence,” Josh Knight, the resort’s events and recreation manager, said in a press release. “We built these new trails wider, less steep and with recovery zones before and after features so riders can practice and perfect their downhill technique.”

He added that the new trails will provide intermediate courses before riders challenge themselves on more advanced trails such as the award-winning Kashmir trail.

The Summit Zone features four main top-to-bottom trails dropping more than 2,200 feet in elevation. The Overflow Zone features nearly eight miles of technical trails accessible from the Kashmir or Summit trails.

The Whitefish Bike Park also will offer downhill biking lessons beginning July 1. For $99, riders receive a two-hour bike rental and downhill mountain biking lesson, protective gear including a full-face helmet and a Bad Rock Zone lift ticket.

Lessons are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The resort recommends making lesson reservations by calling (406) 862-1995. Lessons will begin and end at Village Rentals.

Beginning June 18, the bike park will be open daily through Labor Day, then switch to a Friday-through-Sunday schedule in September, with lift access from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Whitefish Bike Park’s 2016 adult season pass costs $199 for unlimited lift access. Junior and senior season passes cost $114. Through June 30, 2015-16 winter season pass holders can purchase an adult bike pass for $179, and $102 for juniors and seniors.

In addition to the bike park, Big Mountain offers Montana’s only Alpine Slide, an Aerial Adventure Park, zip-line tours, guided nature tours in the forest canopy, scenic lift rides, hiking trails and the children’s favorite Spider Monkey Mountain.

Zip-line users can choose between a seven-top tour and a five-stop tour, which through June 30 cost $55 and $63, respectively.

A staffed U.S. Forest Service Nature Center at the summit also will provide a learning opportunity with hands-on exhibits and activities at 6,817 feet above sea level.

For more information on Whitefish Mountain Resort’s summer season, including prices, visit www.skiwhitefish.com.