As soon as the snow melts from ski resorts and exposes the trail systems that were buried for months, mountain bikers get a certain gleam in their eyes. Ski resorts are a great option to escape from the city.

If you’re new to mountain biking at ski resorts, you’ll notice that trail maps have the same basic difficulty designations that ski runs do: green is easiest, blue is more difficult, black is most difficult (you’ll see riders in full-face helmets and armored padding) and black diamonds are expert-only trails.

Ski resorts with lift-served mountain biking have some of the most challenging trails and tracks for cyclists of all ages and levels in beautiful locations. Get your bike ready and enjoy the breathtaking sights, incredible food, and the most exciting natural tracks in the world.