Local and out-of-state mountain bikers visit Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association’s Mt. A-Line trail
By Sydney Seymour, Ashland.news
A couple dozen mountain bikers — some local and some from as far as north central California — visited Mount Ashland on Saturday to ride its newest trail and were welcomed by music, hot dogs, snacks, beverages, and a 40-foot gap jump the size of a school bus.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA) hosted a grand opening party for its “most significant trail to date,” as reported earlier by Ashland.news.
“The trail brought what we hoped for, which is a regional attraction,” RVMBA President Ryan Hawk said, seeing people from Lakeview, Redding, and Chico, California.
Mt. A-Line, one of the many trails created and maintained by RVMBA, has received “jaw-dropping” reactions since its soft opening phase started in August. The volunteer-powered association turned the one mile of overgrown and hazardous logging road into an all-user trail with a progression jump line consisting of 50 jumps. There is also a side track for beginner riders, horse riders and even hikers to use the trail.
The Oregon State Parks Recreational Trails Program funded about $120,000 of the seven-year project, while community support garnered $35,000.
Haley Cox, park planner for Oregon State Parks, said, “It’s a superstar project from a grantor’s perspective.”
She continued to explain the community-focused aspect of the project RVMBA spearheaded, called on a local contractor and advisor, and worked with the United States Forest Service which owns the land.
The association met with the U.S. Forest Service throughout the years to ensure the road-to-trail conversion on public land was “done up to standard,” according to Hawk.
The deets
The Mt. A-Line trailhead is at the Mt. Ashland Ski Lodge parking lot. Ashland Mountain Adventures shuttles are available to book.
“In terms of bringing people together through the planning, design, funding, building and the use, it’s just a full circle of fun,” Cox said, pointing out different user groups on the trail. “It’s really heartwarming.”
An all-user trail
While it’s difficult to jump his three-wheeled assistive bike, adaptive rider Jordan Anderson said the trail is “plenty wide. No assistance needed — it’s ready to go.”
Phoenix resident and intermediate rider Mariah Martin still had fun despite not clearing the jumps. “We’ve never really had a jump line like this before,” she said. “The fact they could build a trail for intermediate all the way up through super advanced riders, is impressive.”
Spencer Martin added, “Every major trail network boasts their machine-built jump trail because it’s one of the more fun things you can do on a bike. To finally have that in Ashland is pretty cool.”
Brothers Hayden and Charlie Birkle, 18, who have been mountain biking for about 10 years, drove from Chico, California to check out the trail for the day. Both of them hit the trail’s 40-foot gap jump multiple times.
“It’s awesome,” Birkle said, putting on his helmet to gear up for another round. “Get on your bike and come ride it.”
A potential spike in bike tourism
Jason Eaton, RVMBA board member who has lived in Ashland for 30 years, emphasized the potential for tourism around mountain biking year-round in Ashland.
“Shakespeare has been the bread and butter of the tourism industry here forever,” he said, “and we feel like there’s room for something in addition to that.”
He continued, “There’s also almost no place where you can ride 14 miles downhill from a lodge and end up at bars and restaurants downtown, 100% no car needed. From a tourism standpoint, that’s a really rare thing.”
More bike tourists also increase restaurant and hotel revenue, Eaton pointed out. “It feels like a win-win.”
Chris Herbst, co-owner of Ashland Mountain Adventures (AMA), has been involved with building the trail since the start and helped garner community support five years ago. Herbst, via AMA, shuttled bikers back to the top of the trail during the opening party for those that didn’t want to bike the mile-long side track uphill.
Sydney Moore, 21, drove from Corvallis to ride the trail. Moore and her mom rode the shuttle a few times to keep riding the trail. “It was really nice not to have to climb,” Moore said. “I’d like to shuttle more and get good at the progression line.”
About half a dozen shuttle rides in, Herbst said, “This is the biggest thing to happen to Ashland mountain biking ever. It’s a big deal. People are going to come to Ashland just to do this. People know Ashland as a mountain bike spot, but this is going to put it on the map.”
Some riders were excited for next spring, once the trail has more traction and moisture after the winter rain and snow.
Email Ashland.news Snowden reporting intern Sydney Seymour at [email protected].
Related stories:
‘New experience for the Rogue Valley’: Opening party set for mountain bike trail near Mount Ashland (Sept. 17, 2025)
Mt. Ashland mountain bikers have a new jump line trail (Aug. 20, 2025)
