Shepherd Mountain Bike Park

Client: City of Ironton, Iron County Economic Partnership (ICEP)

Scope: $500,000 and 800 acres of land

Services: Master Planning, Trail Design, Consulting, Constructing, Economic Modelling, Environmental Management

Trail Builder: Jagged Axe Trail Designs

Overview: Phase I of the project involved consulting with the City of Ironton for a Mountain Bike Park on Shepherd Mountain. GORC Gravity completed the Site Evaluation and Master Planning which was presented to the City and ICEP. We connected professional trail developers, Jagged Axe Trail Design with the project and they constructed 9 miles of gravity fed bike specific trails including 5 intermediate to advanced level downhill lines and 2 raw downhill lines. GORC Gravity volunteers built 2.3 miles of hiking and biking one directional climbing trails. In addition to the trails, a toilet amenities block is being constructed onsite as well as a ticketing and shuttling service based at a premises known as the Wheelhouse closer to the town. The Wheelhouse, located at the center of town conveniently includes a large parking lot, paid showers and a bike wash.

Phase II will see expansion of the trails to include more beginner and family friendly trails that will include up to 15 miles of interconnected cross country style trails over gently rolling hills around the mountain and over the back side near the lake. This expansion will include additional land to the initial site, taking the land area to be around 1200 acres.

Phase III will see the development of more specific skills areas from beginner to advanced and be more family focused.

In the first 6 months of operation, Shepherd Mountain has attracted a National level enduro race and will host a Bike and Beer festival that will attract thousands of visitors to the town and wider region.