Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking

XC Trails

  • Trails for all levels
  • No Trail Fees
  • Over 80 miles of riding

Thanks to the efforts of the Carrabassett Region Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (CRNEMBA) and the town of Carrabassett Valley, mountain bike trail development has taken off in recent years, with a network of world-class cross-country trails, originating at the base of the mountain and spanning more than 80 miles throughout the valley.

  • Parking and trail access is available at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, the Stratton Brook trailhead parking lot, and Airport trailhead (located behind the SugarBowl).
  • During the summer, bike rentals are available from several area shops. 

All-New Gravity Trails

UPDATE September 2022 Some gravity trails are currently closed. Please check Trailforks for current updates.

New for 2022: Due to current construction projects on the hill, the Machine Access Road and Upper Rock Lobster are closed for the fall season. Lower Rock Lobster remains open and is accessible from Boardwalk.

To access the DH and 355 on the west side of the mountain, riders should hike up Tote.


Thank you for respecting this closure. Whether you've been riding our new trails or plan to check them out soon, be sure to follow Trailforks for the most recent trail status at https://www.trailforks.com/region/sugarloaf-mountain-resort/

Background Info: Former Olympic mountain biker, Adam Craig, and the Sugarloaf trail crew constructed five all-new gravity-fed mountain bike trails, spanning approximately 10 miles with 2000 vertical feet.

Trails 1, 2 and 4 were open for public riding last summer while the other trail were reserved for competition only. Trail 1 (Widowmaker) starts near the top of the Whiffletree Lift. The bicycle access route to this trail is via Mountain Side road, then climbing the Crosshaul work road to the bottom of King Pine, continuing up Tohaul to Buckboard, where ‘Widowmaker Extension’ begins. After descending, riders can return to the Outdoor Center trail system via Condo Crosscut, Lower Stub's and Widowmaker trail. Access for Pink Whitney is up Condo crosscut to Peavey crosscut. All rides have been posted on Trailforks.

NOTICE: there is currently no lift-serviced mountain biking available at Sugarloaf. Riders are to access the new trails by foot or pedal power only. Personal vehicles and ATVs are not permitted on the mountain at any time. 

Rider parking available in Lot C.

Enduro & Downhill Video Recap

MAXXIS ESC Showdown All the chills, spills and thrills from the 2021 MAXXIS Eastern States Cup; September 10-12.

Upcoming Mountain Bike Events

Rentals & Local Bike Shops

Allspeed Cyclery
Allspeed Cyclery & Snow operates a full service bike shop out of the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, featuring tuning, repairs, and a full fleet of rental mountain bikes from Santa Cruz. 

Carrabassett Valley Bike 
Now operating out of the Happy Tunes shop at Valley Crossing in Carrabassett Valley, Carrabassett Valley Bike offer tuning services, rentals, and local insight. Phone: (207) 235-6019  

Northern Lights Hearth & Sports
Open year-round: Located in Farmington, Northern Lights Hearth & Sports carries a wide variety of retail products, offering bike repairs and sales. Phone: (207) 778-6566

Suggested Rides

Resources & Partners

Carrabassett Region NEMBA: A non-profit organization dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a sustainable multi-use trail network in the western mountains of Maine.

Maine Huts & Trails: A non-profit organization managing a system of four backcountry eco-lodges and more than 80 miles of trails in Western Maine.

Trail Forks: Plan, explore and share your ride.