Family-Friendly Mountain Biking Spots in Reno Tahoe

Don’t get me wrong, jumping on my mountain bike since welcoming our son has had its challenges. When our son was an infant, getting out for a ride required a lot of coordination with my husband, prepping my gear, and ensuring I had enough energy upon returning home to take over baby care. Plus, I really missed rides with my best riding buddy–my husband! The effort was always worth it in the first year. Mountain biking helped me stay fit, connect with friends, and clear my head.

Now that our son is beginning to walk, mountain biking has become a great family outing. There’s a ton of new youth-focused technology in mountain biking to help us out. From toddler-friendly scoot bikes to mountain bike seats designed for the littlest riders, we’ve been able to find the right tools to share the sport with our little guy. I highly recommend consulting with the knowledgeable staff at Mountain Dog Cycling in Reno to find the right equipment for your child.

​As we begin to share mountain bike experiences with our son, we have found a few favorite riding locations in Reno Tahoe that perfectly suit family adventures. These locations still allow my husband and I to enjoy our own level of riding. At the same time, the locations also offer a welcoming environment and convenient “day use” zone for our family to spread out. Here are my top three favorite places to ride with our toddler son in Reno Tahoe:

Thanks to the fundraising, advocacy, and trail building efforts of The Biggest Little Trail Stewardship, Sierra Vista Bike Park has emerged as Reno’s family-friendly bike hub. Once an abandoned municipal golf course, the land has been reimagined as a bike park for all ages. The park has walking paths, strider tracks, and flow lines for all abilities. It’s conveniently located off Robb Drive in residential Northwest Reno with lots of shopping centers nearby for anything a family may need. The parking area has recently been updated with water fountains, a bottle filling station, and bathrooms with a baby changing station.

During the first spring with our baby, when he was still an infant, Sierra Vista Bike Park was a great location to get us out and about. One of us walked the stroller with our two dogs while the other took laps on the trails. The whole family got a nice dose of vitamin D and a chance to stretch our legs!

Sierra Vista Bike Park is still our favorite now that our child can stride around on his own toddler bike or ride along with us in his bike seat. The miles of smooth decomposed granite paths and mellow grades are perfect terrain for us to feel comfortable riding with our little guy. As he becomes more capable on his own bike, we can’t wait to show him the strider tracks and kid-friendly features. Plus, myself or my husband can peel off for a few quick laps of our own on the advanced lines and skill zones. Each family outing to the bike park guarantees that we will meet new families or run into friends. Sierra Vista Bike Park feels like the heart of Reno’s family bike community.

Sky Tavern is another bike destination that has seen a lot of development thanks to the efforts of passionate volunteers. In the winter, Sky Tavern is a small non-profit ski resort dedicated to junior ski racing development. A similar approach has been applied to a non-profit summer bike program. Sky Tavern’s trail system is developing each season and there’s always something fun going on–be it a community fundraising festival, clinics for all abilities, or grassroots bike racing for all ages.

Sky Tavern is located up Mt. Rose Highway with enough elevation to offer a break from the heat in the summer months. The small base area has a strider pump track and kid-friendly skill zones. Up the hill are a network of trails for adaptive, intermediate, and advanced riders. The bike park can be pedaled for free, but do keep an eye out for a shuttle membership coming this summer!

Sky Tavern is fantastic for our family. Myself or my husband can play with our son around the base area while the other enjoys the dynamic and professionally built trails. We swap turns and voila, everyone’s had a great time and is wonderfully tired. On our way home, we often refuel and wind down at Shussboom Brewing in south Reno, which offers toddler-friendly meal options and craft beer and cocktails for the adults.

We especially love packing up for the day and visiting Sky Tavern during the MayDay Festival in late spring or Party In The Sky fall fundraiser. The entire resort comes alive with food trucks, live music, raffles, shuttles, and bike sessions. These festivals raise funds for Sky Tavern’s continued trail development, maintenance, and bike programming that includes inclusive and affordable camps and clinics. Don’t let that fool you, Sky Tavern also boasts some of the area’s most progressive black diamond trails!

I’m so excited to raise our child in Reno Tahoe. The region provides so much access to outdoor adventures. Moreso, I’m so grateful for the supportive and encouraging community of mountain bikers that surround us. The community keeps our family moving and motivated. I hope our son’s early experiences will shape a lifelong appreciation for our beautiful surroundings.