MTB Industry Embraces Nevada’s Hidden Gem

Info from Ely, Nev. – The secret’s out! Ely, Nevada is booming once again thanks to its growing popularity with the mountain biking community. Ely’s location at the crossroads of three major highways makes it the perfect pit-stop for people traveling between California, Utah and Nevada. But now,  Ely is putting itself on the map with its dozens of miles of expansive trails.

Ely was recently selected as the site of the famous “Bible of Bike Tests” (formerly run by Bike Magazine, but now under the new Beta MTB website).  Beta put together this video chronicling their time in Ely, and the riders were clearly blown away by the experience.  Ely’s trails include everything from big scenic rides to more challenging, rough and rugged terrain; and there are two major expansion projects on the horizon.

“Right now we have about 50 miles of singletrack that is all accessible from downtown,” says White Pine County’s director of tourism, Kyle Horvath. “But we’re working to expand the trails with the ultimate goal of reaching 100 miles for people of all skill levels.”

A new 21-mile trail system will be added to Garnet Hill Recreation Area connecting to the downtown.  It’s the result of an International Mountain Biking Association “Trail Accelerator Grant” and is in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management. There’s also an additional 30 miles of trail approved for the Ward Mountain Trail system.  The finished product includes a trailhead at Keystone Junction which would allow for the Nevada Northern Railway to shuttle riders and their bikes to the trailhead.

Click here for Ely’s full mountain biking trail map.

Mountain Biking Events:

June 12, 2021 – Fears, Tears & Beers: The nation’s oldest and longest running enduro race.  Registration is open now and more info can be found by clicking here.

Sept. 11, 2021 – Race the Rails: One of the more unique MTB experiences allows you to load your bike on a train and race it back to town. Click here to register.

Mountain Biking Itineraries:

Click here for the Southern, Nevada Mega MTB Road Trip

Click here for the Nevada’s Hwy 50 Mountain Bike Adventure 

About Ely: Located about 240 miles from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, Ely is one of Nevada’s best kept secrets and perfect for people who want to create their own adventures off the beaten path. Sitting on the Eastern edge of “The Loneliest Highway” (U.S. Highway 50), Ely is a great base camp for some of the best outdoor recreation in Nevada, all year round; from mountain biking and climbing to hiking and hot springs. It’s also just a short drive to Great Basin National Park, home of the magnificent Lehman Caves and ancient Bristlecone pine forests.

Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express, and its rich history is celebrated in a series of murals that decorate downtown. Visitors can also step back in time on the Nevada Northern Railway, which offers a ride in an open-air car through the mountains. For more information visit: ElyNevada.net.