A First-Time Visitor's Guide To Killington Bike Park

Mountain biker riding bike off large drop at Killington Bike Park

If you’re planning a mountain bike trip to Vermont, put Killington Bike Park high up on your list. It’s the biggest lift-served park in the state, with a solid mix of machine-built flow, rocky tech, and jump lines that range from mellow to very sendy. I’ve ridden a lot of bike parks around the U.S., and Killington holds its own despite.

The first time I visited, I was honestly surprised by how big and legit it felt. With three lifts, a growing trail network, and good progression from beginner trails to full-on double blacks, it’s easy to spend a weekend—or more—exploring everything the park has to offer.

In this post, I share what I’ve learned from my visits including trail highlights, lift and ticket info, where to stay, and tips to make the most of your time on the mountain.

Killington Bike Park Overview

Location: Killington, Vermont (South-Central VT)
Season: Typically late May through mid-October (weather-dependent)
Lifts:
Snowshed Express Quad – beginner/intermediate terrain
Ramshead Express Quad – intermediate/advanced flow trails
K-1 Gondola – upper-mountain tech and advanced descents
Trail Count: 30+ trails and growing
Terrain Style:
Machine-built flow (by Gravity Logic)
Old-school East Coast tech (rocks, roots, steeps)
Jump lines, green to double black
Skill Levels: Beginner to expert (good progression trail options)
Lift Tickets: Available for half-day, full-day, and multi-day; season passes available; IKON Pass offers limited access
Rentals & Lessons: Full-suspension bike rentals, gear, and lesson packages available at the base area
Vibe: East Coast energy—laid-back but rowdy, with a mix of locals, weekend warriors, and visiting park rats

🔥 Trail Highlights

Killington Bike Park has a great variety of trails from machine-built jump lines to rugged, rooty east coast tech. No matter your skill level or riding style, there’s something for you.

🟢 Best Beginner Trails

Easy Street – A gentle green that’s perfect for first-time bike park riders.
Rabbit Hole – A fun, confidence-building trail with small berms and a nice introduction to descending on singletrack.

🔵 Best Intermediate Trails

Step It Up – A great intro to flow with berms and small tabletops.
Blue Magic – One of the park’s most popular trails. Machine-built flow with fun jumps, smooth corners, and a few bigger features as you get lower.
Krusty – A hybrid trail that mixes in a bit of tech and off-camber sections.

⚫ Advanced & Expert Trails

Black Magic – A fast jump line with big features. Well built and super fun if you like airtime.
Scarecrow – One of the more technical trails, with natural features, roots, and a few steep drops.
Goat Skull – Chunky, steep, and rough—East Coast tech at its finest. Not for the faint of heart.
Cable Trail – A raw, rugged descent with a big but accessible drop. Tight, steep, and filled with line choice challenges.

Killington Bike Park Map

You can also pick up a paper trail map at the ticket counter or download the Killington App, which shows the trails, trail status, and more.

🚠 Lift & access info

Killington Bike Park has three main lifts that give riders access to different zones of the mountain. Each one serves a different style of trails and terrain, so knowing which lift to hit first can save you time and frustration.

🟢 Snowshed Express Quad

Best for: Beginners and progression laps
Terrain: Green and blue machine-built flow trails
Highlights: Easy Street, Step It Up, Rabbit Hole
Vibe: Chill and family-friendly

This is where most new riders should start. It’s mellow, wide open, and perfect for getting comfortable on the bike.

🔵 Ramshead Express Quad

Best for: Intermediate and advanced riders who want flow
Terrain: Fast, machine-built jump lines and a few hybrids
Highlights: Blue Magic, Black Magic, Krusty
Vibe: Faster pace, jump line energy

If you’re ready to send it a little bigger and harder, Ramshead is where you’ll want to spend most of your day. Blue Magic and Black Magic are must-rides.

⚫ K-1 Gondola

Best for: Advanced riders and tech lovers
Terrain: Steep, rocky, rooty, raw
Highlights: Scarecrow, Goat Skull, Cable Trail
Vibe: Full-on East Coast gnar

This lift gets you to the top of the mountain and drops you into some of the most technical terrain in the park. Not beginner-friendly, but super fun if you like a challenge.

Map showing three different areas of Killington Bike Park accessed by three different chairlifts

🎟️ Tickets, passes & pricing

Killington Bike Park offers several options when it comes to lift tickets and passes. You can buy them online or in-person. Here are your options:

Day Tickets

~$60–$75 for a full day, with half-day and multi-day options available. Cheaper if you buy online in advance.

Season Pass

Worth it if you’re riding more than 4–5 days. Includes unlimited lift access all summer.

IKON Pass

Includes 2 free bike park days. This is TOTAL. So if you use one at Killington, you have one left to use elsewhere.

Loam Pass

Killington is a Loam Pass partner! If you’ve got one, you get two free lift tickets—a great way to ride for cheap if you’re just visiting.

Pro tip: Killington is a cashless resort, so you need your credit/debit card or pay with your phone, even for food and drinks.

Downhill mountain bike trail at Killington Bike Park with sign that says "Jump" with black diamond symbol

Killington Bike Park FAQs

Killington Bike Park typically runs 10am–5pm, with expanded hours on some weekends and holidays. The season usually kicks off in late May and runs through mid-October—weather depending. Check their website or Instagram for the most up-to-date hours and trail status.

Yes! You can rent full-suspension downhill or enduro bikes, plus helmets and pads, right at the base lodge. Rentals book up fast on weekends, so it’s best to reserve online in advance.

Yep—there’s a tuning and repair shop at the base area for quick fixes, parts, and gear. It’s also where you’ll grab your rental if you reserved one. I had them bleed my brakes during a visit and they did a great job.

You’ve got options:

Rutland (15 mins away) for cheaper hotels and more dining choices
On-mountain lodging at Killington Resort for the quickest lift access
Airbnbs or VRBOs if you want something more flexible

Killington actually has free camping on a first-come-first-serve basis in the Vale Parking Lot and Ramshead Parking Lot (for RVs). There are portable toilets and water available. Read the camping policies here.

Two other places to camp are:

Gifford Woods State Park – 5 mins from the resort
Camp Plymouth State Park – about 30 minutes away

I haven’t checked out a ton of places to eat around Killington, but here are a few options that look decent:

Sunup Bakery – a great little place to grab a breakfast pastry and sandwich to-go
Back Country Cafe – excellent breakfast place with big portions.
Liquid Art – Great for coffee and breakfast
The Beastro: A food truck at the base of Snowshed lift
Back Behind BBQ – Casual spot with hearty post-ride meals
Preston’s – located in the Killington Grand Hotel, Preston’s is a great farm-to-table restaurant that uses fresh Vermont ingredients. Their creative cocktails are perfect after a big day on the mountain and their burgers are top notch.
Roots (in Rutland) – Farm-to-table if you want something a little nicer

Yes—Killington offers private and group lessons, plus occasional skills clinics and camps throughout the summer. It’s a great way to build confidence if you’re new to lift-served riding.

Absolutely. Killington Bike Park is just one part of the local scene:

Pine Hill Park (Rutland) – Flow trails, bridges, and mellow riding for all levels
Green Mountain Trails (Pittsfield) – 20 minutes north, great pedal-access singletrack
Sherburne Trails – Right in Killington, great for a recovery spin or warmup. Sherburner is a must!

2–3 days is a great amount of time to explore the park without burning out. One day to get your bearings, one to go big, and another to clean up whatever you missed. If you’re also hitting nearby trail networks, stretch it to 4–5 days total.

Mid-June to mid-September is prime time to visit. Everything’s open, trail conditions are solid, and the weather is usually great.

Midweek: Fewer people, cheaper tickets, and more laps—highly recommended if you can swing it
July & August: Peak season with full lift access and events
Early Fall: Cooler temps, fewer crowds, and stunning foliage

Vermont fall foliage — If you can, try to plan your trip to Killington in September or October to catch the magic of Vermont’s fall foliage.

Need gear recs?

Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.

See my gear favorites

Killington is one of my favorite bike parks that I’ve been to and definitely my favorite in Vermont. With three lifts and lots of trail options for all levels of riders, it’s a great place to learn new skills or just do fast laps with friends. Plus, the fun doesn’t have to stop when you’re tired of the lifts. There are literally hundreds of miles of singletrack across Vermont so make a trip out of your visit!

Have you ridden at Killington Bike Park? Which were your favorite trails? What questions do you have? Let me know in the comments below!

4 Comments

Eric says:

August 31, 2022 at 1:56 pm

Great writeup! Do you think a hardtail could handle much of Killington or is a full suspension needed?

1. Becky Timbers says:
  
  September 1, 2022 at 6:12 am
  
  For bike parks, full-suspension is definitely ideal
  
ed f says:

March 15, 2022 at 9:47 pm

Update on 2022 season pass. Looks like they dropped the comp passes to Thunder and Windham. Not sure if that means they are no longer working with Gravity Logic or if that GL partner program just no longer exhists for any of the mountains.

1. Becky Timbers says:
  
  March 17, 2022 at 2:25 pm
  
  Thanks, Ed. I’ll get this post updated as soon as I can 🙂

A First-Time Visitor’s Guide To Killington Bike Park – The Beast of the East!

Killington Bike Park Overview