Every mountain biker has their strengths. The strength that I do not have is jumping. I’ve never been confident getting air nor have I really had the desire to spend much time in the air. Sure, little drops and jumps are fine – even fun! – but bigger stuff? Way out of my comfort zone.
But I didn’t let this (rational) fear of jumping keep me from checking out one of Texas’s newest bike parks and playgrounds – Station Mountain Bike Park.
Located just a few miles south of Spider Mountain – the one and only lift-served downhill park in the state – Station Mountain is all about jumps. There big jumps, little jumps, gap jumps, and hell-no jumps. There are also a few natural/raw trails, too, although that’s not really what it’s known for.
But the best part about Station Mountain? You get towed to the top by a tractor!
I spent a day at Station Mountain working up my nerves and confidence – solo might I add – and despite my hesitations, I had a blast. Even if you’re not a jumper (like me), Station Mountain is still approachable. Since it’s built to be a jump park, a lot of the features and trails are progressive, meaning you can slowly build up your skills and confidence in a safe and fun way.
This bike park might not be for everyone, but if you’re curious and want to check it out, here’s everything you need to know about your first visit to Station Mountain.
FAQs & Facts about Station Mountain
Station Mountain is not your typical bike park. It’s shuttle-accessed instead of lift-accessed and people really go there for the jumps. Station Mountain also just opened in November 2023, so it’s still getting its footing. Here are a few things to know before you visit.
The Backstory of Station Mountain Bike Park
The story behind how Station Mountain Bike Park got up and running is pretty cool. High schooler Rhett Jones had a school project that required him to create a ‘Masterpiece’ – something big and audacious. He decided to build a bike park.
Fast forward several months, a lot of hard work, and support from countless people, and Station Mountain was up and running. In less than a year after Rhett drew up the plans, no less!
I definitely got the feeling that they’re still working things out and figuring out how to move forward, but that’s how everything starts out, right? It’ll be cool to watch Station Mountain grow!
You can read more about Rhett and the beginnings of Station Mountain in this great article over at Texas Monthly.
Getting to Station Mountain Bike Park
Station Mountain Bike Park is located in Marble Falls, Texas. If you’re coming from a nearby major city it is:
- Austin: 1.5 hours
- Dallas: 3.5 hours
- San Antonio: 1 hour 50 minutes
Station Mountain is also just 30 minutes south of Spider Mountain Bike Park, so if you’re coming out for the weekend, make it a doubleheader!
Here are the Google driving directions for Station Mountain Bike Park.
Important! You cannot access Station Mountain from Crider Rd. to the west. Google tried to route me this way and there is a closed gate. You must access Station Mountain on Crider Rd. from the east.
Watch The Big Outside MTB explore Station Mountain Bike Park
This video is a bit long, but since Station Mountain is so new there isn’t a ton of footage out there yet.
Station Mountain Passes, Hours, Rentals, & more
Passes
A day pass is required to ride at Station Mountain. You can purchase it once you get there – advanced tickets aren’t available.
Tickets are $50 and include unlimited rides up in the tractor shuttle. I though $50 was a bit expensive, especially since you can get a $25 lift ticket for Spider Mountain, but I get that this is a kid trying to make his vision a reality and I’m all for supporting that.
If you think you’ll be visiting often, you can get a seasons pass for $400.
The Loam Pass
Station Mountain is part of the Loam Pass network where you can get two free days of shuttles. The Loam Pass includes access to dozens of bike parks and trails all over the country. If you plan on doing some road-tripping, this pass is a great way to save money on shuttles and tickets!
Hours
Station Mountain Bike Park is only open on the weekends (Satuday and Sunday) unless you have prior approval to ride during the week.
The shuttle runs continuously from 9:30 am to 4 pm.
Rentals
You can rent a bike at Station Mountain. There are a limited number of Norco Sights available. Rentals are $50/day.
Shopping for a full face helmet?
Protect your face and pearly whites. When I’m at the bike park, I always wear a full face helmet. Not only does it give me more peace of mind when I’m bombing downhill, but I also know that it’s going to do a lot more to protect my head and face in the event of a crash.
My favorite full face helmet is the Smith Mainline. It’s comfortable to wear, has decent ventilation, and is downhill-certified meaning it has been tested for safety.
This helmet also comes with three different cheek pad sizes, so you can get a snug fit.
Lessons
I don’t know how long this will last, but Rhett is offering lessons for $35/hour, which is a steal! Text him before heading out there to book your slot.
The layout of the park
Station Mountain is not big. There are half a dozen trails that flow down the slope of the ‘mountain’ and all trails start at the top hub.
That being said, you do have to seek out specific trails if you want to hit everything. Otherwise, it’s easy to just to do the same 2-3 trails highlight trails and not get off the ‘beaten path’.
Here are a few stats about the park:
An intro to the trails
So what is it like riding at Station Mountain? As I’ve mentioned before, a lot of the trails are jump trails. But, there are a few handcut technical trails thrown in as well. I rode all of them and here’s a quick guide on what to expect:
New to Bike Parks?
Check out these posts to help you prepare for Station Mountain:
My experience at Station Mountain
I’m not going to lie, I was a bit anxious about riding at Station Mountain, especially solo. I’m not big on jumps and it had been more than a few months since I’d done any real downhilling.
But, I ended up having a blast! It’s a fun little park with a great vibe and everyone is there to just have fun. After a few runs, I started started to relax and get into ‘the zone’. I don’t think my jumping skills really improved (it’s going to take a lot more than a day for that to happen…), but I did start to feel more confident on the smaller stuff.
Station Mountain is just getting started and it did have the feel of being new, but that’s to be expected. It’s really cool what Rhett has built and I’m sure it’s just going to get bigger and better from here.
Where to stay: Camping & Lodging
Sticking around for the weekend? Here are your options for camping and accommodations near Station Mountain:
Booking a hotel? Check out these hotels near Marble Falls.
Other things to do around Station Mountain
While two days (or even one full day) is plenty for Station Mountain, there is a lot of other fun stuff to do in the area. Here are a few suggestions:
Ready to get sendy? I hope this guide gives you all the info, details, and motivation you need for a fun day at Station Mountain. If you’re feeling a bit intimidated, that’s normal, but don’t let it keep you from checking it out! When is then next time you’re going to have the chance to get towed up a mountain by a tractor?
Have you been to Station Mountain? What do you think? Were you intimidated at first like me? What questions do you still have? Leave a comment below!
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