Great Parks has started construction on new mountain biking features at Mitchell Memorial Forest, including both a skills course and a skills loop, which will be major enhancements to the park’s mountain biking experiences. New features will be integrated with the existing 8-mile mountain bike trail at Mitchell Memorial Forest, which was the first official mountain bike trail in Hamilton County.

 “Mitchell Memorial Forest is already a regional mountain biking hub, and these additions will invite beginners to give the sport a try and will also welcome experienced riders to sharpen their skills,” said Todd Palmeter, Great Parks CEO.

 The new skills course, at the trailhead, and skills loop, along the first section of trail, will help mountain bikers learn and improve basic skills. Pump features include small rises and berms so riders can practice maintaining momentum, while generating a sensation of weightlessness, almost like a miniature roller coaster. The skills area is located at the trailhead so cyclists can easily incorporate them into their ride.

This project will add to the 84 miles of trails Great Parks currently offers throughout Hamilton County. Trail improvements and additions are in response to the top request the public made through the Great Parks Comprehensive Master Plan, which is to build more trails.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $160,000 and is funded by a $68,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and funds from the 0.95-mill levy voters approved in November 2021 to support critical infrastructure needs and initiatives identified by the public through the master planning process. 

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