Dakota County Parks Improving Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trailhead

Image Credit:  Dakota County Parks

If you haven't been to the Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trails at the West Trailhead recently you haven't seen the construction work being done as part of Dakota County Parks improvement for the park.

Image Credit:  Dakota County Parks

Currently new overflow parking is now complete and available in the old parking lot just to the north of the current trailhead parking.  Mountain bike and hiking trails will remain open during the construction improvements dependent upon the weather.

Image Credit:  Dakota County Parks

Improvement to include event and program space for demos and clinics, additional picnic tables and a fire ring, an expansion of the concrete patio pad around the picnic shelter, improved storm water management, as well as new turf & vegetation on the entire construction site.

Image Credit:  Dakota County Parks

The majority of the construction is scheduled (weather dependent) to be completed by August 18th.  These new facility upgrades will make the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival on October 7th even better this year.

Dakota County Parks Visitor Services Coordinator Katie Pata is looking to connect with local professionals and mountain bike enthusiasts for their ideas to make this year's event the best ever.  You can meet with her in person at the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Fest event planning meeting at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 19th from 2:00-3:30pm.  Please RSVP to let Katie know you will be attending.  If you can't make and would like your ideas heard, please send her an email at Katie.Pata@co.dakota.mn.us.

4th Annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival at Lebanon Hills October 1st

The 4th Annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 1st from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan.  This fun-filled free event is made possible through Dakota County Parks and a partnering with MORC (Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists), local area bike shops, businesses and organizations.

Join in on the fun and celebrate one of Minnesota's best mountain bike trail systems and the many hours of volunteer work that MORC members have put in to maintain nearly 12 miles of single-track.  This event is not only for the avid mountain biker but also a fun and festive way to introduce new riders to the sport.

"This is event is ½ fun community festival trying to introduce mountain biking and the fantastic amenities at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park to a greater audience and ½ recognition for MORC for the many MANY hours their volunteers put in making that system possible." - Katie Pata, Park Operations Coordinator for Dakota County Parks

Scheduled activities are FREE and include:

Mountain Bike Skills Clinics
11 AM Mountain Bike Skills Clinic (Learn correct riding positions and more)
1 PM Mountain Bike Skills Clinic (Learn correct riding positions and more)

Fix-it Clinics
NOON Basic Bike Repair (Flat tires, shifting and brake adjustments and more)
2 PM Basic Bike Repair (Flat tires, shifting and brake adjustments and more) 

Training Clinics
11 AM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle
1:30 PM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle
2:30 PM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle 

Group Rides
10 AM Advanced Men Group Ride
10:30 AM Intermediate Men Group Ride
11 AM Levo Electric-assist Bike Demo Group Ride
11:30 AM Intermediate Women Group Ride
NOON Beginner Teen Group Ride
12:30 PM Beginner Women Group Ride
1:30 PM Beginner Men Group Ride
2 PM Levo Electric-assist Bike Demo Group Ride
2:30 PM Open to All Beginner Group Ride
3 PM Open to All Beginner Group Ride  

Kids Activities
11 AM I Spy From My Bike Up High
Noon Kids Bike Races
1 PM I Spy From My Bike Up High
2 PM Bike Games for All Ages
3 PM Kids Bike Races
3:30 PM Adults-on-kids-bikes Race

Ongoing Activities
All day Bikes to Demo (Bring your own helmet, drivers license and credit card)
All day Chair Massages  

Food and beer will be available for purchase all day from the Blue Door Pub.  They'll be cooking up mini Blucy's and serving craft beer from Indeed Brewing Company.

Updates for the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival can be found on the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival Facebook event page.

 
Event parking will be available at the West Trailhead and at the School of Environmental Studies just a couple of blocks to the south on Johnny Cake Ridge Road.  Overflow street parking is also available along Galaxie Avenue with entrance to the bike trails.  Overnight camping at the Lebanon Hills Campground (located just across the road, and south about half mile from the event grounds) is an option for those needing accommodations.  Camping reservations can be made by visiting the Dakota County Campgrounds page.

3rd Annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival at Lebanon Hills October 3rd

The 3rd Annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 3rd at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan.  This fun-filled free event is made possible through Dakota County Parks and a partnering with MORC (Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists), local area bike shops, businesses and organizations. 

Join in on the fun and celebrate one of Minnesota's best mountain bike trail systems and the many hours of volunteer work that MORC members have put in to maintain nearly 12 miles of single-track.  This event is not only for the avid mountain biker but also a fun and festive way to introduce new riders to the sport.

Scheduled activities include Build Your Skills Sessions, Gear Talk Sessions, Fix-It Clinics, bike demos, group rides, timed competitive events, kids’ activities and live music.  Food and beverage, including beer will be available for purchase on-site.

"This is event is ½ fun community festival trying to introduce mountain biking and the fantastic amenities at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park to a greater audience and ½ recognition for MORC for the many MANY hours their volunteers put in making that system possible." - Katie Pata, Park Operations Coordinator for Dakota County Parks

Updates for the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival can be found on the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival Facebook event page.  Let 'em know you're going by visiting the new online reservation system page for the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival or by calling 952-891-7000 during standard business hours.

 
Event parking will be available at the West Trailhead and at the School of Environmental Studies just a couple of blocks to the south on Johnny Cake Ridge Road.  Overflow street parking is also available along Galaxie Avenue with entrance to the bike trails.  Overnight camping at the Lebanon Hills Campground (located just across the road, and south about half mile from the event grounds) is an option for those needing accommodations.  Camping reservations can be made by visiting the Dakota County Campgrounds page.