For years, mountain biking at Great Bear was the stuff of Sioux Falls, South Dakota legend.

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The question "Why can't we mountain bike at Great Bear?" was a consistent refrain in the local two-wheeled community. And while this stretch of land in northeast Sioux Falls has been a winter staple for snowsports, its potential for summer recreation was largely untapped. The city had long been hesitant to allow natural surface riding due to erosion concerns, given the area’s sandy soil.

This is where IMBA Local Member Org Falls Area Singletrack’s (FAST's) long-standing relationship with the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department became critical. FAST, a 100% volunteer-based organization, has proven itself to be the gold standard for community partners. They’ve built trust by consistently delivering on their promises, maintaining trails, and actively engaging the community.

This trust was pivotal. By demonstrating how professionally built trails could not only prevent but even correct erosion issues at other parks, FAST convinced city officials to greenlight the Great Bear project. A usage agreement was signed in 2021, and the dream of mountain biking at Great Bear began to take shape.

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Phased Approach to Success

The project's forward momentum was fueled by the IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant, which awarded FAST $25,000 for a full conceptual design plan for the park. This funding was a big catapult for the project, providing a professional, detailed, 55-page master concept that could be used to win over stakeholders, donors, and city officials. The plan revealed the potential for up to 12 or 13 miles of trails, far more than the initial five-mile estimate.

Learn More about IMBA Trail Accelerator Grants

With a clear vision in hand, the team adopted a phased approach. This strategy is one that many volunteer-based organizations have adopted, given phased project management and grassroots fundraising are more palatable in small chunks. And phase one, currently underway, involves building four and a half miles of trails. This allows the community and city to see the project's success firsthand before committing to the next stages.
 

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Professional Trail Building Edge
 

One of the most significant decisions FAST made was to hire professional contractors for the build. While the organization has a history of volunteer trail building, they recognized the efficiency and quality that professional builders could bring to a project of this scale. A local professional, Benchmark Trails, was brought on to assist the IMBA Trail Solutions team, creating a collaborative, cross-pollination of expertise. This partnership ensures consistency in the trail network and provides a finished product that's both sustainable and a joy to ride.

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“Volunteers building this would have taken ten years, while the contractors are doing it in a matter of weeks,” noted Ben Blomberg, FAST’s board president. This shift allows the all-volunteer FAST team to focus on their strengths: community relationships, fundraising, and project management.

Until this project, most of the city's singletrack trails hugged the banks of the Big Sioux River, on terrain that made way for limiting experiences. The Great Bear project takes advantage of the dramatic, rolling terrain, where machine-built trails swoop and climb throughout the park, resulting in a mix of cross-country-oriented routes and downhill-only trails. “The main experience we’re shooting for is to provide everybody in the area with what it's like to ride professionally built trails,” mentioned Thomas Wedeking, IMBA Trail Solutions Construction Manager. Thomas is quick to tip his cap to TrailArts’ work at Tuthill Park, one of the city parks along the Big Sioux, for bringing the first pro-built trails to the area.
 

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Tuthill represented a growing demand: mountain bike-optimized trails. With Great Bear, users can look forward to sculpted, high-speed berms and varieties of small jumps, providing a flavor that doesn't currently exist in the region. While there are two dedicated gravity trails in this first phase, this system is also designed to be shared use, with the majority of the trails being open to hikers, dog walkers, and trail runners. This multi-purpose design ensures the trails are a resource for the entire community, which in turn helps with fundraising and long-term support.
 

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Looking Ahead

As phase one of the Great Bear trail system nears completion, plans are already in motion for a grand opening celebration to showcase the work to the community. The four and a half miles of trails will be the largest continuous chunk of trail in one location in Sioux Falls. Kyle Vanderberg of Great Bear Management, Inc. noted, “We’re excited about the potential to attract more visitors to the area and to open the doors of the ski valley for year-round activities.”

The first dense concentration of trails + plenty of space for hosting events, races, and endurance rides = a new community hub.

Learn more about the Great Bear Trail Build & consider donating: https://www.fallsareasingletrack.org/trails/great-bear 

Partner with IMBA Trail Solutions: https://www.imba.com/programs/trail-solutions 
 

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