singletrack cominG soon TO Great Bear
Get ready for an adventure like no other right in our backyard! Falls Area SingleTrack (FAST), in collaboration with Great Bear Ski Valley, is thrilled to announce plans to carve out 13 exhilarating miles of trails at Great Bear. Designed for hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers alike, this trail system promises to elevate your outdoor experience with progressive paths that enhance skills and expand fun!
Imagine a trail network that turns our city into a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts. These trails will provide countless hours of adventure, health benefits, and recreational opportunities—all while having the potential of boosting our local economy with minimal cost compared to other municipal projects.
DIVE INTO The Project
How it started
In November 2021, we marked a milestone as the city of Sioux Falls extended FAST’s capacity through an updated usage agreement, empowering us to enhance and maintain the trail network within Great Bear Park. This pivotal move opens up new opportunities for our trail-loving community to enjoy and contribute to the growth of our local trails.
Fast forward to December 2022, and FAST's commitment to excellence in trail development was recognized on a global scale. We were thrilled to receive grant funding from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Trail Accelerator Grant program. This funding is a game-changer, enabling us to bring trail concept and design plans to life at Great Bear, ensuring our trails are not only fun but also strategically and sustainably developed to enrich your outdoor experiences.
Want to learn more about the IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant Program?
Check out our press release: “Falls Area Singletrack (FAST) Awarded Grant Funding for the Development of Trails at Great Bear”
The Concept
Our conceptual trail plan, crafted in collaboration with IMBA Trail Solutions, harnesses the unique assets of the park—such as its location, topography, and native vegetation—to enhance the experience for all users. This concept thoughtfully integrates the history of past usage while aligning with our community’s future aspirations. With eight distinct zones slated for trail expansion, each area is designed to offer a unique adventure, fulfilling the park’s ambitious goals. These include improved connectivity, skills progression, increased trail mileage, and a deeper connection with nature, all aimed at unlocking the full potential of the park for everyone to enjoy.
Want a closer look?
What’s NExt?
Get ready for Phase 1 of our trail expansion at Great Bear! This exciting first step will introduce 5 miles of brand-new trails, seamlessly integrated with the existing paths to create an even richer outdoor experience. In this phase, we're not just expanding; we're enhancing. Our focus is on sustainability—improving the durability and environmental harmony of the current trails to ensure they're here for generations to come. Whether you're a seasoned biker, an avid runner, or a weekend hiker, these upgrades are designed to elevate your adventure and deepen your connection with the great outdoors at Great Bear.
Want a closer look?
Download our Phase 1 map.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR
Great Bear Project
Conceptual Trail Plan Unvailed at 2023 Member Meeting
Nov 16, 2023
The conceptual trail plan was unvailed at our 2023 member meeting and represents a collaborative effort between our team and the experts at IMBA Trail Solutions, outlining an ambitious vision for the expansion and enhancement of trails within Great Bear. The concept will be considered for incorporation into the Master Plan for Great Bear in coordination with Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation.
IMBA Trail Solutions Does A Site Visit
Jun 12, 2023
Tim and Josh with IMBA Trail Solutions do an initial walkthrough of Great Bear with FAST board members to scout, map and collaborate on potential opportunities for trails and features to be included in the design plans for the park.
FAST Awarded IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant
Dec 20, 2022
FAST was awarded grant funding from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Trail Accelerator Grant program for trail concept and design plans at Great Bear. Read More
donate today
As Sioux Falls continues to grow and our love for the outdoors deepens, we invite everyone from seasoned Great Bear Ski Valley patrons to the broader community to support this transformative project. Together, we can make Great Bear a vibrant hub for outdoor recreation and adventure. Join us in bringing this exciting vision to life for our community!
Great Bear News
Other Trails
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![Photo of mountain bike rider on trail at Leaders Park.]()
Leaders Park
Leaders Park is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, boasting around 4 miles of maintained singletrack twisting through pristine terrain for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year round, free of charge. The park sits just off the 6th Street and Leadale Avenue and just west of I-299 South.
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![Photo of cyclist on trail at Yankton Trail Park.]()
Yankton Trail Park
Yankton Trail Park singletrack is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, with around 1 mile of maintained singletrack twisting through flat terrain in a small wooded area along the river green space. This trail is perfect for beginner mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year round. The park can be found along South Minnesota Ave.
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![Photo of mountain bike rider on trail at Tuthill Park.]()
Tuthill Park
Tuthill Park singletrack is a machine-built, multi-use trail system, boasting around 3 miles of well maintained singletrack twisting through pristine terrain for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year round, free of charge. The trail surface is packed dirt with stone hard facing and wood bridges.
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![Photo of trail at Legacy Park.]()
Legacy Park
Legacy Park singletrack is a machine-built, multi-use trail system, with around 2 miles of maintained singletrack twisting through flat terrain in a small grassy open area along the Sioux Falls bike path. This trail is perfect for beginner mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year round. The park can be found along West 12th Street.
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![Image of Spencer Park singletrack.]()
Spencer Park
Spencer Park singletrack is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, with around a mile of maintained singletrack twisting through trees and terrain along the Sioux Falls bike path and the Big Sioux River Greenway. Parking for this park can be found along Cliff Ave. and trailheads can be accessed via the Sioux Falls bike path.
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![Image of Pasley Park]()
Pasley Park
Pasley Park singletrack is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, with around a mile of maintained singletrack twisting through trees and terrain along the Sioux Falls bike path and the Big Sioux River Greenway. Parking can be found along Southeastern Ave. and trailheads can be accessed via the Sioux Falls bike path.
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![Image of Dunham Park singletrack]()
Dunham Park
Dunham Park is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, with around 1.7 miles of maintained singletrack twisting through pristine terrain for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year-round, free of charge. The park sits just off of Marion Rd. and is also home to baseball fields, restroom facilities and a playground and has access to the Sioux Falls city bike trail.
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![Riverdale Park Trail Feature]()
Riverdale Park
Riverdale Park is a hand-built, multi-use trail system, with around .5 miles of maintained singletrack twisting through pristine terrain for mountain bikers, runners, and hikers to enjoy year-round. Its hand-built trails feature mostly natural surfaces, rock features, log rollovers and other optional stunts.
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![Image of River Boulevard Greenway trail.]()
River Boulevard Greenway
River Boulevard Greenway is a machine-built, multi-use trail system, with under 1 mile of maintained singletrack flowing through flat terrain. This trail features natural surfaces, hard-packed dirt, rock features and a tree ride-through. The greenway and trail is accessible via the Sioux Falls bike path and parking is available on E River Blvd.
earn some instant trail karma
Help us keep the singletrack flowing by making a contribution to our organization.