The first time in a bike park can feel a bit intimidating, but at Ylläs, getting started is made easy. Smooth, gently rolling flow trails, guidance from the bike school, and well-functioning rental equipment help you get going – and soon you’ll understand why so many people get hooked on this sport.
My first time at Ylläs Bike Park felt more nerve-wracking than I had expected. The chairlift slowly climbed toward the top station, my bike hanging in the chair ahead, and in my stomach I felt a mix of excitement and slight uncertainty. Can I really ride down from here?
On the lower trails of Ylläs Bike Park, that feeling fades quickly. The trail selection is designed so that it’s easy to get started – and that’s exactly what makes this place so special. At Ylläs, you don’t have to be an experienced rider to try a bike park for the first time.
And once I’ve ridden my first trail, I already know: this is addictive. There’s a reason Ylläs Bike Park has been voted Bike Park of the Year two years in a row.
Easy flow trails – the bike almost rides itself
For beginners, the best place to start is the easy Flow trail from the chairlift, or the children’s trails near the base station using the Vekkuli magic carpet lift. There’s no need to worry about big roots or technical rock gardens—the trail flows smoothly forward. Bermed turns carry you through, small rollers add rhythm, and the bike feels like it almost steers itself.
There’s something almost meditative about flow trails. Your gaze stays ahead, your body learns to move with the terrain, and your speed increases almost without noticing. With every corner, your confidence grows a little. The first runs can still feel exciting, and you quickly realize that this sport is definitely physical.
On the bike park’s own website, you’ll find trail descriptions for all Ylläs Bike Park routes as well as instructional videos on how to use the lifts. Before your first chairlift ride, you can practice placing your bike on the rack at the training area located at the base station. You can always ask staff for help, too. There is staff at both the top and bottom stations of the chairlift and gondola at all times during lift operating hours.
You can also practice bike handling skills on the asphalt Pump Track. Once you get the hang of pumping, it becomes incredibly addictive.
Bike school – a safe start to a new sport
If you have little or no experience, or simply want to ensure a good start, Ylläs Bike School is an excellent way to begin. Experienced instructors calmly walk you through the basics: riding position, braking, cornering, and how the bike behaves on different terrain. You’ll test the trails together.
Guidance makes a huge difference. When someone clearly explains what to do and why, uncertainty quickly turns into excitement.
At the bike school, you’ll also see just how many different kinds of riders there are on the slopes. Families, groups of friends, first-timers, and more experienced riders – everyone finds their own way to enjoy it.
Easy access to the bike park with rental gear
You don’t need to bring your own bike to visit the bike park. At Ylläs, rental equipment makes it easy to get started: available are full-suspension mountain bikes designed for bike park riding, along with helmets and protective gear included in the rental set.
For me, this was a big relief on my first visit. I didn’t have to wonder whether my own gear was suitable or sufficient. The equipment is properly adjusted to your weight in advance and is safe to use. When the bike works as it should, it’s much easier to focus on the most important thing: the joy of riding. The knowledgeable rental staff will help you choose the right size and give you tips if needed, making your first run much more relaxed.
Gondola, views, and the calm of summer
One of my favorite things at Ylläs Bike Park isn’t just the riding, it’s the moment when you sit on the chairlift or in the gondola on your way up.
The landscape opens up around you: fells, forests, and lakes stretching toward the horizon. In this setting, biking takes on a whole new feeling. It’s not just about performance, but about the joy of being outdoors and spending time together.
The lifts make getting to the top easy, so your energy is saved for the best part: riding down. With a valid lift ticket, you can also head up just to eat or enjoy the scenery, even if you’re not quite ready to ride down yet.
A full summer holiday in one place
Trying out a bike park can easily turn into a full summer day, where the thrill of speed and the joy of learning go hand in hand. At the end of the day, I find myself saying the same thing I hear from many others: “shall we go one more time?”
That’s probably the best sign that the bike park has done its job. It delivers a sense of achievement, just the right amount of challenge, and above all, a fun day outdoors for the whole group. The bike park is just one part of Ylläs in summer, but it’s a great reason to visit and to stay longer.