In 1987, Mammoth Mountain put a chairlift to work in summer. Not for skiing — for bikes. Nobody else had done it. It became the model for every lift-accessed bike park that came after.
Fast forward nearly 40 years and Mammoth just unveiled a multi-year rebuild of that same bike park, developed with trail design firm Gravity Logic — the same team behind Whistler Bike Park. New trails, new lift access, new progression lines. It opens this summer. And I’m already thinking about what I’d bring to film it.
What’s Actually New in 2026
For the first time, Roller Coaster Express [4] will open for bike park operations, giving riders faster access to more trails. A brand-new trail connects it to Main Lodge. There’s also a new Upper Flow trail that bridges the gap between advanced terrain and the famous “Flow Drop” — making the jump line at Pipeline more accessible for a wider skill range without gutting the challenge for experts.
Gabe Taylor, Bike Park Brand Manager, said it directly: “This plan is about honoring that legacy while investing in the future.” I respect that framing. Too many resorts chase the gnarly stuff and forget about everyone trying to get there. Mammoth is building a proper progression ladder — green to blue to black, all intentional. That’s rad trail design.
The Gear I’d Actually Bring
Bike park filming is different from ski content. You need coverage from multiple angles — helmet POV, follow cam, wide establishing shots. Here’s how I’d kit up for the new Mammoth trails this summer. Note: best viewed on desktop — scroll horizontally on mobile.
| Camera | Best For | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insta360 X5 | Helmet / 360° reframe in post | ~$499 | Insta360 ↗ |
| DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro | Chest mount / stabilized POV | ~$329 | Amazon ↗ |
| GoPro HERO13 Black | Follow cam / wide establishing | ~$299 | Amazon ↗ |
I’d reach for the Insta360 X5 as my primary. The reframe flexibility in post is unmatched for bike park content — you shoot 360° and choose your angle after the fact, which is huge when you’re chasing a rider down a jump line and can’t predict exactly where the action lands. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro rides a chest harness beautifully for that ground-level look. GoPro on a follow cam or for wider establishing shots of the trails.
Why This Is a Content Opportunity, Not Just a Trail Opening
When a legacy park rebuilds with a design firm of Gravity Logic’s caliber, the content writes itself. New trail character, clear progression, accessible features for first-timers alongside technical lines for veterans — that’s multiple videos, multiple audiences, multiple content pieces from a single day of shooting.
We’ve talked before about how ski resorts with bike parks often undermarket the summer product. Mammoth is clearly not making that mistake — and if you’re planning a trip there this summer to shoot content, I’d get on this early. The new trails will be worth the trip.
A mountain that invented lift-accessed riding in 1987 is recommitting to the next 40 years. That’s the kind of long-term vision most resorts talk about and few actually build toward. It’s all downhill from here — in the best possible way.
Are you planning to film at Mammoth this summer? What’s your current bike park filming setup?
