Downieville Bike Rental and Shuttle Services

The classic Downieville Downhill ride is considered a technically demanding trail suitable for intermediate to advanced riders due to its steep gradients, loose sections, and obstacles. However, there are three loops at the top of the Downhill for Cross-Country riders: Pauley Creek, Big Boulder or Lavazzola Creek. The 2nd Divide Trail is the Cross-Country ride as an alternative to the Downhillers 3rd Divide. Many riders link up a loop at the top with the 2nd Divide trail for a 3-5 hour ride.

All shuttles have a 6-person minimum. If we haven't met minimum, we'll contact you to reschedule to a different time.

Absolutely! Additional shuttles on the same day are only $25/rider. We recommend booking your first shuttle at an earlier time, and then seeing how you feel when you're finished with the ride.

• Butcher Ranch Creek: This is the trail that first made Downieville famous. Taken from Packers Saddle it starts in a meadow high in the Sierras east of town. It drops like a stone through creeks and canyons over brutally demanding terrain. The first mile and a half descends about 1200 feet. In all the trail dives an astounding 4500 feet in 14+ miles with all the drop offs, rock gardens, and fast forest tracks to gladden the heart of any technical mountain biker. If you're only going to ride one trail, this is it!
• Pauley Creek: Pauley Creek Trail is the second great downhill ride in the Downieville collection. It shares all the technical joys of Butcher and Big Boulder trails in a setting of great beauty. Its more visual than other area trails because it starts in open country. Traveling to this trail allows you to get a larger picture of this part of the Sierras from ridge tops to meadowlands. Another advantage of using this trail is that it is more private. You’ll see fewer riders on this run.
• Big Boulder Trail: If dropping a stomach churning 1700 feet in 2+ miles on a narrow, rocky trail is your style, then consider this ride! Most of the Big Boulder Trail consists of rocky, unstable soil conditions. Much of it is extremely narrow, strewn with gnarly tree roots, off camber, and on a steep mountainside. Long climbs, beautiful vistas, and screamin’ downhill action make this a ride to remember.

If you're considering riding the Downieville Downhill, you already have mountain biking experience, and likely have a preference on wheel size and whether you want an analog or an e-bike! With that in mind, here are our recommendations:

• Megatower: Best analog bike for hard chargers who prioritize the downhill experience
• Bronson: Best analog bike for those who want more firm rear travel for easier pedaling. This is a pedaler's downhill, after all!
• Bullit eMTB: Great for the gravity of this rocky downhill ride, with a little extra assist for pedaling.
• Heckler eMTB: A great, nimble e-bike for smaller riders.

Yes, you can! We offer flat or SPD pedals for those who want to use ours.

Maps are available for purchase at our shop. If you have TrailForks, it is accurate for the Downieville Downhill trail and a sufficient map for the ride.

The Downieville Downhill ends right at our shop!