Image courtesy of Elevated Trail Design
By Emma Castleberry
Hatley Pointe Bike Park at Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort will open for its inaugural season on Saturday, August 1. Designed and built by Elevated Trail Design, the first phase of the new lift-served bike park introduces 12 trails connected by three primary descents from the summit, giving riders multiple route options as they make their way down the mountain.
For Elevated Trail Design founder and owner Peter Mills, the project carries special significance because of its proximity to the company’s home base in Marshall. “Established in 2011, Elevated Trail Design has been designing and building trail systems and bike parks all over the US for the last 15 years,” Mills says.
Elevated Trail Design was brought on shortly after Hatley Pointe acquired the property to develop a long-term vision for mountain biking at the resort. Construction on the first phase began in February 2025. “While this is just the first phase of trails, our team has squeezed so much into these trails, so they are action-packed,” says Mills.
Image courtesy of Elevated Trail Design
Beyond the trails themselves, there has been substantial investment in preparing the mountain for bikers. “Modifications to the lift system, bike carriers, expanded loading and unloading areas, staff training, inspections, and new safety protocols have all been necessary,” says Jeff Fissel, general manager at Hatley Pointe. “We have also had to rethink aspects of the base area, including food and beverage operations, to better align with the needs and habits of mountain bike guests.”
Mills sees one of the biggest advantages of the lift-served model as the ability to repeatedly practice skills and features without lengthy climbs. “The whole point of a mountain bike park is an opportunity to progress your riding skills on features and trails built specifically for mountain biking,” Mills says. “Bike parks offer the ability for riders to repeat a trail and feature many times to gain confidence, skills and techniques that can then be used when riding other bike parks or trails. The chairlift lets you get as many practice laps as you need to feel comfortable on a feature without having to pedal to the top of a mountain again and again.”
The park includes a mix of natural terrain and more sculpted bike park features. “We love incorporating natural-style trails and have worked hard to provide a good mix of more natural trail and full-on bike park trail that feels like a dirt roller coaster,” Mills says.
When riders arrive for opening season, Mills believes they will find an experience unlike anything else currently available in the region. “Hatley Pointe and lift access mountain biking is a perfect complement to help round out the broad range of mountain biking in the Asheville/Johnson City and greater WNC region,” Mills says. “These trails will not be found in a public park and the Hatley Pointe team is eager to welcome mountain bikers to their resort and grow as a four-season destination.”
Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort is at 578 Valley View Circle, Mars Hill. Learn more at HatleyPointe.com.
