The Pikes Peak region already draws riders with its mix of high-alpine singletrack, technical descents, and sweeping views from America’s Mountain. What’s missing has often been the connective tissue, shared vision, coordinated/approved trail work, signage, and national-level recognition that turns great individual rides into a true destination. Pikes Peak Outdoors (PPO) is focused on closing that gap by bringing the mountain biking community together and positioning the area for the kind of recognition that helps it stand out.

A central piece of this work is the ongoing effort around the Ring the Peak corridor. The network of trails and roads that circles Pikes Peak and crosses multiple jurisdictions. PPO has helped advance multi-agency collaboration aimed at improving connectivity, management, and visitor experience across those boundaries. For mountain bikers, that means the potential for longer, more coherent rides, fewer access surprises, and better long-term maintenance of the trails people love. Improved coordination also supports the kind of consistent quality that national designation programs look for.

With the help of local mountain bike organizations, PPO is working to pursue International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) designations, such as Ride Centers, Epic rides, or related recognition programs, can help tie this work together. These designations serve as a respected third-party validation of trail quality, variety, progression, and destination infrastructure. Pursuing them gives the region a clear, shared target: elevate the trail systems, strengthen community involvement, improve amenities and information for visiting riders, and demonstrate the sustained management needed to protect the resource. An IMBA designation would not only celebrate what’s already strong about Pikes Peak riding; it would also raise the profile of the area as a premier outdoor destination among the broader mountain bike travel market.