Thunder Valley Short Track MTB Series

Bear Creek Lake Park in Morrison turns into one of the Front Range’s best race venues on summer evenings. The Thunder Valley Short Track Series packs competitive XC racing into tight, punchy laps of singletrack — races are short enough that you’re at full gas the whole time, which makes them genuinely addictive once you’ve done one.

Professional timing, a course that actually makes sense, and a volunteer crew that keeps everything moving give the series a polished feel for a weeknight race. The field draws a mix of seasoned racers and first-timers, and both groups are having the same amount of fun. If you’ve been curious about XC racing but the idea of a full-day event feels like a lot, a short track series is the best possible entry point.

Families make the trip out too — the spectating at Coyote Crossing Pavilion is good, and the park setting means there’s plenty of space to hang out while racers are doing their thing on course. Running through the summer and into early fall, Thunder Valley is the kind of series that builds a real community of local riders over the course of a season.