The chairlifts have gone quiet, the bike racks are empty, and Schweitzer's 2026 summer season is officially in the books. From late June through Labor Day weekend, the mountain traded snow for singletrack — and this was one of the best riding summers yet.
The numbers tell the story: more than 40 miles of lift-served mountain bike trails wind down the same slopes skied in winter, rated green to double-black just like the ski runs. Riders boarded the Great Escape Quad and dropped 1,700 vertical feet back to the village, with the bravest connecting through the Basin trail system for a 4,000-foot descent into the valley below. Another 20 miles of cross-country and hiking trails filled out the map for those who prefer to earn their turns.
Summer at Schweitzer was never just about the bikes. The scenic chairlift ride to the summit drew non-riders up for food, drinks, and sweeping views at the Nest Bar & Restaurant. The 2.5-mile Nature Trail near the village gave hikers a gentle loop through the forest. Families flocked to the Summer Activity Center for the climbing wall, zipline, and bungee trampoline. And the events calendar kept the village buzzing: the Race the Wolf trail running weekend in June, Northwest Winefest in July, the Aether's Traverse gravel bike race in August, and finally Fall Fest over Labor Day weekend with live music and brews on tap.
It is worth remembering the wild neighbors, too. Schweitzer is black bear country, and riders clipped bear bells to their bikes while hikers carried spray — part of the deal when you play in the Selkirks.
Now the mountain rests. Crews will spend the fall tuning trails and prepping lifts, and the first snow is already on everyone's mind. The 2026-27 ski season is tentatively set to open on November 27, conditions permitting — and the bike park will be waiting when the snow melts again next summer.
Until then, the trails will be under a blanket of white, and the mountain will be dreaming of July.
The Village Overlook is our hilltop condo overlooking Schweitzer's ski village — steps from the trails in summer and the slopes in winter. We will see you on the mountain.