Snow Valley's Valley Series 2 downhill race closes three trails to the public on Oct. 24

{"type": "string", "value": "Snow Valley Bike Park in Running Springs will host the second stop of its inaugural Valley Series downhill mountain bike race on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.^[1]. The event is part of a two-stop series Snow Valley launched to spotlight SoCal's mountain bike scene — the first stop took place on May 30^[1] — and it brings with it a significant heads-up for anyone planning a casual ride that day.\n\n## Three trails closed to the public all day\n\nIf you're a recreational rider planning to visit Snow Valley on Oct. 24, plan your route before you arrive: Bandit, Crazy Horse, and Gun Smoke will all be closed to the public for the duration of race day^[2]. Gun Smoke is included not because it's a race course itself, but because its only access runs through Crazy Horse^[2]. That's a meaningful chunk of the trail network off the table, so non-racing visitors should check the park's trail map and adjust expectations accordingly.\n\n## What the race day looks like\n\nFor those who are racing — or who want to come out and watch — the day is packed. Packet pick-up and on-site registration open at 8 a.m. and run until 10:30 a.m. Chairlift service and practice laps on Bandit and Crazy Horse begin at 9 a.m., with the course closing at noon ahead of the 12:30 p.m. race start^[1]. After the racing wraps up, a live musical performance is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m., followed immediately by the awards ceremony^[1].\n\nThe prize purse is substantial for a regional series: first-place finishers in both the men's and women's categories each take home $5,000, with $2,500 for second and $1,000 for third^[1]. Snow Valley describes the series as bringing together "fast lines, good vibes, and the heart of SoCal's mountain bike scene" — open to seasoned racers and newcomers alike^[2].\n\n## How to register\n\nOnline registration is open now and closes at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23^[1]. If you miss the deadline, day-of registration will be available on-site the morning of the race^[1]. Snow Valley is located at 35100 CA-18, Running Springs. Full event details and the registration link are at bigbearmountainresort.com/things-to-do/events/valley-series-2 (opens in a new tab)."}