Brand new to mountain biking and looking to gain some skills? Or maybe you’ve been biking for years and 2023 is the year you want to take it to the next level.
Wherever you are on your personal journey, we highly recommend going to a women’s mountain bike clinic, camp, or event. There’s no better way to accelerate your skills, gain confidence, and meet new rad mountain bike women.
And it’s never too early to start planning your year out. Before you calendar gets chock full of dentist appointments and family obligations, commit to one of the following clinics, camps, or trips. Do something good for YOU!
Roam Fest
We know a bunch of awesome mountain biking ladies who’ve gone to Roam Fest, and they’ve done nothing but rave. Now we have to go too, obviously.
Roam Fest (there are three locations) are the biggest women’s mountain bike festivals in the world! These weekend long events focus on group rides, demos, workshops, and yup, dance parties.
Roam Fest is also doing an excellent job of inclusivity and no matter your age, race, or sexual orientation you’re welcome. To learn more, make sure to listen to our podcast with Ash and Andi, the founders of ROAM.
2023 Dates & Locations: Knoxville, TN (May 5-7), Fruita, CO (Sept 22-24), Sedona, AZ (Nov 3-5)
Learn More: http://thisisroam.com/
Ladies AllRide
Unlike many of the camps on this list that are primarily located in the Western U.S.,Ladies AllRide does a good job of offering clinics across the country. Their offerings span from Vermont to Arkansas to Wyoming.
These camps are designed for women of all skill levels and offer small group instruction.
If you want to learn more about Ladies AllRide, make sure to listen to our podcast interview with founder Lindsey Richter.
2023 Plans: Registration opens Jan 31, multiple dates.
Where: Sedona, AZ, Bentonville, AR, Bend, OR, Grand Targhee, WY, Lyndonville, VT, Big Sky, MT, Grand Targhee, WY, Thunder Mountain Bike Park, MA
Learn More: http://www.ladiesallride.com
VIDA MTB Series
The VIDA MTB series is well-known for their skills-building weekend clinics. Located in Colorado, most of their events are local, but they are worth traveling for.
If you are headed to the Sedona MTB festival in March, VIDA will be there as well. These events are great for ladies who are short on time but want to focus on improving their riding.
2023 Plans: Schedule TBA
Where: Colorado (Multiple), Sedona, AZ
Learn More: https://www.vidamtb.com/
Sacred Rides
Looking for the trip of a lifetime? Look no further than Sacred Rides.
They offer women’s-only mountain bike trips to Utah and Quebec. (If you’re willing to go co-ed, the options expand signficantly)…..
Their 5-day Wilderness & Waterfalls tour in Quebec offers plenty of pedaling, as well as a little pampering. You get to stay in a backcountry ecolodge, visit a nordic spa, eat delicious meals and stretch out with some nature yoga.
2023 Locations: St. George, UT, Quebec City, QC
Dates: Multiple
Learn More: https://sacredrides.com/
Dirt Series
If you’re looking for a top-notch coaching, consider the Dirt Series mountain bike camps. Most are women’s only; a few are co-ed. All will leave you a better rider.
There are camps for developing both cross-country and downhill skills, so you can pick whichever discipline suits you better. The 2-day weekend clinics include skills development sessions, instructional rides, maintenance clinics, and more.
There are also a ton of locations, so wherever you are in N. America, you should be able to find a date near you.
To learn more about Dirt Series, listen to our podcast with owner and coach Meagan Dennis.
Locations: San Rafael, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Reno, NV, Hood River, OR, Cheyenne, WY, Marquette Mountain, MI, Mammoth Mountain, CA, Park City, UT, San Jose, CA, Stowe, VT, Sedona, AZ, Fruita, CO
Dates: Multiple
Learn More: http://www.dirtseries.com
Better Ride
Better Ride are probably the best-known skill-building clinics in the United States. Less well known is that they offer women’s only camps.
For 2022 they have women’s camps planned in Fruita, CO, and Winter Park, CO. Participants learn correct body position, how to fall safely, how to clear large obstacles, and effective cornering (plus much more).
2023 Dates & Locations: Scottsdale, AZ (Feb 3-5), Moab, UT (Mach 31-April 2), Fruita, CO (April 28-30), Winter Park, CO (July 28-30), Durango, CO (Aug 18-20), Fruita, CO (Sept 22-24)
More info: http://betterride.net
Shred Sisters
If you’re north of the border, check out one of these Canadian-based clinics or retreats. Shred Sisters offers weekend workshops, one-day clinics, and weekly programs.
Regardless of your skill level, you’ll find a class for you. They have beginner programs, intermediate ones, and even special sessions on jumps and drops.
Locations: Ivenmere, BC, Golden, BC, Calgary, AB, Canmore, AB, Cranbrook, AB, Revelstoke, BC, Hinton, AB, Kimberley, BC
2023 Dates: Multiple
More Info: https://shredsisters.ca/
Ninja Mountain Bike Performance
New-ish to mountain biking? The Ninja Women’s Fundamental clinic will teach you everything you need to know to succeed on the bike.
These half-day, full day, or 2 day clinics cover body position, braking, shifting, climbing and descending, and more. You’ll also learn drills that you can continue to practice long after the clinic is over.
These clinics are offered all over the country.
2023 Dates and Locations: Too many to list!
More Info: https://ridelikeaninja.com/womens-only-clinics/
Other Women’s Camps, Clinics, Trips, & Events
Just a few years ago, we had trouble putting together this list–there just wasn’t that much out there. Today, there are so many amazing opportunities for women that we can’t fit them all on our “7 Best” list.
Here are other organizations that we recommend as well. Most of these are locally or regionally based.
Know one that should be added? Leave a comment below.
- Shredly Women’s MTB Retreats – Moab, UT, Park City, UT, Carbondale, CO
- Women In The Mountains – Park City, UT
- A Singletrack Mind – California (primarily Truckee, CA)
- Endless Bike Girl MTB Skills – Brevard, NC (podcast with coach Shanna Powell)
- Sedona Mountain Bike Academy– Sedona, AZ
- Dirt Divas – Denver, CO
- MTB Oregon Ladies Clinic – Oakridge, OR
- Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association Women’s Weekend – Seeley, WI
- Cutaway Bike Camp Women’s Weekend – Charlottesville, VA
- Brave Endeavors– Hood River, OR and Boise, ID
- Women’s Radical Pursuits – Trips to Oaxaca, MX (podcast with owner Amy Schweim)
- GRIT MTB Festival – Fayetteville, AR (Sept 29-Oct 1, 2023)
- Zion Gooseberry Basecamp – Hurricane, UT (retreat March 9-12, 2023)
- Trail Lovers – Sedona, AZ
- AMBC Joy Ride – Knoxville, TN
- Dirt Divas MTB – Windsor Essex County, ON
- Roots Mountain Biking Women’s Retreat – Nixa, MO(Sept 29-Oct 1, 2023)
- Rooted Women’s MTB Festival – Benus Point, NY (July 21-23, 2023)
Please send me info on upcoming clinics
Howdy!! I am yearning to gain confidence on drops and jumps, I live in Las Vegas and would love to do a week long women’s skill retreat somewhere relatively close.
Thanks,
♥️♥️♥️
Connie
Love this line-up of rad femme shred options!!! Thanks Femme Cyclist!
Hey Connie!
I shoot photos at some of the Ladies AllRide MTB Skills Camps — they’ll be announcing Camp dates in the next week and usually offer a Sedona, AZ Skills Camp. I can vouch that if you want to progress your skill set on the bike surrounded by a bunch of other fun, rad ladies this is a good choice! The only caveat is they fill up fast, so you’ve gotta be on top of getting registered right when it opens. You can sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of the landing page on http://www.ladiesallride.com so you know right when they announce dates and registration.
Cheers,
Katie
Any camps in Michigan? I want to get my daughter (11) more confident on the trails.
Hi CB,
That’s awesome! Check out Ninja. They have some women’s clinics in Michigan and it looks like riders can be as young as 11. https://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/michigan/
Are there any clinics for women on E-mtb’s?
Not that I know of Susan. You could always reach out to the organizers of any clinics nearby you and ask if they allow e-mtbs.
Loved reading this in 2019, have done 2 camps/1 fest with Roam Events and can’t wait until they can start the long weekend just-bike camps again (hopefully they will). I think there is a huge niche out there for offering more woman 3-4 day/long weekend just ride camps- not skill building (many already on offer). There are so many mtb areas I want to check out and would be great to do so with other women that know the area, willing to guide.
Are there any women’s men bike clinics that are one on one or limited to a very few number of women in or around the Saint George/Moab area? Thanks.
Sorry…..auto correct. Should be mountain (mtn not men)
Yes! Women In The Mountains. I think Erica Tingey even does private coaching. https://www.womeninthemountains.com/
The big companies like Ninja and Better Ride are great but we’re HUGE fans of our local Bay Area / Tahoe mountain bike skills clinic coach. They’ve done A TON of women’s only clinics and they have one coming up this summer in Truckee too: https://asingletrackmind.com/events/womens-core-fundamentals-mtb-skills-clinic-tahoe-truckee
I’ve taken past clinics with them and definitely plan on doing another one this summer.
Added them! Thanks for the heads up Jaime!