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Hardy Kids MTB Race | Wilmington, NY | August 29, 2026

  • Hardy Road Trail Head Wilmington, New York, 12997 United States (map)

Kids Take to the Trails at the Hardy Kids MTB Race in Wilmington

Mountain biking gets a decidedly pint-sized spin in Wilmington on Saturday, August 29, when the Hardy Kids MTB Race returns to the Hardy Road Trails at the Beaver Brook Tract.

Now in its eighth year, this Adirondack kids’ mountain bike race welcomes everyone from strider-riding preschoolers to experienced high school cyclists for a morning on the trails near Lake Placid.

And because few things taste better after pedaling through the woods than something hot off the grill, the racing ends with a trailhead cookout. Riders and their families can stick around for hot dogs and cold juice — a fittingly unfussy Adirondack finish to a morning spent getting muddy.

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A kids’ mountain bike race with Adirondack roots.

The Hardy Kids MTB Race has an origin story worth celebrating: kids started the race for kids. In 2026, the Barkeater Trails Alliance takes over as host for the first time, carrying that homegrown tradition into its next chapter.

Kid Mountain Biking in the Adirondacks.

Last year, more than 80 young riders participated along with their families. Rather than squeezing everyone onto the same course, organizers tailor the routes to different age groups, making the event accessible to newcomers while giving older riders a genuine mountain biking challenge.

The youngest racers, including strider riders, tackle a 0.3-mile loop on Beaver Brook View Trail, a crushed-stone path on lower Hardy.

Third- through fifth-graders step up to a 1.4-mile course using Coniferous and Lost Farm trails. Sixth- through eighth-graders cover 2 miles on Make Believe, Coniferous and Lost Farm.

High school riders get the longest outing: a 2.5-mile course incorporating Lost Farm, All In and Ante Up.

Mountain biking near Lake Placid for the next generation.

The setting makes this much more than a kids’ race transplanted onto a patch of dirt. Wilmington sits in one of the Adirondacks’ most active outdoor recreation corridors, with Lake Placid just down the road and an extensive network of mountain biking terrain nearby.

Hardy Road Trails offer young riders something particularly valuable: a chance to experience trail riding as a sport that can grow with them. A preschooler wobbling around a crushed-stone loop may be watching an older sibling disappear onto singletrack — and getting a glimpse of what comes next.

There are podiums, certainly. But the larger victory may be making mountain biking feel welcoming before anyone starts worrying about split times.

Stick around for the post-race cookout.

In previous years, the race took place over Labor Day weekend. For 2026, it moves to Saturday, August 29, giving families one more outdoor adventure before the calendar turns toward September.

Kids mountain biking on Adirondack trails.

After the racing, the trailhead becomes the gathering place. Organizers are encouraging families not to bolt after the podium ceremony but to stay for the cookout, swap race stories and enjoy a hot dog and cold juice.

For visiting families, the event can also anchor a late-summer day in Wilmington and the greater Lake Placid region, with plenty of additional hiking, biking and Adirondack exploring nearby.

ADK Taste recommendation.

Register by Friday, August 28, and arrive prepared for a morning outdoors rather than just race time. Bring water, appropriate riding gear and a change of clothes for young racers who regard mud as less of an obstacle than an opportunity. Most importantly, leave time for the cookout — the community around the trailhead is part of the experience.

Hardy Kids MTB Race details.

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026

Time: Morning

Location: Hardy Road Trails/Beaver Brook Tract, Wilmington, NY

Who: Riders from pre-K through 12th grade; striders included

Registration deadline: Friday, August 28

After the race: Trailhead cookout with hot dogs and juice

Families should visit the Barkeater Trails Alliance’s official website or Facebook page before race day for registration information, start times and any last-minute updates.

For more thoughtfully selected things to eat, see and do around Lake Placid, Wilmington and the wider Adirondacks, subscribe to In Good Taste, ADK Taste’s weekly guide to Adirondack food, stories and events.

Hardy Kids MTB Race FAQ.

When is the Hardy Kids MTB Race in Wilmington, NY?‍ ‍

The race takes place Saturday morning, August 29, 2026. Registration must be completed by Friday, August 28.

Where is the Hardy Kids MTB Race held?‍ ‍

It is held at the Hardy Road Trails/Beaver Brook Tract in Wilmington, New York, near Lake Placid.

What ages can participate in the Hardy Kids MTB Race?‍ ‍

The event welcomes young riders from pre-K through 12th grade, including children riding strider bikes.

How long are the kids’ mountain bike courses?‍ ‍

Courses vary by age, from a 0.3-mile crushed-stone loop for the youngest riders to a 2.5-mile trail course for high school riders.

Is there anything happening after the race?‍ ‍

Yes. Riders and families are invited to stay for a trailhead cookout featuring hot dogs and cold juice.

Who hosts the Hardy Kids MTB Race?‍ ‍

For the first time in 2026, the eighth annual race is hosted by the Barkeater Trails Alliance.


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