The Diné Mountain Bike Revolution
On Diné Bikéyah, or Navajo Nation, trails have always been the connectors. They are the ancient routes that link communities, families, and people to the land—a physical manifestation of the deep and abiding relationship with nature. As one community member shared with us, "That's something us as Diné people, we've always utilized our trails to get from one place to another."
Thanks to support from private foundations in recent years, IMBA has had the opportunity to work to elevate the strengths, momentum, and deep-rooted outdoor recreation traditions of Navajo Nation communities; and working alongside Diné leaders, to create great places for kids and families to ride.
This is what it's all about: trails that connect us to each other, to nature, and to the generations who will follow.
Because of the passionate leadership of Navajo leaders, trail champions and advocates, and innovative partners like Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works, Navajo Yes, Outride, NICA, and Project Bike Tech, IMBA has been welcomed and is committed to contributing to the momentum with expert trail development and mountain bike community building on Navajo lands. Significantly, and based in deep respect for Diné culture, IMBA’s efforts are guided by a Navajo Nation Coordinator: a Navajo community member working as full-time IMBA employee to connect and empower Navajo communities and leaders and to provide mentorship to other tribal nations.
Shared Learning and Connection
IMBA has been working with the Navajo Nation on mountain bike and shared use trail development for 2019. One of the greatest moments in our partnership to date was the June 2023 Trail Care School. Trail builders from 12 communities across the Navajo Nation came together to tune up trails in time for the 3rd annual Rezduro. Hear from Rezduro founders/organizers and four trail builders as they reflect on the weekend of sharing, building, and learning. These open conversations, discussions of best practices and hands-on dirt and rock work will no doubt have a ripple effect as mountain biking continues to grow momentum across the Diné Bikeyah.
Building Paths Back to the Land
IMBA was invited back to the Navajo Nation to host a second Trail Care School in Fort Defiance, Arizona in April of 2025. This wasn't just about teaching techniques for drainage and sustainable trail design. It was a collaborative exchange of knowledge, passion, and vision among local community leaders, park staff, and youth cycling coaches. It was about empowering the community to steward its own resources, blending modern trail science with a deep respect for the land.
See the story of how trails are bringing people together and creating a path for the future on the Navajo Nation.
The knowledge shared at a Trail Care School creates a ripple effect. The skills learned are passed on, new leaders are cultivated, and the capacity for a community to build and maintain its own trails grows exponentially. This is how a single training session becomes a sustainable, community-driven trail movement. Ahéhee, thank you, to the many dedicated partners and community leaders who are getting kids outside and on bikes in our Navajo communities.
In December 2025, IMBA’s Eleanor Blick chatted with M.T. Garcia of Yazh Trails and Navajo MTB Festival, and IMBA Navajo Nation Coordinator Roxanne Marianito, about the progress and potential for great places to ride on Diné Bikéyah.
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| Eleanor Blick, IMBA Why is there a push to pursue trails on Navajo Nation? |
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| M.T. Garcia, Yazh Trails & Navajo MTB Festival We've always had trails on our homeland, but throughout history, some of them became less used or forgotten while others remain. New social trails have emerged from people wanting and needing outdoor access, like the early morning runners, people out for their daily walks, and mountain bike riders. There's a growing group of us who understand trail types and how different designs serve different users. |
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| Roxanne Marianito, IMBA Being outdoors can really heal a body. Both mentally, physically: if it's through walking, if it's through hiking, if it's through running, or if it's through mountain biking. One of the biggest things we are working with, especially with our youth, is their mental well-being. |
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| M.T. Too often, the more advanced or technical trails get created first. There's a gap that gets left for beginners. We see a real need for beginner-friendly bike trails to help new riders build that confidence and keep families and kids safe. Creating accessible trails for all skill levels is essential for growing the mountain bike culture on our homelands and encouraging more families, youth, and new riders to get out and ride. |
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| Eleanor Have there been any particular efforts that have helped accelerate progress for trails? |
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| M.T. Stewardship is crucial for us as Navajos on our homeland, because we're the ones that understand our environment. So I've seen a lot of positive impact through Trail Care Schools, and it being a natural of engagement in how we involve ourselves with the land and trails. |
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| Roxanne I think a standout effort within the past year is growing a lot of partnerships, not only with IMBA, but with the various organizations across Navajo Nation. |
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| Eleanor Partnerships are the key to success in every community, but the strength and the depth of partnerships and all the creative ways different organizations are working together really stands out on Navajo Nation. |
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| M.T. Roxanne's role has been such a crucial part of pushing these efforts along. Her dedication, her guidance, her consistent work in trails, conversation and planning—it has created real movement toward new trail development on Navajo Nation. |
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| Roxanne Families within communities are one of the biggest supporters, especially when it comes to youth cycling. They're your voice within the school. They're your voice within the community. They're your voice within the chapter meetings. |
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| M.T. On the Navajo Nation, key partners are the community members themselves. Their involvement – whether that's through showing up for trail work, sharing local knowledge, supporting events, or advocating for more youth and family-friendly riding opportunities – that's been essential. These partnerships are successful because they come from a place of shared responsibility and cultural connection to the land. When community members are engaged, the trails we create are more meaningful, better maintained, and more widely supported. Their commitment is what continues to drive the trail progress on our homelands. |
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| Roxanne Navajo Nation is growing, and can grow exceptionally more in the areas of development, partnership and collaboration. Now it's about getting our Navajo Nation government entities on board to support our initiatives, so it comes down from the President to the Council Delegates, to the Chapter Officials, to the communities, and to the families. |
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| M.T. We already have big passion from riders. There's a strong youth interest and a bigger interest from folks who just haven't gotten on the bike, but want to get on the bike and want to get on the trails. Once we get more trails built and established, of all skill levels, our biking community and all outdoor users will flourish. We'll see more people out and hanging out, having fun on the land, instead of being stuck indoors or stuck to our devices. That's what I want to see: more of our people back out on the land, playing again, engaging with the land, engaging with themselves and those around them. People learning more about themselves, whether that's through biking or just doing something on the trail. |
Listen to the full interview:
And the Momentum is Momentous
Collective energy? Check. Community buy-in? Check. Powerful partnerships to move the work forward? Check. Check. CHECK! Progress continues across the Navajo Nation with community engagement (like the Navajo Mountain Bike Festival), new outdoor recreation infrastructure like trails and pump tracks, and powerful programs (Silver Stallion’s free bike repair, free bikes for kids, and ridership programs) and pieces demonstrating the deep connections between Diné and their land in service of families and communities
Five pump tracks installed and ready-to-ride in five consecutive days?
Sounds like a pipe dream! But in April 2024, five Navajo Nation communities made it happen through cooperative planning, committed partnerships, and deep collective engagement. During the week of April 8-12th, years of planning were actualized and five new pump tracks were successfully installed by committed partners and the Navajo communities that collaborated to plan, prep, install and launch the new pump tracks in Crownpoint and Navajo Township, New Mexico; and Nazlini, Hard Rock, and Kayenta, Arizona.
In the Dirt, A Film You Can’t Miss
IN THE DIRT is a documentary film about a group of passionate Native American cyclists who attempt to bring the sport of mountain biking to the Navajo Nation, where no bike shops existed. IMBA had the great privilege of supporting screenings of the film across the country. It is truly a can’t miss.
