Whether you are new to mountain biking or an old pro, you undoubtedly recognize the freedom, sense of community, and spirit of adventure this sport offers. Mountain biking allows us to explore nature under our own power, it challenges both our physical and mental limits, and it creates an immediate sense of community with those we meet on the trail. But for many people, that freedom and spirit of adventure haven't always been accessible.
This spring, the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association (SWIMBA), with the support of our members and generous supporters, opened Kevin Pavlis Park — Trails of All Abilities in the foothills of Eagle, ID. While any new trail system is a milestone in and of itself, this project was different. This was the culmination of love, the celebration of a remarkable life cut short, and a years-long effort to build a trail system that accommodates riders of all abilities. Additionally, this is the first purpose-built trail system in Southwestern Idaho specifically designed to meet the Kootenai Adaptive Sport Association's aMTB Trail Standards, accommodating riders seeking to learn and grow their mountain biking skills, regardless of the type of bike they ride.
But this story is about more than trails. It's about people, possibility, and the legacy of a man who believed everyone should have the opportunity to experience the outdoors.
Honoring Kevin's Legacy
The 5.5-mile mountain bike trail system is named for Kevin Pavlis — a local cyclist, mountain biker, adaptive ski instructor, coach, and advocate who was tragically killed in a vehicle-versus-bicycle collision in 2009.
Those who knew Kevin remember him not only for his love of the outdoors, but for his commitment to helping others discover it for themselves. He spent years working with adaptive athletes, helping individuals build confidence, independence, and joy through recreation.
Kevin believed outdoor recreation should be available to everyone.
After his passing, family and friends shared a vision of creating something lasting in his memory — something that reflected the values he lived every day. More than fifteen years later, that vision became reality.
Today, Kevin lives on in these trails, and in every rider who finds confidence, a new challenge, and that never-ending spirit of freedom these trails provide.
One of the most important aspects of this project was the involvement of local adaptive athletes, and how that input helped shape the project from beginning to end. This wasn't a case of building trails and then determining whether they were accessible. Riders who use adaptive bikes provided input throughout the planning and design process, helping SWIMBA and our partners understand what truly inclusive trail experiences should look like.
The trails feature wider tread widths, larger turning radii, and carefully managed grades that accommodate adaptive equipment without sacrificing the excitement of mountain biking. The goal wasn't to create easier trails — it was to create better trails.
In fact, many adaptive riders challenged us to make sure the trails remained just as fun to ride as they were technical and rewarding. They wanted the same opportunities for progression and accomplishment that every mountain biker seeks.
The result of this collaboration is a trail network where beginners can learn on the green trail, "Soft Serve," progress to the blue trail, "Milk Shake Meadow," and where experienced riders can challenge themselves on the advanced "You Scream Ice Cream" black trail — and adaptive athletes can push their limits alongside everyone else. That's what inclusion looks like.
For years, this project existed as a dream shared by Kevin's family and friends, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and advocates. Suddenly, it was real. On opening day, as riders started up the dedicated climbing trail, "Stairway to Kevin," to begin exploring the trail system, nobody was focused on limitations. They were talking about the climb, the flow, the turns, and the fun of riding. They were encouraging each other, sharing experiences, and doing exactly what mountain bikers everywhere do. The joy was impossible to miss — and it serves as a reminder of why this project mattered, and how future projects can make small changes that have big results.
A Trail for Every Ability
Kevin Pavlis Park is the result of an incredible community effort involving adaptive athletes, volunteers, trail builders, donors, and partners who believed in a shared vision. Together, they helped create something that is bigger than a trail system.
It is a statement about what is possible when accessibility becomes a core design principle rather than an afterthought.
It is our sincere hope that this project inspires similar efforts throughout Idaho and beyond. As trail advocates, we often talk about protecting access to trails and public lands. We should also ask who gets to enjoy those opportunities once they exist.
Kevin believed recreation should expand what is possible for people, not limit it. Today, that belief is built into every mile of trail at Kevin Pavlis Park.
Every rider who discovers a new level of confidence, every adaptive athlete who finds a new challenge, and every family who experiences the outdoors together becomes part of Kevin's legacy.
Because this isn't just a trail system. It's proof that when a community comes together around a shared vision, we can create places where everyone belongs.
Learn more about the adaptive mountain biking standards that guided this project at the Kootenai Adaptive Sport Association. To support SWIMBA's trail work, add your link here.
