NEWRY, Maine — With new ownership officially in place, Sunday River is pleased to announce the return of lift serviced downhill mountain biking beginning on Friday, Aug. 10. Sunday River plans to offer mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day Weekend.

“Popular demand played a big part in the decision to offer mountain biking right away,” said Dana Bullen, general manager at Sunday River. “The return of mountain biking to Sunday River is just the first step in growing our four season amenities in the coming years.”

A fleet of new Kona downhill mountain bikes have been ordered and are expected to be available for rent within the month. All rider services and tickets will be available at the South Ridge Lodge with lift service on nearby North Peak. Limited services will be available on the first weekend of operation with additional services including a full service repair and rental shop becoming available by late August. Full details will be available at www.sundayriver.com .

Downhill mountain bike trails including Grease Monkey, Moose Tack and the Crater Trail wind their way down from the summit of North Peak. In total, Sunday River will offer 20 miles of trails of varying difficulty levels with lift service on the Perfect Turn Express Quad. Additional downhill and cross-country routes will become available through the month of August.

In addition to mountain bikers, the lift will also be open to foot traffic seeking to view the Mahoosuc Mountains up close during summer and fall foliage season. Visible from the summit are Sunday River’s Aurora Peak and Jordan Bowl, plus Old Speck Mountain, which towers over the Sunday River Valley at a peak elevation of 4,170 feet. A resort shuttle service will be in operation accommodating foot traffic and bicyclists. The resort shuttle will service both Resort Hotels as well as area tourist attractions including the covered bridge in Newry.

The announcement of mountain biking is not the first order of business conducted by new ownership. A Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA combined season pass called The Maine Pass was also recently announced and is slated to go on sale by Aug. 15. Maine Pass prices range from $299 to $799 and offer benefits for discounted or free skiing at Boyne USA’s western resorts.