Fat Bike Festival

Held Every April in Valdez

Riders from around Alaska, and even the lower 48, roll into Valdez the first weekend of April each year for the Valdez Fat Bike Bash, featuring a kid-friendly bike parade and rodeo, cross-country race on Valdez Glacier, Tide & Trail race, and - for the boldest of riders - an epic downhill race on Thompson Pass.

Fat Biking in Valdez

Fat biking in Valdez is unlike anywhere else in Alaska. Accessible and family-friendly, multi-use, winter groomed trails can be found right in town. Valdez Adventure Alliance pays for regular grooming of Shoup Bay Trail, which is level and short, perfect for a quick or easy ride. Or, bike along Mineral Creek, where biking “up” leads to a waterfall-studded canyon or downstream ends at Prince William Sound, where, if the tide is out, you can also enjoy a beach ride. Just past Valdez Airport, the fat fun kicks up a notch and the type of scenery that makes Valdez so memorable is just a short ride across frozen Valdez Glacier Lake, where its glacial alleyways, ice caves, icebergs and other selfie-worthy scenes await discovery. Adventurous riders know that packed snow conditions open up endless riding along snow machine tracks to popular cross country and downhill descents on Thompson Pass that are limited only by a rider’s energy and imagination.

The Bike Bash Races

There are two cross-country style races at Valdez Bike Bash this year. The Cross-Country Race is an 11-15 mile loop around Valdez Glacier and the lake, incredible views of the glacial valley and for those looking for an endurance challenge. The Tide and Trail Race is a 2.5 mile route on Homestead Trail out to Kite Beach along Prince William Sound and back along Shoup Bay Trail in Valdez. This one is designed for the new fatbike enthusiast or those looking for a shorter race adventure.

2020 Postponed

Important message from the Valdez Adventure Alliance:

"VAA has made the decision to postpone Bike Bash. I'm sure everyone is aware of the health crisis going on around the world and this news may not be a huge surprise. Our highest priority is always the safety of everyone involved with our events and we feel this is the safest choice. And hey, now we have an opportunity to host a summer or fall-time bike event! The details of 'Future Bike Bash' are not clear at this point, but we will keep you all updated as we plan. We hope you are around to help and enjoy Future BB! Thank you for your help, flexibility and understanding in these challenging times. Lastly, we want to mention that compassion, kindness and empathy are as contagious as fear, panic and chaos. I hope we all can choose the former and take this one day at a time. Stay safe and be well."