Juniper Trail
The Coach & Guide Behind Juniper Trail

About Chris King

The trail saved his life. Now he's sharing what it has to offer — with kids who need it and adults who are ready for more.

Why Juniper Trail Exists

You Already Know There's
More Out There for You.

You love being on the trail. The fresh air, the movement, the way everything else falls away when you're riding. But somewhere in the back of your mind, you know you're leaving something on the table. A section you keep walking. A corner you always brake into too early. A level of confidence and flow that feels just out of reach — like other riders have a secret you haven't found yet.

You want to feel free on a bike. To move your body with confidence, to read the terrain ahead instead of reacting to it, to finish a ride buzzing instead of relieved. You want more fun, more flow, more of whatever it is that makes you come back. You just need the right skills and someone to guide you there.

That's exactly what Juniper Trail is built for.

And for the Kids in Your Life?

Kids need to move. They need dirt under their tires, hills to climb, obstacles to figure out. They need the particular kind of confidence that only comes from doing something hard outdoors — from falling down and getting back up, from deciding to try the feature they've been staring at, from arriving home tired and proud.

Mountain biking gives them all of it — the exercise, the fresh air, the problem-solving, the self-reliance. It builds the kind of confidence that carries over into everything else in their lives. In a world of screens and sitting still, getting your kid on a trail might be the most important thing you do this summer.

The Coach Behind It All

Chris King

Lifetime Cyclist & Youth Program Builder

At 13, Chris was a troubled kid — depressed, without a real friend group, and struggling to find his footing. Then he found sailing through a summer camp, and everything shifted. Being outdoors, moving his body, working hard at something physical — it gave him an outlet for his energy and a reason to show up every day. It literally saved his life.

By 19, he was sharing that experience with other kids. He created a youth after-school sailing program in Florida from scratch, because he believed in what the outdoors could do for young people who needed it most.

Chris started mountain biking at 14 as cross-training for sailing, and never looked back. He raced road bikes in Hawaii and California, rode singletrack all over the Southwest, and eventually landed in Sedona — one of the greatest trail systems on earth — where he coached youth MTB through Wheel Fun's structured after-school program. Along the way he built youth programs in sailing, hunting, and mountain biking, always starting from zero and always driven by the same belief: that real outdoor experience changes people.

He lives now in Mancos, Colorado, surrounded by some of the best and least-crowded riding in the state. He started Juniper Trail because he sees what's happening — the more connected we become online, the more disconnected we get from each other and from nature. The trail is one of the last places where that equation flips. Biking gives us the vehicle to reestablish that connection, and to have a lot of fun doing it.

  • Founded youth sailing program in Florida from scratch at age 19
  • Youth MTB coach, Wheel Fun after-school program, Arizona
  • Built youth outdoor programs in sailing, mountain biking, and hunting
  • Road racer in Hawaii and California; Southwest MTB rider for 20+ years
  • Completed training in first aid and CPR
  • Based in Mancos, Colorado
Chris with young riders after camp Chris with bike in Moab canyon Happy group of riders on the trail
The Philosophy

Why Juniper Trail Exists

Every decision about how Juniper Trail runs comes back to three things — whether we're working with kids, adults, or mixed groups.

Small Groups on Purpose

4–6 riders maximum. Not because we couldn't run more, but because real coaching requires real attention. Every rider gets individual feedback, not just supervision.

Real Trails, Not Parking Lots

Skills learned in controlled environments don't always transfer to the trail. We teach on actual singletrack from day one so every rider builds confidence in the conditions they'll actually encounter.

Outdoors as a Way of Life

The goal isn't just to teach mountain biking. It's to give every rider — young or old — a relationship with the outdoors that lasts. The kind that makes them want to keep coming back.

Want to Ride with Chris?

Check the schedule for upcoming camp sessions, book a guided ride on Airbnb, or set up a private session any time.

View Schedule Guided Rides Private Sessions