River City Rises: How Grants Pass Became a BMX Town
This September, River City BMX will host the 2026 USA BMX Gold Cup Finals Northwest, the regional championship finale for riders from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and British Columbia, all converging on Grants Pass for three days of high-speed racing. It’s a big deal. But for the people who’ve been showing up to this track for decades, it’s also a long time coming.
A Track Built by the Community, for the Community
River City BMX has been a fixture in Grants Pass since 1991. It’s a non-profit track, and track operator James Martin is quick to tell you who it really belongs to: the kids.
“I say kids, even though there are adults as well,” Martin says. “But they’re just big kids.” The track is supported by its members, volunteers, and local businesses, and it was designed with that community in mind from the start.
“We built Grants Pass to be a skills track, but it’s a track that a new kid could come in and ride,” he says. “A new little kid, if they crash on their first lap, they’re not coming back. So when we built this track, we designed it for that, but we still made it so that the advanced rider would have a lot to ride. As soon as they can ride a balance bike, they can race.”
That philosophy shows up in the people on the track.
Growing Up on the Track
Lakiya has been racing BMX for seven years, just about half her life. When she heard the Gold Cup Finals Northwest were coming to her home track, her reaction was simple: “It’s kind of crazy because we’ve never had a huge race like that in the seven years that I’ve been racing. So it means a lot to have this huge final come to our track.”
But for Lakiya, it’s about more than the race itself. “It means a lot to me being able to help younger riders advance into their BMX careers.” That’s the culture at River City: riders looking out for the next generation, the same way someone looked out for them.
The Long Game
Will Williams has been riding at River City since 1992. He’ll be competing in the 66+ age group at the Gold Cup Finals, and when he talks about BMX, he doesn’t talk about podiums or plates.
“The most fun part about it is the time we get to spend with our friends, our family, and the memories that we create throughout the entire process,” Williams says, “whether it’s just a couple times a week or if it’s on a week-long trip.”
That’s the thread that runs through BMX in Grants Pass: this sport is for all generations and skill levels, from the first balance bike to the 66+ gate.
What the Finals Mean for Grants Pass
For James Martin, hosting the Gold Cup Finals is the realization of a goal he set when the track was built.
“Having this event in Grants Pass lets us showcase our track, and our volunteers and everybody else in the community get to show everybody on the big stage who we are and what we’re about,” he says. “If we hold this event and it goes well, then USA BMX can come back and hold more of these events here in the future. That was my goal, when we had the opportunity to build this track. It just keeps giving back to the community and the future of it.”
The Gold Cup Finals Northwest take place September 11-13 at River City BMX. For full event details, visit our USA BMX event page.
Make a Whole Weekend of It
Whether you’re racing, cheering, or just along for the ride, Grants Pass is worth exploring beyond the track.
The Rogue River is right in town and ready for adventure, from mellow floats to multi-day whitewater trips with local outfitters. Hellgate Jetboats offers a faster way to experience the river. The Dollar Mountain Trail System has 11+ miles of mountain bike trails just a short ride from downtown, a natural fit for the weekend’s crowd.
Downtown Grants Pass is walkable and full of character: independent boutiques, a lively restaurant scene ranging from Thai to sushi to fine dining, and the Glass Forge, where you can watch master glassblowers at work or make a piece yourself. Wine country is just down the road, with the Applegate Valley and Illinois Valley offering award-winning tastings a short drive from the track.
Ready to Plan Your Stay?
Find accommodations for race weekend, from hotels to RV parks and campgrounds near the track, at visitgrantspass.com/stay.
