MTB trail building on Ilinjača is the project that transformed the local cycling scene. East Sarajevo had the mountain and it had the forest, but it had no infrastructure. While others waited for someone to show up with a plan and bring in the machines, we did the only logical thing: we picked up the tools ourselves. This is the detailed chronicle of how Bike Park Evolution came to life: 8 kilometres of pure sweat, not a single excavator, and a world-class vision.
— Marko Ristivojević, MTB Evolution
1. MTB Trail Building Begins: The First Pickaxe Strike in 2020
It all started in 2020. Ilinjača was wild, impassable and rough. There were no sponsors and no machinery. There was only a vision to build something in our own backyard that we had only seen on foreign YouTube channels. Professional MTB trail building demands far more than simply clearing a forest; it is a blend of engineering, ecology and sport, and this kind of mountain bike trail construction is slow, careful work.
We chose the "hand-built" approach. That means every metre of trail passes through our hands. No shortcuts, no cheating. This approach let us keep the roots and natural features that give a trail its character, unlike excavator-made "flow" trails, which often turn monotonous.
2. Four Lines, Eight Kilometres of Sweat
Many people don't realise what it takes to build 2 kilometres of trail in one go using only hand tools. Now multiply that by four. Today Ilinjača hides four complete Enduro lines, each with its own character, pace and traps. MTB trail building on this scale demanded constant work in the field, in all weather conditions.
The key challenge was drainage. Water is the biggest enemy of every trail. We spent hours studying how water flows across Ilinjača hill so we could put in sustainable solutions that prevent erosion.
Years of persistence. Cutting through thickets, defining the first lines, learning from mistakes. The foundations were laid for sustainable MTB trail building at this location.
Intensity went up. The trails gained "flow", berms rose and jumps took shape. The park took the form you see today thanks to volunteer work.
8+ km of pure riding fun, ready to ride and verified on Trailforks.
3. The Engineering of Flight: Trail Building and Technical Features
On trails like Roller Coaster, building a jump isn't just piling up dirt. It is pure physics. You have to calculate the angle of the lip (take-off) and the landing zone precisely so the rider has a safe flight path.
We didn't use prefabricated wooden ramps. Every jump was shaped by hand, by packing earth and stacking rock. Vjeko and Damir spent hours smoothing the surface to make sure the jump doesn't throw you forward or back, but into a perfect parabola. This is the essence of quality MTB trail building: safety through precision.
— Vjekoslav Novčić, Head Builder
4. The Digital Footprint: Trail Marking and Safety
MTB trail building isn't finished until the route is safe to navigate. In the dense forest of Ilinjača, it's easy to take a wrong turn. That's why we spent days with brushes and paint, making sure every turn is clearly visible. Bane led the marking crew, making sure the signs are easy to spot at speed without spoiling the natural surroundings. You can see the result on the Katera Trail.
But we didn't stop at physical markings. To put Bike Park Evolution on the world map, we digitised every metre of trail. Today we are an officially verified region on the Trailforks platform, where you can see the difficulty, profile and status of the trails in real time. This is a key step for every modern destination.
For those who want a detailed overview before arriving, we also created our Interactive park map, which helps you plan the perfect day on Ilinjača.
5. Why Build Trails by Hand?
We could have paid for an excavator to clear the way, but then it wouldn't be an MTB park, it would be a motorway. Hand-built MTB trail building let us preserve the nature of Ilinjača and fit the trail to the trees, not the other way around. We follow IMBA standards for trail sustainability.
The result is a "Raw & Natural" ride feel. Roots, rock and dirt are right where they should be. Bike Park Evolution is not a sterile proving ground; it's a mountain that tests you. Every strike of the tool left a mark, and every metre of trail has its story.
A Legacy for the Future
What started as a "crazy idea" in 2020 is reality today. Ilinjača is alive. But the work is never done. Every rain and every winter brings new work. And we're ready to continue MTB trail building in the seasons to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trail Building
How long does MTB trail building take?
Why is hand-built better than machine-built?
Who can help build trails?
Come and Ride the Fruits of Our Labour
Check out the location, opening hours and the rules of conduct in the park.
Visit the Bike Park Page