Trails Added to the McBride Trail Network
The Robson Valley Mountain Bike Association is pleased to announce the completion of three new trails. The trails can be accessed from the parking lot on Rainbow Road FSR at Kilometre 1 for hikers and cross-country mountain bikers, or Kilometre 3 for downhill mountain bikers.
The first new trail, Jackpot, is three kilometres in length and intermediate in grade. This machine built trail is a heart pumper on the way up, fun and flowy on the way down. Smooth and curvy, this trail climbs briefly through a dense cedar forest and then opens up through a mixed stand of spruce and deciduous trees. The second trail, Ragged, can be looped with the proceeding trail to create a five kilometre loop. Mostly hand-built by volunteers for intermediate downhill mountain bikers, this trail begins with some smooth bermed corners, passes through some giant fir trees, descends through some fun rocky sections, and finishes with some smooth, rollable jumps and corners. The third new trail, Outrun, is an easy trail approximately one kilometre in length. The trail is straight and fast, climbing gradually. Eventually this trail will be looped and linked with others to extend the trail network. rvmba.ca
Creation of these trails was made possible through generous funding from Northern Development Initiative Trust, McBride Community Forest, the Regional District of Fraser Fort George, and Recreation Sites and Trails. Gratitude to our talented and industrious workers – Jr. Walker Contracting and Specialized Forest Management, as well as to volunteer trail builders.
Five Kilometre Looped Trail Ready for Public Use
The Robson Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA) is pleased to announce the completion of THE BLUFF TRAIL, a multi-use trail built for hiking, trail running, horseback riding, mountain biking, dog walking, snow shoeing, and ungroomed cross-country skiing. Approximately five kilometres in length, the Bluff Trail is named for the stunning rock bluffs situated on it. The trail is part of the McBride and Teare Mountain Bike Trail Network, a trail system planned for the community of McBride by professional trail builder Joel Pirnke. The trail head is found on the west end of the parking lot at kilometre one on Rainbow Road. Day-use equestrian riders can access the trails from a staging area at the Northeast corner of Koeneman Park, as Rainbow Road is not recommended for horse trailers. The Robson Valley Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen have installed hitching rails and a kiosk at this location.
The trail follows an existing skid road to a junction that will climb through a mixed forest of pine, cedar and fir before looping back. The trail is rated easy, but there is approximately 100m of elevation change through the middle section. Two viewpoints are located on the trail. The lower viewpoint is approximately one kilometre from the parking lot on the left hand branch at the junction. The top viewpoint is approximately half way around the loop, just below the highest point of elevation. Watch for blueberries, huckleberries, thimbleberries, hawks, and fresh hoof prints.
The Robson Valley Mountain Bike Association established a non-profit society in 2012. Their mission is to promote an active lifestyle, community involvement, and inspire fun times through the creation and maintenance of recreational trails in the Robson Valley. The RVMBA will continue to build new and refine existing trails to the required standards this season. Contact ride.in.mcbride@gmail.com for more information about club activities.
Construction of the trails would not have been possible without the hard work and effort of all of all our volunteers – both on the trails and behind the scenes. The RVMBA is grateful to the Robson Valley Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of BC, who have invested funding, effort, and expertise in the construction of the Bluff Trail. A special shout out to Glen Hooker of Happy Hooker Construction for the dontation of materials, expertise, and machinery to build the parking lot, as well as Chris Fry, Rex Hatchard, and Gary Moore for transporting the gravel. The RVMBA is greatful to D & T Industries for supplying the machinery needed to build the Pump Track in the Village of McBride and Joe Walker Jr. and Barry Waline for volunteering to run the Bobcat. Building the Pump Track would not be possible without the support of LDM who supplied the materials and the mechanical compactor.
Funding for the McBride and Teare Mountain Bike Trail Network have been made by the following generous donors: Recreation Sites and Trails BC, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, McBride Community Forest, Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, Northern Development Initiative Trust, Back Country Horsemen of BC, and BC Horse Council.
BLUFF TRAIL – Trail 1
The Bluff Trail is a wide, multi-use trail, named for the stunning rock bluffs situated on it. It is approximately 5 kilometres in length that begins and ends at the west end of the parking lot, located at kilometre one on Rainbow Road. The trail follows an existing skid road to a junction that will climb through a mixed forest of pine, cedar and fir before looping back. At the junction, mountain bikers should take the upper right hand branch, while horseback riders should continue on the left branch. Walkers and trail runners may complete the loop in either direction, but for a longer, gentler ascent, take the right hand branch at the junction. The trail is rated easy, but there is approximately 100m of elevation change through the middle section.
Two viewpoints are located on the trail. The lower viewpoint is approximately one kilometre from the parking lot on the left hand branch at the junction. The top viewpoint is approximately half way around the loop, just below the highest point of elevation. Watch for blueberries, huckleberries, thimbleberries, and fresh hoof prints.
RAGGED – Trail 16
Ragged is a hand built single track trail, approximately 1.5 kilometres in length, constructed by volunteers (with a bit of machine support at the bottom). This fun trail rated more difficult. Ragged begins at kilometre 3 on Rainbow Road and ends at the parking lot found at kilometre 1. Jackpot may be used as an uptrack to create a loop with this trail. A downhill directional trail for mountain bikers, Ragged begins with some smooth bermed corners, passes through some giant fir trees, descends through some fun rocky sections, and finishes with some smooth, rollable jumps and corners. Sorry, but horses are not permitted on this trail.
JACKPOT – Lower half of Trail #2 & #5
Jackpot is a smooth, curvy machine built intermediate level trail leaving the Bluff Trail a short distance from the parking lot. This trail is often referred to as Joe’s Trail after the skilled operator who created this masterpiece. The trail climbs briefly through a dense cedar forest and then opens up, rolling along through a mixed stand of spruce and deciduous trees. Passing a junction, Jackpot continues to climb to a junction at 3km on Rainbow FSR. This flowy trail is a heart pumper on the way up, fun and flowy on the way down. An easy downhill trail with great viewpoints on the way, Joe’s Jackpot is guaranteed to please.
OUTRUN – Trail 4
Outrun is an easy trail approximately one kilometre in length. It leaves from a junction on the Jackpot Trail (between Trail 2 and Trail 5). The trail is straight and fast, climbing gradually. Eventually this trail will be looped and linked with others, but for now, enjoy the peaceful surrounds. Horse access to this trail is via a reclaimed steep skid trail leaving the Bluff Trail shortly after the rock bench.
Directions to trails and McBride Peak