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Fraser Valley bike trail improvements continue

Keith Sanders
Mountain Biking With Keith
Keith Sanders
Staff Photo |

Our trail system is constantly improving, most recently though the addition and construction of trails in the area around D4. Parts of the trails Leap Frog and Ho Chi Ming are being added to the official trail system as well.

In addition, new trail is being built in order to create a better overall experience and have a trail system of purpose by designing trails that will not only give users a great variety of experiences, but by designing trails with the idea of having a trail system that connects as seamlessly as possible from one trail to another. This work is being done with local volunteers working with the U.S. Forest Service and Headwaters Trails Alliance to complete the project.

On July 21, Headwaters Trails Alliance (HTA) gave us an overview of the Master Trails Plan Final Draft. The actual plan will be available to be read July 24 on the HTA website http://www.headwaterstrails.org. Public comments are being taken through Aug. 7. The Master Trails Plan will be the foundation of the future of the trail system, yet while we wait for the plan to be finalized and implemented there are and have been several parts of the plan that are in play.



Parts of the plan have already been executed or are in the process of being executed. The new trail construction in the D4 area is just one example of ideas spawned from the process of the Master Trails Plan becoming reality. Take a look at the Idlewild area with the connection of Yankee Doodle to the trails Serendipity and Arrow. This has created a far better experience for all trail users in that area.

“The Master Trails Plan will be the foundation of the future of the trail system, yet while we wait for the plan to be finalized and implemented there are and have been several parts of the plan that are in play.”

The Broken Thumb reroute to connect seamlessly to Twisted Ankle has begun with a projected route that will now be reviewed by the Forest Service through environmental review process as dictated by law. WTB had sections rerouted last year that created a far better trail for both use and overall sustainability, which means less upkeep and better trail conditions.



There are new signs in and around Winter Park and Fraser that mark trails allowing all of us to utilize the trail system more easily. Signs don’t do you a lot of good if you don’t have a map. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce has created a great free map of the trail system in and around Winter Park. In addition they have also created an online interactive map at http://www.mountainbikecapitalusa.com

A lot of changes will be happening to our trails and the infrastructure of the trail system. Even though we have seen some progress forward, there is much to do and many hurdles to overcome. Making ideas and visions reality will be dependent on the efforts volunteers, agencies and user groups such as Forest Service, BLM, HTA, Grand Mountain Bike Alliance as well as many others. All of these organizations will need assistance. One question I ask is how can you give back to the trails that you love and enjoy?

Group ride

Beavers Sports Shop next the Best Western Hotel does a group ride Friday at 6 p.m. This ride is for the intermediate and above rider. We will explore the local trail system as a group. For more info call the shop at 726-5988.

Looking for more information or want to get involved as a mountain biker. Like Grand Mountain Bike Alliance (GMBA) on Facebook. GMBA is your local mountain bike group. Check out Mountainbikecapitalusa.com. Great site by the Winter Park Chamber!

Keith Sanders is the President of the Grand Mountain Bike Alliance, 3x US National Mountain Bike Champion and owner of Beavers Sports Shop. You can reach him at keith@winterparkskirental.com.


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