A State of The Trails – By Ride BC

Mother Nature decided to skip spring in 2018. We went straight from classic brisk wet winter conditions to tacky, borderline dry conditions by mid-April! Let’s hope we get more consistent rain through the summer to keep the trails in top shape.

This season looks to be another major one for our trail network. With a few new builds / additions, along with some major maintenance projects, Squamish seems to be keeping up with ever increasing demand for world class riding.

Along with community builders and riders, SORCA (Squamish Off Road Cycling Association) has been busy as well. It seems every week is packed with awesome events. Wednesdays host the increasingly popular Cinco races and social rides. New to the calendar this year are sponsored volunteer trails work days. These have been a huge success so far with between 40 to 80 people attending these monthly events.
What’s been remarkable to witness over the past few seasons is each of Squamish’s distinct riding zones evolve. The Alice Lake network is a great example, with major trail development on Alice Ridge; we are witnessing the birth of some epic descents. What was once an area for quick after work laps is becoming much more.

The Diamond Head network is also maturing with addition of a climb trail to 1000 m vertical and the blue Meadow of the Grizzly from the top. Lower Hoods In The Woods is being rebuilt after logging. It’s looking better than ever!

Valleycliffe continues to hold its own with some fun new trail projects going on over the past year. Spend some time getting lost in Squamish’s original riding zone and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Finally, the Ray Peter’s trails continue to see effective maintenance from dedicated community members. This fantastic beginner’s network has dozens of undiscovered trails on offer.

Another big summer ahead for riding in Squamish! Stay tuned for more trail updates!