RED Mountain has announced a planned bike park opening in Spring 2025

On July 22nd, RED Mountain Resort publicly announced the development of a new lift-serviced Bike Park incorporating and expanding upon the existing public recreational trails in the Silverlode area. We know that our trail users and members have lots of questions, so we’re sharing our perspective.

The History of the Millenium Trail Network

The KCTS assumed responsibility for the Paydirt and Boneyard Trails in 2015. Paydirt was originally built by RED Mountain Resort for their first iteration of a Bike Park in the mid-2000s and was subsequently expanded by volunteers Nate Lott and Yan Labreque.

In response to public demand, between 2020 and 2022 the KCTS raised and spent a total of $165,000 (including $35,000 from RED Mountain Resort) to construct the Pilgrim, Upper and Lower Dragon Tail, Top Up, Top Down and Gold Digger public trails in the Silverlode area. At that time, prior to committing to such a substantial investment of public funds the KCTS entered a Memorandum of Understanding with RED Mountain Resort. This document committed RED to replacing any of these trails should they be compromised by development.

Since their construction, the trails in the Silverlode area have proved extremely popular with both community members and visitors.

Red Mountain Bike Park Announcement

In January 2024 RED Mountain Resort announced the imminent development of a lift serviced Bike Park incorporating the Silverlode area trails into a fee-for-service facility. In May 2024 the KCTS was informed that construction (by Bike Park specialists Gravity Logic of Whistler) of the Bike Park would commence in Summer 2024, towards a planned Spring 2025 opening. At this early stage the KCTS understands that the operating model for the Bike Park will be exclusive to ticketed users and that pedaling access may be provided for, however the details of all operating decisions will be at the complete discretion of RED Mountain Resort.

Trails in the Silverlode area that will be affected by this new construction are Pilgrim, Paydirt, Golddigger, Dragon Tail Upper and Lower, Top Up, Top Down and Boneyard. Other public trails located on RED Mountain Resort’s property and Controlled Recreation Area including parts of Redtop, Redhead, Miners, Blue Elephant and Seven Summits are not currently anticipated to be impacted by the new Bike Park.

Looking Forward 

The KCTS acknowledges the absolute right of RED Mountain Resort to determine what happens on their private property and within their Controlled Recreation Area. We see that the new Bike Park trails being developed by Gravity Logic will be an exciting addition to the local trails options and we wish RED Mountain Resort all the best in this business venture. The matter of the publicly funded trails that are being incorporated into the Bike Park and what “replacement” looks like in this context remains to be resolved, however we are having constructive discussions with RED Mountain Resort and remain hopeful of an outcome that works for everyone. 

As an active member of the KCTS, the Society appreciates your continued support for public access trails. This development planning at RED Resort is dynamic and the KCTS will do our best to keep our membership updated with new information as it comes to light.

International Trails Day, held this year on June 1st recognizes all the incredible benefits that trails provide for recreation and exposure to nature by celebrating trails, promoting their uses, and recognizing their role in physical activity and building healthy lifestyles.

To celebrate Trails Day, the KCTS hosted the 19th annual community trail building day! Volunteers flocked to the Dukhobor Draw climb trail to contribute their time and energy towards transforming this trail into a moderate climber's dream.

A HUGE thank you to the ~70 volunteers who came out, dug in the dirt, paved new lines and shared good vibes! If you were unable to make it, check out the video to share in the action.

Embrace fall adventures with KCTS and win one of two stylish jackets from our friends at Norco Bicycles just for becoming a member. When you join or renew your KCTS membership, you’ll be automatically entered into our fall giveaway. PLUS, earn extra entries with every $10 donation increment you make to KCTS.

You could win an Endura Women’s Hummvee Waterproof Hooded Jacket (size large) or a men’s IXS Carve Zero Insulated Jacket (size large) from our friends at Norco Bicycles—just in time to stay warm as fall trail season piques.

Giveaway ends on Sunday, October 15, so don't wait! Memberships start at just $10 a year.

BECOME A MEMBER

DONATE TODAY

All KCTS members with an active membership as of Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM will be automatically entered into a giveaway that includes one (1) Endura Women's Hummvee Waterproof Hooded Jacket (size large; MSRP $229.99) or one (1) IXS Carve Zero Insulated Jacket (size large, MSRP $249.99).

Receive one extra entry for every $10 donation increment you make to KCTS. All donations are tax deductible.

Prizes are not exchangeable for another model or size and cannot be redeemed for cash. Winners will be announced via email the week the contest ends. Winners are required to pick up their prize in Rossland. Winners outside the Rossland-Trail area will need to arrange pickup or shipping.

Thanks for supporting KCTS and the trails in the Lower Columbia Valley Region!

KCTS is built on strong community support from people who are passionate about the trails in our network. One of the best things you can do to KCTS keep these trails in great shape (besides joining as a member) is reporting any trail concerns you see.

What does that mean? If you spot a downed tree that can't be moved without the support of a chainsaw, or encounter major drainage issues that can't be fixed with a stick and your own effort, we would love to know about it.

The most efficient way to report a trail concern is to report it on the Trailforks app. This allows you to geo-tag the exact location of the issue on the trail, describe what the problem is and add an optional photo so we know what kind of resources we need to allocate to the problem. We check Trailforks frequently during our operating season, May 1–end of October, so you can be sure we'll address the issue quickly.

Never submitted a trail report on Trailforks? No sweat. We created a handy tutorial on how to do that through the Trailforks app on your phone.

Don't have Trailforks? You can still email us at information@kcts.ca. Please be sure to include the name of the trail, approximately where it's at on the trail, a description of the issue and an optional photo.

Thanks to all our trail users who are our eyes and ears on the trail!

(If you're unable to see the video, please try a different web browser and disable your ad blocker.)

We're on the final 1.5-km stretch of building Mxiłp Xewílh (Cedar Trail) in the Rossland Range, letting cyclists and hikers connect from Rossland to Nancy Greene Summit while barely touching any pavement. (There's about 1 km of pavement if you end or start from town.)

Assessing the build of Mxiłp Xewílh (Cedar Trail). Photo: Bohdan Doval || Courtesy of Tourism Rossland

Once completed in Fall 2023, trail users will have a green trail option from Nancy Greene Summit in lieu of the Seven Summits, inviting a wider range of skill levels to discover a new adventure from a higher elevation. Alternatively, endurance riders/runners can challenge themselves to an epic, all-day Seven Summits loop that starts and ends in Rossland without the need for a shuttle vehicle.

When starting Mxiłp Xewílh (Cedar Trail) at the summit, this 13 km, multi-directional trail weaves and rolls its way among large cedar forests and offers numerous optional trail "add-ons" for a longer adventure.

Finding pockets of bright sun and larch trees among the cedars. Photo: Steph Nitsch

Option 1:

The most popular route is ridden top-to-bottom, and upon exiting the trail, connect with Aqueduct > Centennial. This route is roughly 22 km in length (one way). Please note: Aqueduct trail remains closed due to city maintenance until further notice, so this route is not yet doable.

Option 2:

Same as above, but add in Blue Elephant before returning to Centennial trailhead — or extend it even further with a climb up Pilgrim before descending Paydirt, Dragon Tail or Gold Digger.

Option 3:

About halfway down Mxiłp Xewílh (Cedar Trail), make a pit stop at the biathlon area and descend Larch/Montecola or BS > pedal up COG > resume your descent on Mxiłp Xewílh.

Whatever option you dream up, Mxiłp Xewílh is a stunning addition to the KCTS trail network that's rich with native flora.

Lush flora and playful creek crossings in the spring and early summer make for a cool escape from the heat. Photo: Ashley Voykin || Courtesy of Tourism Rossland

While this trail may be a recent addition to the KCTS network, its roots are as old as the cedars that grow among it. We've been talking a lot about this trail for its ability to provide an epic journey for anyone living in or visiting Rossland. But there's a lot more to the adventure than what you'll see on a map.

We invite you watch the video below from Tourism Rossland and learn how Mxiłp Xewílh got its name, how to pronounce it and the responsibility we all hold to treat it with love.

Thank you (lim limpt) to Marilyn James, the Sinixt People and Blood of Life Collective for sharing their history and culture with all of us who live and play on their unceded territory.

To ride/hike Mxiłp Xewílh (Cedar Trail) from Nancy Greene Summit

• Park at the Nancy Greene Summit
• Begin the first 1.3 km of Seven Summits Trail
• Veer left onto the new Mxiɬp Xewílh cut-off
• Keep left on Barking Spider FSR for 1.5 km
• Keep left on Elgood Spur FSR for a short bit before reconnecting with Mxiɬp Xewílh

At KCTS, we depend on community support to maintain hundreds of kilometers of trail. Need a bigger incentive to join KCTS? Now's your time to shine!

When you sign up or renew your membership between now and July 3, 2023, you'll be entered to win one of two prizes. We'll pick two active KCTS members at random to win a pair of DMR Vault Mountain Bike Pedals and an IXS Trigger Full Face Helmet.

Memberships start at just $10/year.

>> Click here to join KCTS

Already an active KCTS member? Awesome. You're automatically entered into the giveaway.

Want to score an extra entry? Donate $10 or more to KCTS's Current Year Projects between June 15–July 3, 2023.

>> Donate $10+ to KCTS and earn an extra entry

Giveaway ends Monday, July 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST. One winner will be notified via the email address connected to their KCTS account on July 4, 2023.

Value of prize: Pedals: $219.99; Helmet: $359.99

Thanks to Norco Bicycles for the great donation and helping to get our members geared up for the trails!

When it comes to building trails around the Lower Columbia Valley, we're intentional about our route choice. Many factors come into play when we determine where a trail is built into the earth. Yes, we factor in fun and playfulness, but we also look at the impact the trail has on the ecology. Our top priority for any trail build: leave the least impact as possible.

Look closely at the photos above and notice how there's no defined trail route. That means it's free reign to pick you route....right??

Actually, no. Take a peek at the photos below. Green lines = good. ✅ Red lines = bad. ❌ The red arrows indicate alternate lines that were never constructed by KCTS. These alt lines are a result of trail braiding. Also known as dollar-signing or short-cutting. And it's time to chat about why these are bad.

Trail braiding happens for a few reasons, but typically it's caused by someone who's wanting to bypass a feature, section or mud puddle to avoid a technical spot, wet shoes or losing their Strava ranking.

Unfortunately, one person's "new" tracks encourage another's, and within a very short amount of time, significant harm has already been done. Trail erosion, trail widening, destruction of water drainages or even irreversible damage to living species... It's some of the worst stuff that can be done to a trail, and it's a trail builder's nightmare.

Sadly, trail braiding doesn't just affect the earth. It also means KCTS needs to invest more resources into repairing these trails. That means less new trail builds, permanently closed trails, revoked land agreements, or ultimately a crappy experience for trail users. And in no way do we want any of that to happen.

But this isn't all doom and gloom. The problem is avoidable if we all pitch in and commit to a few simple guidelines.

Encountering a puddle?

Walk or ride right through it! Don't want to get your shoes muddy? Head back to the trailhead and try an alternate trail. (Or better yet, give us a hand and help us drain the puddle, as explained in our last post.)

Having a hard time navigating a trail feature?

Dismount from your bike and walk down the feature (not around it). Or invite a friend to session the feature until you nail it with confidence. (There are some awesome local bike groups to level-up your skills.)

Attempting the fastest timed ascent/descent?

Heroes don't win by taking shortcuts. We hear that our multi-use trails make for great cross-training to help you increase your speed and fitness.

What other tips do you have to prevent trail braiding? Leave your ideas in the comments below!

With snow rapidly melting at higher elevations and recent rain this spring, you may encounter standing water or puddles on the trail. As refreshing as it is to run or bike through a puddle on a warm day, these puddles contribute to trail damage and erosion—both of which require more trail maintenance in the long term.

If you encounter a puddle on the trail, we welcome to you to give us a hand by opening up small drainage along your way. How do you do this, you ask? Watch the video below and let one of our trail building crews show you how! All you need is a large stick and a few minutes of your time.

KCTS AGM

Please join us at our upcoming AGM on Tuesday October 25th, 7pm at the Rossland 7s Centre for Learning (red roof church) (2110 First ave, Rossland). There will be a report of what the KCTS has done in the past year and what we have planned for next, as well as a financial report.  Elections for three board seats will be held. If you're interested in running for the board, please send an email to vinceboothe@gmail.com or davediplock@bearenviro.ca to discuss what the position entails. Hope to see you there!

KCTS September 2022 Newsletter

Greetings from the KCTS! As the days are getting shorter and the temperatures cooler, we are anxiously awaiting the rains to bring back our favorite tacky fall dirt! Rolling into fall, the KCTS has a couple of dates for you to mark down on your calendars! October 1st Trail Build Day Next Saturday October 1st is the second all membership trail build day of the year! The last one was such a success that we are excited to make more progress on the lower section of Dukhobor Draw. We will continue where we left off at the end of the last trail day in an effort to build a new climb connecting lower King George Road with the start of Dukhobor Draw. Hard and Fast Details : Who : Anyone of any age who would like to get their hands dirty, learn about trail building and contribute to the local trail network! When : Oct. 1 at 9am Where : Meet at 9am at the Centennial Parking Lot for a quick safety and goals debrief then we will drive in a caravan down towards Paterson and walk to the dig site What to Bring : If yo have them, please bring along with you picks, metal rakes, shovels or clippers. The KCTS has many tools to go around an will kit out anyone who shows up ready to dig! Essentials to pack otherwise are weather appropriate clothing, bug spray, food and water. Church of Dirt Church of Dirt is back for the fall! Church of Dirt is the perfect opportunity to get out to contribute to the trail progression week after week. The first Church of Dirt build day happened yesterday Saturday Sept 24th.  Keep your eye on Bhubble and Facebook for further Chuch of Dirt build days which will be occurring approximately every 2 weeks through the fall. KCTS AGM Tuesday October 25th All active members of the KCTS are welcome and encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting. At the meeting, the KCTS will review trail management projects and successes from this past year. This year's AGM will be happening in person on Tuesday October 25th at 7pm. Location details TBD and will be sent out at a later date. We hope to see you there!