Mountain Biking and Trail Access In Victoria

and Surrounding Area

A Report Prepared for the CRD

by the South Island Mountain Bike Society (SIMBS)

November 2000

Updated September 2001

I. Objective:

This submission provides a description of who off road cyclists are, what

kinds of trails they want, what areas are desired for riding, and what

cyclists can contribute to the administration of CRD governed riding areas.

II. Summary:

Off road cyclists consist of a diverse population with varied goals and

requirements. Some riders want access to areas with more technical

challenges, with the opportunity to construct ramps, jumps, and other

man-made obstacles in an environment with steep trails. Other riders want

less technical riding with access to wilderness areas where mountain biking

presents an opportunity to enjoy natural settings. A third group wants

access to easy trails and beginner level technical riding with an

opportunity for recreational riding currently exemplified by the Galloping

Goose/Lochside Trail.

An element common to all is the belief that existing areas open to riding

are not sufficient to meet current and future requirements. In addition,

many of the trails currently open to riding are threatened by closures.

Easy trails leading to single track loops would be a workable solution to

all of the requirements. There is substantial likelihood that the biking

community, acting through organizations such as SIMBS and the Greater

Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC), can actively assist the administration of

new and existing trails through such activities as trail construction and

maintenance, production and promulgation of riding standards and rules of

etiquette, and trail patrols.

III. Description of the Mountain Biking Community

IV. Current Mountain Biking Opportunities.

Existing riding areas include the following:

1. The Galloping Goose/Lochside Trail, an easy trail which runs from the

centre of Victoria to Sidney, and Leechtown, just North of Sooke.

2. Hartland Mountain Bike Park, a CRD administered area with an extensive

network of moderate to extremely difficult trails maintained by SIMBS under

license from the CRD.

3. Millstream, a privately owned area nearly equal in size and character to

Hartland, which is subject of a proposed housing development, which will

likely decline significantly in area in the coming years.

4. Neild Road (Mount Helmcken), a relatively small area of public land with

a modest trail network technical in character. Little additional trail

development is likely, and topography is such as to limit riding in wet

weather.

5. Sooke (Broom Hill), an extensive area of public lands laying within the

boundaries of the West Coast Road and Otter Point Road, with a relatively

new

series of trails technical in nature. There is potential for extensive

future development in this area, but the location is some distance from

Victoria and travel requirements will limit the appeal of the area to

Victoria riders, especially during Winter months.

6. Langford Lake-Glen Lake, a relatively short network of easy trails just

south of the E & N rail line.

7. Colquitz River Park, a single trail with easy riding which includes paved

roads leading from Tillicum Shopping Centre to Camosun College's Interurban

Campus and Elk/Beaver Lake Park.

8. Cuthbert Holmes Park, easy single-track with some paved pathways,

frequented by walkers, joggers and their pets.

V. Requirements for Additional Trail Access.

Existing trails are not at present sufficient for the number of riders in

the area.

The Galloping Goose/Lochside Trial providing approximately 100 kilometres of

trail is an excellent transportation corridor and is suitable for easy

riding and family outings, but the majority of off road cyclists find this

limited in appeal, and in good weather it is congested with hikers, roller

bladders, horses and pets. Its primary utility for mountain bikers is its

use as a corridor linking existing and proposed riding areas.

Riders who look for technical challenges currently frequent Hartland and

Millstream. Already, the trails at Hartland are heavily used, and extensive

maintenance is required. Restrictions on man made constructions at Hartland

are a limitation to some of these riders. The likely reduction of the area

at Millstream will create a much higher density of riders at Hartland.

These conditions mean that riders will require additional opportunities,

which can be provided either by opening additional areas to trails suitable

for technical riding, or by opening areas such as the Sooke Hills Wilderness

Area to mountain bikers who prefer less technical trails, which will reduce

the traffic at Hartland.

The category of riders who like trails less technical than those at

Hartland, but nonetheless want to ride on single track trails, and who enjoy

the opportunity to experience wilderness areas by bike, are the least well

served by the existing network of trails. In fact, if Millstream is reduce

in size, there will be no area remaining for this type of rider, except

Hartland, where the density of riders is an

impediment to outdoor enjoyment and where at present the technical level of

the trails is generally higher than that preferred by the wilderness biker.

As a result, there is substantial need for access to single track trails in

additional areas.

VI. Our Proposal.

Our recommendation is for additional areas to officially allow off road

cyclists on trails, including single track trails. These areas should be

linked by off road trails, wherever possible, or low volume secondary roads.

We also request trail access to a number of different areas within the

Victoria City area. This is important because it would provide trail access

for younger riders who cannot conveniently travel to Hartland and who may

otherwise ride on trails not open to cyclists.

Areas we wish to have designated as mountain bike accessible:

1. Millstream riding area owned by Western Forest Products is subject to a

proposed housing development. The CRD should acquire this property, or a

large portion, as it forms part of the Green/Blue Belt Lands to the west of

Victoria. The property neighbours Mount Findlayson, Goldstream Park and the

Sooke Hills Wilderness Area. There would be limited CRD management

required, because of the existing network of trails. The Hartland license

agreement with SIMBS could be expanded to include this area.

2. Thetis Lake, Scafe Hill. Because this area is already used as a

recreational facility, it is natural to consider it for development of

trails for cyclists. These trails, including single track, should be open

to both hikers and cyclists, and some may be signed as preferable to one or

the other use.

3. Gowland Tod. This area was formerly used as a riding area, with trails

maintained by mountain bikers. Its sensitive wilderness character will

limit the opportunities for new trails, but it connects naturally to

Hartland via Willis Point Road, and thence to the Millstream Area via

Ross-Durrance and Millstream Roads, and a modest development of single track

trails would afford an excellent opportunity for riders to enjoy a less

technical riding experience.

4. Durrance Lake, Partridge Hills. Used occasionally now by cyclists, this

area has a number of intermediate trails and jeep roads which are in close

proximity to Hartland and Gowland-Todd. The existing trail network lends

itself easily to multiple use by hikers and cyclists.

5. Mount Douglas. The western portion of the park and the trail following

the perimeter presents several opportunities for easy rides on single track

trails. Its proximity to the city via the Lochside Trail makes it suitable

for children and families who enjoy rides more technical than the Goose. We

recommend seasonal openings of this park, such as, allowing cyclists access

April to June and September to October each year. This avoids the rainy

season and the higher volume of other users in the two main summer months.

6. Matheson Lake. Currently used by hikers, its proximity to the Galloping

Goose would encourage family rides. There is sufficient land for trail

development.

7. Sooke Hills Wilderness Area and Mount Wells Park. It is proposed that

future development of this area include a network of trails which are open

to cyclists, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. This area is easily

connected to the Galloping Goose via a trail from Glen Lake Elementary

School through the land on the south side of the E & N Rail line (Area #6 in

the Current Biking Opportunities Section of this report) entering the new

park near the Humpback Reservoir (possibly a route for the Trans Canada

Trail if it enters this parkland?). Niagara Main will allow cyclists to

access the area north of the sensitive Niagara catchment lands where single

track trails could be developed. Further, a westerly trail from the

Humpback Reservoir would connect to the Galloping Goose at or just south of

Leechtown.

8. Royal Roads University Campus, a spectacular location, offers short and

easy trails perfect to introduce new riders to the sport.

These proposed areas and existing areas are naturally linked by the

Galloping Goose/Lochside Trails, the Trans Canada Trail, and an existing

network of B.C. Hydro line right of ways which bisect many of the major

areas. A modest extension of this corridor will connect the Sooke Hills

Wilderness Area with the Sooke riding area on the West and the Goose and

other areas to the East. This corridor will lend itself to use a main

artery which riders can use to access all of the areas under consideration.

A ten year plan would ideally include provision of trial development in the

above areas which includes wider access roads, including the Goose, multiple

use single track for hikers, cyclists and equestrians, and dedicated bike

paths. A workable trial scheme will have access to these areas with

branches, usually in the form of loops, of these trails extending from the

access arterial trails.

Land owners in other regions of North America have found that user groups in

multi use parks tend to be drawn to portions most suitable to their

activity, thereby reducing potential conflict between different user groups.

Seasonal opening of some trails/parks, alternating access days, and other

innovative proposals will reduce trail conflicts. In addition, as outlined

below, the administration of these trails will be facilitated by active

cooperation of cyclists themselves, through the activities of organizations

such as SIMBS.

VII. The Contribution of Mountain Bikers to the Development and Administration of Riding Areas.

Trail planning, construction and maintenance are time consuming tasks.

SIMBS and other groups have demonstrated that off road cyclists are willing

to take an active and constructive part in these processes. We feel our

license to manage the Hartland Mountain Bike Park demonstrates how we are

able to design, construct, maintain and remediate trails, and the

willingness of user groups to work with landowners. Additional requirements

for maps, rules of trail etiquette, rider education, bike patrols and

similar tasks can be met by close cooperation between the CRD, BC Parks and

the biking community. Hiking groups, equestrians, and other interested

parties, including the Trans Canada Trail Society, Sierra Club, and Western

Wilderness Society, should be included in this process.

The demonstrated good will and successful cooperation between these groups

can be put in jeopardy if a significant percentage of riders develop the

perception that mountain biking opportunities are seriously inadequate. The

process of development and cooperation go hand in hand. Development is not

possible without the active assistance of the biking community, and yet that

assistance can be put at risk if the requirements for trail access are not

met, with the result of an increased likelihood that trails will be

constructed in areas where they are not officially allowed. Usually such

trails are not well maintained and create conflicts with other users and

landowners.

The success of the Hartland Mountain Bike Park demonstrates that when civic

officials and park users meet in a spirit of compromise and cooperation,

both prosper.