Mountain Biking
Comox Valley Mountain Biking
I have endeavored to write a review of all the bike trails in the Comox Valley. I am going to start with Cumberland, Forbidden and the valleyʼs various xc trail networks will follow. I have sat down and done this, because I have often come across out of town riders who can use the map but donʼt have an understanding of the various styles and the different loops or links of trails. I hope that it is a helpful source of information, and you can always call me on my mobile.
Mountain Biking is an inherently challenging sport that can injure if you are off your game or taking on trails that your skills are not equal to. Look before you leap, get off your bike and scope out steep descents that you are unfamiliar with and walk over stunts before you ride them for the first time. In short use common sense and try not to hurt yourself. I am not liable for anything you may try to do. My perspective on what is easy or hard may differ from yours. I have been mountain biking since the late eighties, but am by no means a big hucker or crazy stunt rider. Hopefully this trail review will give you a good understanding of the trails and will help you find a trail that suits your riding style.
Buy a Map from one of the local bike shops, buy both of them ( Cumberland and Forbidden) and cover them in packing tape. Always have it with you. They are great maps and very accurate. With the notes in this guide and a map it is my hope that new riders to the valley will have a great biking experience.
A special thank you to all the trail builders who have through many years created one of the best networks in the country.
Hornby Island
Magical cross country trails for all ages and all abilities. A national treasure.
Union Bay
At the top of Mcleod rd is a series of logging roads that climb up a hill and offers spectacular ocean, island and mountain views.
Royston
Cherry Lane and Moe’s Misery are great cross country trails. Moe’s looks over the Trent River Basin, be careful on those corners.
Forbidden Plateau
To shuttle or not to shuttle. Either way a great selection of incredible downhill and advanced cross county trails that start from the old ski hill down to Comox lake and the Puntledge river (great swimming holes). Great slab and steep dirt.
Mount Washington
Lots of new school stunts and jumps and some nice old fashioned downhill trails. Bring your armor.
Seal Bay park – Courtenay North
Beautiful, gentle cross country trail on the west side of the park.
Lazo – Comox Penninsula
A labyrinth of cross country trails behind Highland Secondary and Pointe Holmes.
Cumberland
Above the historic mining town of Cumberland is one of the nicest trail networks in the province, intermediate cross country to big hits and nasty old school downhills trails can be found. Grub, Stub and pity the fool are my personal favorites.
Broncos Perseverance
Old school downhill, virtually no stunts, drops or nastiness. An excellent trail when there are novice or new riders to the sport on the ride. It is a short climb up from the community centre parking lot and is often ridden as the last section of a longer ride. Despite the trails lack of technical challenges you can get some big speed and seriously hurt yourself if your focus is not on the trail. Ridden top to bottom unless you are into really punishing yourself.
Buggered Pig
A trail that is ridden in both directions with some of the longest log rides and skinnies in the Valley. Although there are lots of stunts, most of them are intermediate in their nature and this is a great trail to learn how to ride structures and build up your riding
confidence. Often ridden in conjunction with Two and a Juice as part of an xc ascent. Also popular as the last leg of a longer downhill route, one of the original trails of Cumberland .
Two and a juice
An old fashioned xc trail that connects to Buggered Pig , first stage of a popular technical climb.
Tied Knot
A super fun xc trail with a number of skinnies, log rides and little kickers. All stunts can be ridden around. One of the original trails in the area and has been lovingly maintained. Is often ridden as part of a xc ride or used to finish a longer descent. Might be a good idea to check out the skinnies and log rides before you attack them. Spits you out at the entrance of the trail network.
Crafty Butcher
Another old school classic that has been rediscovered with the popularity of Teapot and Blue Collar. Mostly an introductory downhill xc trail with a couple of small drops. A nice trail to take intermediate and novice riders who are developing their skills. Can be ridden as part of a xc loop or used as a finishing trail for Teapot or Blue Collar. Finishes off very close to the entrance to Space Nugget. If you are done, the road will lead you back to the entrance to the trail system in minutes. Or go do Nugget
Space Nugget
Rooty , twisty, up and down xc classic . Often incorporated into a xc loop or used as the final beating of a longer ride. A great trail for riders to maintain their skills or build them up.
Blue Collar
New to 2010, a fabulous pump track in the woods that just keeps going and going. Can be accessed via the Trent River main or by climbing up to Sykes Bridge, crossing and continuing the same direction. A trail that novices, intermediate and experienced seasoned riders can love. The higher your skill level, the faster you can go. The trail is a playful ribbon of dirt that twists and turns through the trees. Almost all downhill with a few cross hill sections and a couple of brief ascents . An all mountain oriented bike is probably your first pick for style of bike, but hardtail , dh or whatever will work. A great trail that should be ridden when the trails are not saturated with water. certainly not to be missed if you are here for a few days. Is ridden as part of a longer loop after Thirsty Beaver or the top of route that finishes up on Crafty and Nugget.
Thirsty Beaver
Fabulous, artistic, cheeky. This trail is a must ride for all those new to the trails in the area. Finished in 2010 this brilliant trail twists and turns through the woods on hundreds of meters of cedar bridge work and log rides. The trail is almost all downhill with a few small ascents. The trail is a blast for all level of riders including novices or never ridden before riders ( as long as they are comfortable on 12” wide bridge work). The novice or less experienced riders may find a few tricky sections. The expert rider will discover a trail that can be ridden repeatedly and just gets better with each ride.
Bear Buns
After a good climb up the guts and a short bike/push up to the top of Bucket of Blood you arrive at a rock bluff that is either the beginning of Bucket or Bear Buns. The entry into Bear Buns is a short steep rock shot and thats as hard as it gets. The rest of the trail is a twisty, turny, rooty trail that has great flow. If it initially seems to be too challenging, give it a few goes and learn the corners. Once comfortable with the trail you can rip it at high speeds and it is a blast. I believe the hallmark of great trail is one that can continue to excite the seasoned rider and can also provide the new rider with thrills and flow, Bear Buns is that trail. It can be finished at Sykes bridge where you can then access Off Broadway/ teapot or climb higher up to Blue Collar or even higher up to Thirsty. The last section is more downhill oriented then the upper section which would favour an all mountain bike. Bear Buns eventually merges with Broadway and finishes up very close to the beginning of Hai Gai or Broncos/ Buggered Pig.
Bucket of Blood
A fast Downhill trail with big hits from top to Bottom. If you want to huck , push/ ride your way up the guts and give er. Finishes on Broadway with the option to go over Sykes bridge.
Off Broadway
Challenging, fast and sometimes technical, it can either be accessed via Teapot from Sykes Bridge or with a short ride higher you can ride West 42nd to Off Broadway ( my personally preferred route). It is a super fun high speed xc/downhill with a some great twists and turns along with a few technical steep sections that definitely require your attention. A few small forced drops. Finishes up on an access road a short distance to the Hai Gai or Broncos/ Buggered entrance.
Hai Gai
Filled with nasty and mean stunts designed to dump you in the creek. Absolutely fabulous. Hugging a steep ravine above a creek this trail incorporates steep drops and climbs with stunts to keep it extra interesting.
West Broadway
A swooping, twisting pump track of a trail that it is over all too fast. Go straight at the end and you are on Off Broadway, go left and back to Sykes bridge, go right and Steam Donkey will lead you to Allen Lake and the bottom of Teapot.
Teapot
A fast xc trail that winds its way through the trees with enough twists and turns to keep you focused. Is used as part of a longer downhill ride or incorporated into an xc route. Blue collar can be accessed just before it finishes and is often ridden as part of a route that incorporates Steam Donkey. A great introductory mountain bike trail that is still fun for the expert but is excellent for developing skills in newer riders or for those that like their biking on the more mellow side. It finishes up on the West side of Allen Lake, Crafty Butcher is the next link in the route, which requires traversing south around the lake and then a quick climb up Railroad will lead you to Crafty.
Steam Donkey
A reasonably mellow xc trail that is usually ridden in conjunction with Teapot or longer xc circuit. Further up the main logging road that acts as the main access to the majority of the trails is a series of often steep technical downhill trails that are well worth the effort to get to. After a bit of climbing you will see a large rock slab on your right that has obviously been used to practice steep slab riding. Just past that point, on the left, is a steep spur road that will take you to the top of Cupcake which leads into Bakers Dozen which then connects to Dodge City Downhill.
Cupcake / Bakers Dozen
The steep at times painful climb up to Cupcake is well worth the effort if you appreciate well designed technical downhill trails. A nice mix of rolling terrain, a few kickers leads to one of the steepest sections of single track in the valley. Quite brilliant. After some more tight downhill turns you are spat out onto the main logging road ( look to your left before you drop onto the road! ) right across the road is the entrance into Bakers Dozen which a swoopy downhill run with some fairly large kickers, gaps and a few other stunts. A short ride back towards the main logging road will lead you to the entrance of DCDH.
Dodge City Downhill
A short push or ride for those fit enough will lead you to the top of a great downhill track with lots of flow, roots and pay attention to those pesky corners. Take it easy or push yourself . A suitable trail for riders looking to take their technical downhill skills to the next level. The top half is smooth and fast, but once in the trees, better hang on.
Grub/ Stub / Pity the Fool
Past the entrance to the Cupcake ascent is another hill which will lead to the spur road that acts as the ascent for Grub, which then leads to Stub which then continues into Pity The Fool. The climb/push up to Stub is a nice chance to catch up with friends. As the spur road deteriorates into a bush trail there will be a single track trail that leads up the ridge that is rising on your right. After some more climb/push you will find yourself in gladed area with exposed rock a trail will lead off to your right, that is Grub. I like to go left and climb the last 100 yards or so , stop and then turn around . The trail can be fast , steep, tight with turns or mellow in sections. It will spit you out onto the main logging road and across that road is Stub. Steep with lots of turns and roots. Pity the fool is accessed by taking the right hand turn once Stub flattens out and you find yourself on a creek bed. A mini climb puts right back onto the downhill. Pity twists and turns , lots of roots and nastiness. One of my personal favorites.
