It’s no secret that I LOVE to ride my mountain bike. I enjoy exploring new trails and ripping around on my favourites. The exhilaration and rush you get when you’re out on your bike to me is next to none.  However, to continue to ride these wonderful trails we all must consider doing our part to help shape and grow our local trails, otherwise will see many of our favourite’s deteriorate, or worse yet, close.

Since starting bikepirate.com I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to build new trails, maintain existing ones and the challenges faced everyday by the hundreds of volunteers and organizations set up to keep them in pristine condition. A number of the areas that I’ve ridden have it dialed, they understand what it takes to work with the various land agencies and volunteers to keep maintaining and building new singletrack. They understand the positive economic impacts trails have on their communities and they’re not afraid to spend some time playing in the dirt to get things done.

Volunteers out on the new trail in Banff.

Just look at British Columbia for example; they’ve set up a unique organization committed to establishing mountain biking as a safe and sustainable tourism experience in Western Canada, the Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA). The MBTA helps promote our sport and works with organizations at the local level; all of whom are doing some amazing things for the trails we love. If you look at Squamish for instance, you will note a well-oiled machine that understands how to build and maintain a network of trails. The Squamish Offroad Cycling Associations has sanctioned and built an impressive network serving up over 200 km of singletrack! In Alberta, I point to the Moose Mountain Bike Trail Society. This group of volunteers/trail builders got together in 2009 to help sanction existing trail and build new and exciting ones for all of us to enjoy. There are many more great organizations out there doing their part to help keep us riding, but the fundamental challenge is, they ALL NEED OUR HELP. Each and every one of them needs volunteers to do their part by attending at least one trail day a year to give back to the trails we ride. If trail building is not for you, I’m sure there are other ways to get involved. So if you’re interested in doing your part, please consider attending one of the many scheduled trails days listed below and GET SOME GOOD trail karma by doing your bit.

Early spring Moose Mountain trail day.

New trail being built above Star Wars: Banff.

Trail days are fun; an awesome way to help provide feedback on the trails you ride and great way to meet fellow riders while getting your hands dirty. If you don’t see a trail day for your area, please check our Events Calendar or visit your local organization’s website for more info on how to get involved. What do you think about the state of our trails? Comment below.

Bow Valley (Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise) Trail Days

• Wednesday, July 4: BVMBA Trail Evening at 6:00pm (meet at Star Wars). More info click here
• Saturday, July 14: Canmore Nordic Centre at 9:00am. More info click here
• Saturday, July 14: Horseshoe Loop/ Cougar Creek at 9:00am. More info click here

Sign up with the BVMBA to get the latest info on trail days by clicking here

Calgary and Area Trail Days

• Monday, July 9: Fish Creek Trail Evening at 6:30pm. More info click here
• Wednesday, July 11: Moose Mountain Trail Evening at 7:00pm. More info click here
• Saturday, July 14: Elbow Valley/Bragg Creek at 9:00am. More info click here

Trail Association Links

• BVMBA (Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise)
• Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance
• SORCA (Squamish)
• WORCA (Whistler)
• RCA (Revelstoke)
• Kootenay Columbia Trail Society (Rossland)
• NSMBA (Vancouver)
• Golden Cycling Club

Happy Trails!