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Wells Gray Outdoors Club completes Ridge Trail

Supporters take part in a group ride to celebrate the Grand Opening on June 5
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Map shows the location and layout of the new Ridge mountain bike trail at the Candle Creek cross-country ski trails near Clearwater.

Wells Gray Outdoors Club (WGOC) is excited to have completed the Ridge Trail at the Candle Creek cross-country ski trails near Clearwater.

This is the first of an approved network of over 30 km of single-track mountain biking and hiking trail to be built over the next five years. The trail network is located within the Wells Gray Community Forest Candle Creek recreation area.

A hardy group of local riders and hikers celebrated the Grand Opening on Sunday with a group ride to show community appreciation to our supporters.

The Ridge Trail is an easy two to six kilometre figure eight loop designed with gentle hills for bikers of all ridersabilities – including some fun rollers and drops on the sides.

Hikers and trail runners also enjoy the trail – dogs too (just clean up their doo doo!) – but please no horses or motorized traffic. The trail will be open to snowshoeing in the winter.

The trailhead is easy to find and well signed, 200 meters up the road to the right from the Candle Creek ski trails' parking lot.

There are good viewpoints of the Raft and North Thompson valleys with abundant wildflowers in full bloom right now.

Remember that this is bear country! Be bear smart – expect bears, make noise, and best to partner up.

Construction has started on the next section of trail descending below the Ridge to Road 9. This intermediate two-way flow trail includes blue (more difficult) features and will be shuttle accessible. If you would like to be involved in building more downhill featured trails contact info@wellsgrayoutdoors.ca.

Come out and build with local pro Brett Turcotte!

Trail construction occurred over two years combining efforts of WGOC volunteers and hired contractors. DBP Trail Building from Revelstoke constructed trail and provided training, and local crews included Kurt Dodd Consulting, Clyde MacLennan, and Cal’s Corner.

Kurt Dodd and Clyde MacLennan also donated time to remove danger trees.

WGOC has partnered with Simpcw First Nation in its initiative to establish a mountain bike trail network in the Barriere to McBride economic development corridor. This week Simpcw crew will work on the Candle Creek trails and gain skills in a two-day Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) trail-building course.

Funding support was provided by Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Wells Gray Community Forest, and RSTBC.

Organizers predict that the trails will be well used by locals and visiting tourists for years to come.

For more information about Wells Gray Outdoor Club visit www.wellsgrayoutdoorsclub.ca/

For trail updates follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/Wells-Gray-Outdoors -Club159651734060 184/

If you would like to volunteer on the trails contact info@wellscrayoutdoorsclub.ca

To join the Thursday Night Ride Group follow on FB www.facebook.com/groups/ 113574502064742/

Inset photo: Seth Cooperman (front) and Dustin Hurst have fun exploring the new Ridge mountain bike trail.

Below: Volunteers who worked on the trail, Simpcw partners and local riders get ready to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Ridge mountain bike trail on Sunday with a group ride

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