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Trail Description:
Lovely mix of terrain without too much climbinb. The ride is a nice aerobic workout.
The ride starts with a mildly rocky, and mildly rooty single track alongside a steep canyon carved out by the Seymour River.
Enter from Riverside Drive North Cul-de-sac, ride across the small wooden bridge over a stream and Stay Straight - do not go down or uphill!
For some, the begining single track is hard to find. Look for the tire marks between the stones, or wait for someone to pass. This is a mixed use trail, so you may be sharing it with hikers, families walking children and pets, kayakers hiking into their 'put-in'. Be prepared to stop.
In short order (about 1/3 mile)cross a small hillside waterfall. Soon after you meet a gravel fireroad and trails coming in from the right. Stay with the main trail and keep the river to your left.
When there's a big log fence on your left, stop and look down into the canyon. You might spot some kayakers riding the whitewater. Soon the trail descends and you will cross a large log bridge. On you left spot the handcar across the Seymour River. Just a bit farther, you come to "Twin Bridges". As you cross, look south and pick out the fly fishers standing amidst the rocks... look north and, on the left side, you may see glipmses of mountainbikers between the trees on "Fisherman's" trail.
Cross the bridge and pass the entrance to "Fisherman's" on your right.
Depending on how you feel - you may be exiting this trail later!
For now, head up the fireroad. This is as steep as it gets. Soon you may hear gunfire. There is a range in the woods to your left. The hill turns to the left and again to the right. This is the least interesting part. You may want to race your partners to the next turn.
Eventually you come to a parking lot with a yellow gate. Stay right. When you hit pavement (there's a sign for the small demonstration forest on your right) - turn right. Head north on the paved road.
Pass a sign on the left for "Rice Lake". 1/2 KM later (1/3rd mile?) WATCH FOR A VERTICAL 2"x4" on the RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. (has a small metal box on it - like an outlet) Turn RIGHT HERE into some lovely single track with developed "log piles" to help you traverse sections which have been "mudded out". The piles are not high (12" - 14"), not difficult to get up on and are mostly a challenge when wet. [stay straight, pedal smoothly!]. Ride atop old cordurory 'skidder' trails.
Stay left when a trail veers off to the right. Very pretty second growth, but a number of nearly axle deep mud pits. Split log ramps help get you through the upcoming swamps. Eventually you are at the end - rewarded with the remnants of the old logging camp stove.
Turn around, come back. Enjoy the obstacles.
Back at the paved road, turn left to re-trace the way you came (you can make it to car in 15 - 20 minutes!).
Or, turn right - adding a few miles of pavement to find the entrance to "Fisherman's Trail" [gravel road down to the right] for a bit more of a workout on your way back. Fisherman's is historic and pretty (some X-Files were filmed here - look for the rock tunnel on the right) But it has been smoothed out by park workers - you may encounter families with young children on bikes, so be ready to stop!
Either way, soon you are back at "Twin Bridges" and retracing your way to the car.
Do not miss the small entrance from the fireroad to the single track. [Fireroad turns left and uphill]
If you start climbing too much, you've missed it. If you've found the waterfall, you are o-k and nearly home.
How to get there:
From Vancouver - take Highway 1 (Trans-Canada)North across the Second Narrows Bridge [also called the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge]; Take the FIRST RIGHT (signs to 'Deep Cove' and 'Mount Seymour').
You are on Dollarton Highway Eastbound. Through a set of lights, Turn Right onto "Riverside Drive". Follow it North - crossing Mt. Seymour Parkway [traffic lights, big road]. Head North on Riverside through a single family residential neighbourhood. Park as far north as possible [restrictions lifted after Sept 15th] on Riverside and ride north. Street ends in a cul-de-sac. You hop curb and ride across narrow wooden bridge into forest. Have lots of fun.
| Posted by: Treps on 4/21/2004 |
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The ride wasn't bad itself but these instructions are not very accurate. I found myself getting lost and not finding certain clues that were given. Also I noticed a lot of construction in the area so that might have something to do with it. Otherwise plain ride for anybody looking for something easy.
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