The Burns Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) is planning a series of projects beginning this summer to improve the already renowned trail network at the Boer Mountain Recreation Site.
Thanks to $105,000 provided by the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society, BLMBA will construct a five-kilometre advanced-skill downhill mountain bike run called ‘Hogzilla’ over the next three years.
Guy Epkens-Shaffer, BLMBA president, said this new trail will help attract more mountain biking tourism while adding to the skills of the local and regional riding community.
“Not only will this trail augment a superlative array of downhill trails in the recreational area, it will fill a niche between the existing intermediate and advanced trails providing an additional opportunity for riders to hone and upgrade their skills,” he said.
In addition, BLMBA says the project will promote economic development in the area.
“This project benefits local businesses, contractors and our community by promoting a healthy opportunity for people to explore in Burns Lake.”
Two short linking trails called ‘Timon’ and ‘Pumba’ are also being planned. Epkens-Shaffer said these beginner skill level cross-country trails will become popular attractions by joining existing beginner-friendly segments of trail to form an extended length loop of beginner trails.
“Leveraging existing trail segments and adding these additional link points is a highly effective way to offer beginner riders an additional route on the Boer Mountain trail network,” he said. “This will undoubtedly become an increased draw to visiting families with young children.”
Thanks to $100,000 from the B.C. Rural Dividend Program, BLMBA will also be able to develop ‘Star Lake,’ an eight-km multi-use trail. This trail will link the Pigasus to the Razorback trails and will reinvigorate the rough Star Lake wilderness trail.
“This trail, joining two existing world class all-mountain trails, will offer bikers an unprecedented 35 plus km circle route linking the Burns Lake Bike Park with Star Lake and the top of Boer Mountain,” said Epkens-Shaffer. “We foresee that many families will enjoy the easily accessible wilderness setting minutes from town.”
The Boer Mountain Recreation Site offers over 4000 hectares of Crown land just a few minutes drive north of town. The area features a campground on Kager Lake, a hub for approximately 30 km of downhill trail and 60 km of cross-country trail. In 2013, Burns Lake was awarded bronze-level ‘ride center status’ by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.