Roots of Resilience: Unveiling the Community Forest’s Role in BC Mountain Biking

One underappreciated truth within the mountain bike community in British Columbia is the central role played by community forests in the development and success of our thriving network of trails.

All throughout the province, dozens of trail networks have been built on lands tenured and managed by community forest corporations. The community forests provide expertise, funding, resources, the foundation upon which many of the trails we know and love to ride, are built upon. It’s time we recognized their role in building our community.

This is certainly the case for the Candle Creek Trails in Clearwater in the North Thompson River valley northeast of the City of Kamloops on Highway 5, Simpcw’lucw, the lands of the Simpcw First Nation.

For the people of Clearwater and Wells Gray, this role is filled by the Wells Gray Community Forest Corporation (WGCFC).

Bike convoy—Candle Creek Bike Trails (photo by Ruby Hogg)