Rossland? [Archive] - North Shore Mountain Biking Forums

thewwkayaker

02-27-2006, 09:13 AM

I visit Nelson and Rossland 2-3 times a year (a summer really). Rossland has a lot more than just the BP (which I haven't even visited yet). Long flowy trails are the norm - most you have to work for to get to them but some are shuttle friendly. Somewhat similar feel to Seymour Mtn for the most part. What's really nice is that Nelson and Rossland are very close together - less than an hour away. Not too far away is Kaslo and Slocan (about 1hr away from Nelson in opposite directions).

DaveM

02-27-2006, 09:23 AM

Trout will give you the goods, but Rossland is an awesome place to ride, and just hang out. Mountain biking is embraced in Rossland and the trails are fantastic. Oasis is a must! Red just started lift access biking last year, it was pretty small, but a great start. There's a ton of trails off the mountain that are unbelievably good.

trout

02-27-2006, 09:34 AM

There's lots of variety here and trails are generally longer with descents over 3000' of vert. Most of them are shuttle-able but with a climb as well. There's a lot of really fast singletrack and some technical steeps too but it's a different kind of technical than the coast. There's also some bigger xc alpine type riding that is excellent. Red's BP is really small, there are four trails and limited vertical, it's only open weekends too. If you came here and only rode the park and missed the other trails you would be missing out. Nelson has a great riding scene with lots of variety too. The riding season doesn't fully get going until late may, early june depending on snowpack.

Universe

02-27-2006, 09:52 AM

Rossland is located at 6090 45 A Ave Delta BC v4k1m7.

DaveM

02-27-2006, 09:57 AM

Rossland is located at 6090 45 A Ave Delta BC v4k1m7.

I think you have Rossland confused with Ross' "Neverland Ranch"

trout

02-27-2006, 10:03 AM

:lol:

Bryce

02-27-2006, 01:57 PM

seven summits trail is cool but its fairly long so it probably wouldn't be the best on a big bike. I think like 60-65km roudtrip? You can shuttle part of it but its the easy road part

freerider888

02-27-2006, 06:47 PM

Had the pleasure of riding Nelson and Rossland this Summer. Rode Dewdney which was simply amazing, super fast singletrack descending tons of vert, and we shuttled but didn't have enough time for Oasis.

Bubba

02-27-2006, 07:07 PM

Hmm. Only done a couple of runs down Oasis.
Have to put the effort in this year...

trail worker

02-27-2006, 07:24 PM

kootenay riding is where it's at. Some of the most amazing rides I have had were in Nelson, exactly my style of riding meaning long climbs leading to amazing descents. If your in the area, skip some of the shorter trails and go for the long all day epics..the short trails are sweet too, but it's not everywhere that you can reap the joys of riding huge vertical feet both up AND down.

My first ride in Nelson was The Vein, which I solo'd. I didn't realise it till afterwards, but apperantly getting to the trailhead involves over 3000 verticle feet of climbing..maybe that would explain why I was so beat at the end of it!
My next ride was the paper bag, which was also spectacular...bad idea solo'ing that one as I just about killed myself, but it was still good.

I'm moving back to Nelson in a month or two, and I'm stoked to be going back to an amazing laid back place and an amazing riding spot. the scene is so good there, everyone is riding and everyone is loving it.

dudski

02-27-2006, 10:05 PM

rossland has the best wall rides around. Some of the best days i have had were in the pissing rain riding the bike park for a few hours then finishing off with a shuttle to pr and oasis...haven't ridden any of the other beautys tho.

Bubba

02-27-2006, 11:51 PM

You liked The Vein? It just didn't seem worth the lengthy climb. I suppose it's not great for big bikes, but it was hours going up and it seemed to be only about 30 minutes coming down. Still, can't wait for the Mt Station trails to melt out.

Have they done much to/got plans for the Rossland bike park since last season?

Jerry-Rig

02-28-2006, 01:13 AM

I love riding the Kootenays.... Rossland used to be my stomping ground. One of the best rides of my life was up Mt. Plume I think it was ? Other side of the road from Oasis. Most amazing DH ever.

jro

02-28-2006, 08:13 AM

Lived there for a few years and loved it. Best place ever. I would be back there in a second if I could.

DaveM

02-28-2006, 08:17 AM

I love riding the Kootenays.... Rossland used to be my stomping ground. One of the best rides of my life was up Mt. Plume I think it was ? Other side of the road from Oasis. Most amazing DH ever.

Are you talking from Old Glory down to the highway?

trout

02-28-2006, 09:03 AM

Mt. Plewman's a fantastic rip, one of my favourites for sure. The only rumors I've heard for the bike park is that it may or may not open as they might be moving the silverlode chair, no word on new trails. Rumors outnumber riders in this town so take that for what it's worth.

trail worker

02-28-2006, 10:09 AM

You liked The Vein? It just didn't seem worth the lengthy climb. I suppose it's not great for big bikes, but it was hours going up and it seemed to be only about 30 minutes coming down. Still, can't wait for the Mt Station trails to melt out.
I liked the vein, although paper bag was definately better..both good trails though.

teflon_cock

02-28-2006, 10:19 AM

Oasis is a blast, I still day dream about it, 2 years after riding it..

Bubba

02-28-2006, 11:11 AM

I'll have to hit up paper bag - heard good things about it. A bit of fitness wouldn't hurt though.

Just remembered the sandy/dusty chute at the end of oasis. That was so much fun, first one like that I had ridden. Big grins.

kalisto

02-28-2006, 12:46 PM

seven summits trail is cool but its fairly long so it probably wouldn't be the best on a big bike. I think like 60-65km roudtrip? You can shuttle part of it but its the easy road part

I've looked at that route, and I was thinking about doing it this summer. Has anyone here done it? How long does it take?

-jesse

trout

02-28-2006, 12:53 PM

I've ridden it couple of times, it's 35km if you skip the pavement and finish at the bottom of the Dewdney. Riders take anywhere from 4.5-7 hrs depending on fitness and how many stops you make. There's lots of technical singletrack climbing and some great descents too. There's also a poker ride that happens on it in late july, early august a good way to check it out with water and food stations at the midpoint.

kalisto

02-28-2006, 02:02 PM

Thanks, I'm hoping to check it out this summer, it looks like a lot of fun.

teflon_cock

03-01-2006, 02:19 PM

are there maps available of the Rossland and Nelson trail network that you can buy at the LBS's ie. sacred ride etc?

Darklord

03-01-2006, 02:40 PM

http://www.rosslandtrails.ca/maps.htm
great site, fantastic map

online order, or buy from Trout's store (or MEC even!)

CraigH

03-01-2006, 03:23 PM

or buy from Trout's store

Which one is that? (assuming there is more than 1 LBS in Rossland)

trout

03-01-2006, 04:42 PM

There's only one shop in Rossland, Revolution Cycles. There's a really good map for all of Rossland put out by the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society which is in the link that Darklord posted. Next year's map will have some changes. Nelson has a really good booklet with maps of a number of different areas, it's an excellent map as well.

Bubba

03-01-2006, 06:05 PM

Wow! That linked map is amazing.

Does Rossland melt out earlier than Nelson? There's only so many loops of Nooner and Ledges I can do :lol:

Phelonius

03-01-2006, 08:17 PM

I did a lot of my first mountain biking in Rossland when I got a gig working at KBS in Trail, that was back in 91. The XC riding was prime, and there were old railway routes that had the tracks taken up, but the paths were still open. Stayed in an old apartment just off the main drag that had the most noxious odour. Lasted two months and then retreated down the hill to Warfield. I'd then ride up the old wagon road to Rossland.
Epic riding was everywhere and everyone rode fully rigid bikes.
Rubberhead festival was just getting big, is it still going? Even then Rossland was called the mountain bike capital of Canada. One of the first articles about riding in BC in Bike mag was about Rossland.
Are the old XC trails still used much? I remember doing the Dewdney trail and I got lost on a trail south of town that was part of some old Whisky smuggling route.
Great place, great memories. Especially the Chicken Enchiladas at the Sunshine Cafe.

trout

03-01-2006, 08:29 PM

Back then it wasn't called xc, we were mountain biking!
The Rubberhead still happens on the weekend of Golden City days in the fall, I think it's a much lower key race now, less than 40 entrants. I organize a poker ride on the Seven Summits Trail that's very popular and Red supposedly is organizing a dh race this year. The old xc trails are still used like doukhabour draw. There was some significant logging over by 007 and we lost some trails although the whiskey has been rebuilt. The sunshine cafe has changed hands a few times and the food is not what it used to be. There's a new cafe called the grind that's got great food, you might remember chef Brown from back in those days, it's his shop.

trout

03-01-2006, 08:31 PM

Does Rossland melt out earlier than Nelson? There's only so many loops of Nooner and Ledges I can do :lol:

Some of the local youths shovel out spring cleaning around the time you guys are riding that stuff. I usually go out to syringa park or christina lake to get my early season fix too.

Phelonius

03-01-2006, 08:46 PM

Sorry to hear the Sunshine Cafe has drooped a bit. Was once voted one of the top cafe's in Canada.
Rubberhead was big back then. They even had a hill climb if I remember correctly.
Those memories were the best, some of the coolest and scariest moments moments on a bike. When I got lost on the Whiskey trail I missed the turn and just kept going South, ended up somewhere near the US border. Bonked bad on the way back and met a Mama bear with cubs. Riding by myself (pretty frickin stupid) I could have been so much chewed up dead biker guy.
On the road up to the top of the Dewdney trail there was a pipe sticking out of the side of the mountain with water coming out...that stuff was pure ambrosia. Is it still there? I always used to fill my water bottles up there.

Bubba

03-01-2006, 09:36 PM

Sweet. Might make a trip over your way this weekend if the weather holds out.

CraigH

03-02-2006, 08:51 AM

Big Dipper

03-02-2006, 03:08 PM

I'm making the move to Rossland in June. For me the best part is that the riding is politically and finacially supported there so I can focus on riding.:rocker:

B-bye shore!

bygdaug

03-03-2006, 06:06 AM

The reason I really wanted to know is because a good friend of mine (and riding buddy) has recently purchased a condo at Red Mountain for revenue intentions. A two bedroom that will be finished August 1/06.

So not only do we have a place to stay for free but if any of you are interested he will post his website with the necessary details soon.

Thanks

synchro

03-03-2006, 07:09 AM

I'm making the move to Rossland in June. For me the best part is that the riding is politically and finacially supported there so I can focus on riding.:rocker:

B-bye shore!

can i have dibs on your trail?