PROJECTS & ENGAGEMENTS
Below you'll find a sampling of Trail Holistic projects. We are proud to continue to work on a number of new and ongoing projects working with trail associations, community groups, municipal and provincial government. Our work includes both motorized and non-motorized, hiking, MTB and multi use and 4 season trails.
Be sure to check out our MEDIA page as well.
LAKE COUNTRY BIKE PARK
SAFETY PLANNING 2024
Trail Holistics worked with the District of Lake Country to provide design input and oversight of trail and skills areas to ensure public safety in the final construction. This included the creation of an Emergency Response Plan, Signage Plan, Risk Management Plan and a Management & Operations Plan. The park includes a Drop Zone, Jump Park, Skills Area, several trails and two dirt Pump Tracks.
BECKER MTB PARK - SAFETY PLANNING 2024
Trail Holistics worked with the City of Vernon to provide design input and oversight of trail and skills areas to ensure public safety in the final construction. This included an Evacuation Response Plan, Signage Plan, Risk Management Plan and a Management & Operations Plan. The park includes a Drop Zone, Jump Park, several trails and a paved Pump Track.
TANSKY RECREATION AREA - MASTER PLAN 2024
Trail Holistics was hired by VIDRA to assess the existing 60+ km of moto trails, provide site specific repairs and improvements, recommend new trail infrastructure, and plot a series of sustainable realignments, connectors and new trail expansion to set the course for the next 10+ years, including a detailed site plan for a campsite.
The Master Plan provides a series of key recommendations to increase capacity and operational strength to effectively manage and maintain the network.
DITIDAHT FIRST NATION 2023 - 2024
It was our pleasure to work with a team of marine biologists and landscape architects to create a trail plan with infrastructure to view salmon spawn channels as part of a major ecological restoration project. With the goal to support stewardship efforts of the Ditidaht First Nation, a series of trail workshops were also delivered and field training included for the DFN Stewardship Group as part of the trail planning process.
SMITHERS TRAILS MASTER PLAN 2023
It was our pleasure to work with SMBA to assess 3 MTB trail networks to inventory and assess all features, classify trails and to make recommendations and site specific prescriptions to improve safety & user experience as well as to ensure compliance with Provincial MTB standards. Additionally, Trail Holistics was asked to 1) plan and design a future climbing route (approximately 5km) to connect the Bluff riding area to the Hudson Bay Ski Hill to access the Backdoor destination trail, 2) explore a route to connect the Bluff riding area to the Backdoor trail, 3) plan and design a Malkow loop trail and 4) create an improvement plan for the Backdoor destination trail.
SEA TO SEA REGIONAL PARK -
HARBOURVIEW MTB TRAIL NETWORK 2020 - 2025
Our work continues in the Sooke area to assess and provide recommendations to improve sustainability and address safety concerns in the spectacular Harbourview MTB trail network. Work included a complete inventory and assessment of all TTFs, recommended repairs & improvements, future expansion recommendations to improve access and signage recommendations to mitigate liability and improve public safety.
JORDIE LUNN BIKE PARK & GRAVITY ZONE: SAFETY STRATEGY 2020 - 2025
Trail Holistics began work with the City of Langford in 2020 to create a comprehensive Safety Strategy for the Jordie Lunn Bike Park and Gravity Trails. This includes a Safety Plan, Signage Plan, design input and oversight. Additionally, Trail Holisitics was asked to create an Operations and Management Plan.
Working with some of the world’s top trail builders and Red Bull athletes, the Jordie Park includes two world class pump tracks, a series of jump lines from beginner to pro, a series of Cross trails and a Skills Park.
Our work with the City of Langford continues on both the new Gravity Trails and Nature Trails adjacent to the JLBP.
“Mark was indispensable in providing thoughtful, well-articulated advice. He worked with us to find the right balance between providing exciting trails and features, and at the same time ensuring it upheld our responsibility to keep the public safe.”
SUNNYSIDE TRAIL NETWORK, REVELSTOKE, BC: DESIGN, LAYOUT & CONSTRUCTION 2019 - 2022
Our work with the Province of BC on this exciting project included the design and construction of a new trail network in Revelstoke BC. This project included an initial land survey followed by the layout of over 20km of multi use, four season and MTB trails including a 4.5km climbing trail as part of the Phase 1 of development.
Leading BC Wildfire crews to construct the new climbing route, additional work included realignment and improvement of historical trails in the area.
HARTLAND TRAIL NETWORK, SAANICH, BC: ASSESSMENT & IMPROVEMENT 2022
Trail Holistics was hired to assess and inventory trails and structures within the MTB Designated Area of Mount Work Regional Park. Hazards, impacts and areas of concern were identified and site specific prescriptions provided to make improvements & repairs to address public safety and to improve user experience including signage recommendations.
Particular considerations were taken into account to improve the trails and assets within the park land to uphold convenants and environmental policies.
This assessment provides a baseline for the imminent expansion of the MTB Designated Area and synchronized with directives contained within the Mt Work Regional Park Draft Management Plan.
A total of 181 TTFs were assessed, classified & inventoried, 23 wood structure were inspected and 70 prioritized signage prescriptions provided.
BOULDER CLIMB TRAIL, REVELSTOKE, BC: DESIGN & LAYOUT 2022
Trail Holistics provided layout and design of a new climbing trail on the established Boulder Trail Network in Revelstoke, BC. The gravity fuelled MTB network is primarily a shuttle access area but riders also climb the dirt road and this FSR is shared with tandem trucks hauling loads from the gravel pit, not a safe dynamic.
The new climbing trail is over 6km in length and is proposed to be constructed in phases. As part of this project, site prescriptions including infrastructure was provided, creating a shovel ready project ready for tender. Phase I was completed by Robson Trail Construction in 2023.
PARTRIDGE HILLS TRAIL NETWORK, BC: ASSESSMENT & IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2021
On this assessment and improvement plan, we worked with the BC Parks, the Capital Regional District and the South Island MTB Society to assess and inventory trails within Gowlland Tod Provincial Park to determine impact management strategies and long term sustainable improvements in the park to balance recreational needs with nature conservancy of this spectacular oceanside park. Recommendations for phased improvements and collaborative strategies were provided, including cost prescriptions to minimize impacts and support the social and environmental goals of the multiple parties engaged in the process to sanction this historical network. Additionally, Trail Holistics was asked to create an Operations Plan including an Action Plan with phased implementation for initial and ongoing improvements.
PINECONE BURKE PROVINCIAL PARK, BC: ASSESSMENT & IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2021
We are proud to continue our work with BC Parks throughout British Columbia, from assessments and park improvement plans to ranger training and site specific improvement strategies. As BC Parks works to create a Parks Management Plan for Pinecone Burke, our team assessed all MTB trails, multi use trails and hiking trails within the Park Polygon to identify hazards & environmental impacts, provide site prescriptions including risk mitigation, create a signage plan and provide prioritized management recommendations to address mounting usage pressures and property boundary challenges. Over 60km of trails were assessed including 233 MTB Technical Trail Features.
COWICHAN TRAIL STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY: CAPACITY BUILDING 2017 - 2022
Our work on Vancouver Island includes engagement with many of our friends in trail associations from Cumberland through to Victoria. In 2020, we were able to lead a Level 1 & Level 2 trail workshop with the Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society trail crew and a strategic planning sessions for the CTSS Board of Directors to delve deep into the purpose of the organization and establish a Vision and Mission. The two day strategic planning workshop includes a series of round table exercises to distill an action plan that will serve as the blue print for the organization into the future. The Level 1 and Level 2 trail courses teach the holistic method to build fun, creative and progressive trails that serve the many needs of our communities while providing a diversity of trail experiences.
LAKE COWICHAN, BC: MASTER PLAN - 2021
Working with Cowichan Futures, the Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers, BC Parks and Mosaic Forestry to assess existing trails in the area surrounding Lake Cowichan within a prescribed development polygon a series of site specific improvements were provided including cost projections and schematics. A phased improvement plan was created with cost projections to bring current trails up to standard and address hazards and other deficiencies. An additional +20km of trail was planned including layout, specifications, phased construction and cost projections.
The initial assessment of the Lake Cowichan Master Plan determined slope feasibility within the development polygon.
TRANS CANADA TRAIL 2020
Working with the Sto:Lo First Nation and the Province of BC, our team assessed a severely degraded section of the Trans Canada Trail (Tolmie Section) in Chilliwack, BC to create site specific prescriptions for improvement as well as a series of sustainable realignments to move the trail off private lands while respecting spiritual use areas and areas of historical significance.
SWIFT MOUNTAIN TRAIL NETWORK, VALEMOUNT BC: MASTER PLAN 2020
Working together with VARDA to Master Plan a new trail network that fits with the association’s community vision to create an entirely new trail network with a number of connective trail options for virtually unlimited combinations with over 25km of all mountain style trails including hiking, multi use and MTB trails, to complement their existing world class bike park.
MOUNT PREVOST, DUNCAN BC - 2020
We are pleased to have worked with the District of North Cowichan and the Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society to assess the Mt. Prevost trail network and provide recommendations to address hazards, risks, impacts and other deficiencies, while protecting the historical integrity of the advanced nature of the trail network.
Of the many criteria observed, 153 TTFs were assessed, catalogued and categorized along with 32km of MTB trail resulting in a series of site specific geo located prescriptions and management strategy recommendations.
A series of prioritized actions resulted to bring the trail network up to modern standards and improve the user experience while addressing risk exposure and impacts.
IRON MOUNTAIN, MERRITT, BC - ASSESSMENT & SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN: 2019
Trail Holistics completed a comprehensive assessment of trails on Iron Mountain. This led to a series of improvement prescriptions and recommendations to address aged wooden structures and improve user experience.
Additionally, a number of strategic extraction points were identified and geo located for heli pad construction for emergency evacuations. These locations were in addition to a full scale emergency response plan including evacuation routes and the identification of access points.
MOUNT BALDY RESORT - 2018
Our team was pleased to work with Mount Baldy Resort Management group to plan a four season trail network including a 15km XC multi use trail network for MTB, hiking/running, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and winter fat biking. Additionally, Trail Holistics was asked to conduct a comprehensive slope analysis and design a +20km lift access MTB Enduro trail network. A series of upgrades were prescribed to upgrade an additional 10km of existing trail.
A comprehensive slope analysis was conducted to determine ideal location for trails to best fulfill the overarching vision. A jump park and pump track was located in the site plan, with trail signage and phased construction build out including cost projections and potential future expansion opportunities.
The shovel ready project was delivered to our client on time and under budget. A comprehensive slope assessment determined soils, hydrology and gradient profiles.
Valemount bike park - SAFETY PLANNING 2017
Trail Holistics was hired to conduct a risk audit to assess current risks and from this, create a risk management plan applying current standards, guidelines and other provincial requirements. Signage deficiencies and areas of concern were identified and prioritized risk mitigation strategies and signage prescriptions provided. VARDA was also provided a structure assessment template and record keeping protocols.
Forbidden Plateau ASSESSMENT & usage report - 2017
Continuing studies on Forbidden Plateau included the deployment of trail counters to report on mountain bike use statistics gathered by Trail Holistics including high season and low season comparatives.
The data represents a snapshot of a subset of primary access and exit trails within the Forbidden Plateau riding system, providing insight into the current usage in the Forbidden Plateau area.
Data metrics provide a deeper understanding of user patterns to aid in future planning, anticipating future demands and budgetting appropriately for improvements, repairs, maintenance and potential expansion. This usage report was part of a larger Watershed Management Plan in which Trail Holistics was tasked with erosional analysis of trails in the area and how this potentially affects sedimentation and turbidity in Lake Cowichan.
MT. CARTIER, REVELSTOKE 2017 - 2020
Trail Holistics was hired by the Ministry of Forests to work with the Revelstoke Cycling Association to plan and build the new Sunnyside Climbing route on Mt Cartier. Working with BC Wildfire crews, Trail Holistics provided field training and project management to lead construction on the multi year project.
trail workshops in bc since 2011
Trail Holistics continues to work with Land Managers, Municipal and Provincial Government, Rights and Title holders and Stewardship groups throughout BC delivering a series of workshops aimed at improving approach through professional build standards and evolving best management practices.
Find out more about our workshops HERE