August 07, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Smithers, Biking
View a larger image on flickr.com
When your idea of a mountain adventure involves two wheels, a full-face helmet and the adrenaline rush of a perfectly executed jump, then Hudson Bay Mountain and the Bluff trail network in Smithers is the perfect place for you to explore. It took me only 30 minutes to drive to the top of the hill, and just past the Hudson Bay Ski Lodge I spotted the Pay Dirt and Piper’s Down trail heads. Pay Dirt is one of the only machine made trails on this hill, meaning it is wide and flowy—perfect for a beginner who wants to avoid the jumps, or for an experienced rider who wants an exhilarating yet smooth descent. Further past the Ski Lodge is the Piper’s Down Trail, which is one of the hill’s most challenging runs. The trail is named after a Piper’s plane, that crashed into the hill years ago, and that the trail’s builders decided to incorporated into one of the run’s many jumps. This trail will also be the location of the annual Piper’s Cross event, hosted by the Children of the Bluff (COB) this coming weekend. The event is a timed race, with plenty of fun for both competitors and spectators. Beyond these two trails there is a whole network of lower elevation mountain biking trails on the Bluff just overlooking Smithers. These trials are well known for their varied degrees of difficulty, including drops, log rides, boardwalks and other challenging elements. New to the mountain? No problem! The Smithers visitor center is equipped with trail maps and bike rental information. Now it’s time for me to put a little mud on my bike.