Hope's first signature black diamond trail is ready to turn Hope into a 'world-class mountain bike destination' by the end of June.
The First Blood Mountain Bike Trail will officially open on June 28 and the biking community, along with the public, are invited to a weekend long celebration. The celebration is being hosted by AdvantageHOPE, in partnership with the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association and First Journey Trails Ltd.
"AdvantageHOPE is extremely excited for the long-anticipated opening of this signature, hand-built mountain bike trail,” said Tannis Hendriks, AdvantageHOPE board chair. “This trail, and the future network of trails being planned, will introduce Hope as a world-class mountain bike destination. Instead of driving on through to other trail networks, riders will stop here – we look forward to welcoming them to our beautiful town."
The five-kilometre, hand-built trail has been in the works since 2020 and owes its existence to a partnership between AdvantageHOPE and the bikers association.
The trail was constructed by Thomas Schoen and his company First Journey Trails over the summer of 2024. Schoen and his team were brought on by AdvantageHOPE and the bike association after securing two grants, totalling to $485,065, from the province's Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program. Construction of the trail had a total cost of $416,450 and took 21 weeks to complete. It was then left alone in the winter "to set" and be ready for its grand opening.
On July 27, 2020, Michael Woods, past-president of the bike association, spoke with the District of Hope council about creating the trail. Prior to speaking with council, Woods had been working diligently for five years to bring a mountain bike trail to Hope.
Woods updated council on the trail development, and cited the benefits of having an intricate and multi-purpose trail network. In his presentation, he said it would draw in a younger crowd, help increase tourism and benefit Hope's outdoor communities.
However, it was only when Woods approached Sarah Brown, the Hope Cascades & Canyons Visitor Centre's former operation manager and curator, that the idea truly began to find its footing. After speaking with Woods, Brown said she found herself agreeing that a comprehensive trail network would increase tourism in Hope and add to the local community.
Six other potential trail network locations in Hope include: Dog Mountain, Hope Lookout, Thacker Mountain, Sucker’s Creek, Othello Tunnels/Coquihalla Canyon and The Core.
The celebration, which runs from June 27 to June 29, will start at 5 p.m. with a "pre-ride party" at the Mountainview Brewing Co. The trail will have its official grand opening on June 28 at 11 a.m. at the trail parking lot and features post-ride eats, and events at the Silver Chalice Pub and Stallones Kitchen + Bar. Celebrations will then conclude on June 29 at the Hope Bike Park, located on 805 Kawkawa Lake Rd, at 10 a.m.
The First Blood trail parking lot is located 500 metres up Mt. Hope Forest Service Road, off Highway 3.
