FAQ

We acknowledge that we work on the stolen and traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We’re dedicated to building and maintaining a sustainable trail network that’s inclusive and welcoming, while ensuring these trails remain for future generations. Our vision is “Trails for All, Trails Forever.”

The NSMBA was founded in winter of 1997 and incorporated with BC societies on February 4, 1998. A group of riders came together in response to rumours that the trails in North Van were going to be shut down. This original group realized that there needed to be a united response and together decided to form a non-profit.

Our constitution reads: The purpose of the Society is:

• To preserve and enhance the accessibility, to cyclists and other members of the community, of trails on the North Shore of Vancouver.
• To maintain, repair, improve and construct trails on the North Shore for the use and enjoyment of cyclist and other members of the community.
• To protect and preserve the environment by maintaining, repairing and improving trails on the North Shore.
• To protect and preserve forest areas on the North Shore by maintaining, repairing, improving and constructing trails on the North Shore.

Yes, we received registered Charitable status on April 24, 2001. Donations made via Canada Helps & Charitable Impact will receive an automatic tax receipt. If you donate through our website and wish to receive a tax receipt, please email info@nsmba for processing. Our Business Number is 87077 8461 RR0001.

The best way to reach us is by email – Info@nsmba.ca

We can ensure that your inquiry gets to the correct person to be addressed. Check our event calendar to see upcoming community events at which you can connect with us in person.

The NSMBA Executive Director is responsible for the leadership and management of the NSMBA organization according to the strategic direction set by the volunteer Board of Directors (the “Board”).  The Executive Director implements the vision and mandate of the NSMBA, provides leadership in identifying priorities and objectives, directs staff and contractors, supports committees and helps to ensure the NSMBA’s financial and organizational viability.

Board of Directors – act as advisors in planning and oversight while the Staff –  are responsible for implementing the vision.

Specialist sub-committees have been created to support staff: Finance, Events and Volunteers, Trail Working Group, Trails For All, Revenue, PR Committee.

Our board consists of 12 directors. Directors serve 2 year terms on the board, and can be re-elected to a maximum of 3 terms (or 6 years).

Directors of the NSMBA are community members dedicated to advocating for the Association’s and its members’ goals as outlined in the Constitution and bylaws. They are all volunteers responsible for planning for the organization’s future.

Each year, ahead of our AGM in late November, we put a call out for interested parties to apply to our board.

Our 2025 AGM date is set for Nov 20th 6pm – 10pm at the Wallace Venue, N Van.

Trail building is at the core of the NSMBA. We want to ensure that builders have the support they need to create sustainable, high-quality trail and to pursue their passion and vision for a trail. This can take different forms depending on the builder needs, some examples include:
– Provide and maintain tools and trail resources
– Training and mentorship
– Working with land managers to ensure permission
– Co-ordinating trail days volunteer and staff support
– Providing access to liability insurance
– Helping with promotion of trail days

Land managers vary by trail and location. Most trails on public land are managed by local government agencies or private landowners. Most land managers are listed in the details on the trails TrailForks page, but if you are still unsure, please contact us at https://nsmba.ca/providing-feedback/

District of North Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, BC Parks, Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Where available, we build to land manager trail standards, we also follow

BC Forest and Range Practices Act https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/00_02069_01

Whistler Trail Standards https://cyclingbc.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/trail_standards_first_edition.pdf

IMBA Trail Guidelines https://www.imba.com//sites/default/files/resource_1/GMRPTC_IMBA-WEB_compressed.pdf 

RSTBC https://westkelownatrailcrew.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ScheduleFMtnBikeTrails.pdf

Metro –https://metrovancouver.org/services/water/Documents/lower-seymour-conservation-reserve-trail-standards.pdf

We maintain 69km of trails across Fromme, Seymour, and Cypress.

NSMBA builders submit an annual work plan to identify any required maintenance or improvement projects, which our land managers approve before work is completed. We also address any maintenance concerns the land managers identify during regular trail inspections.

We also try to work with land managers on overall trail strategy to ensure that we align with our “trails for all” ideology. It is through this overall strategy to identify needs for additional trails or updates to existing trails

 Trail difficulty ratings are determined by land managers based on their trail standards. Some factors that determine trail difficulty are: grade (steepness), technical trail features (natural or person-made), trail width, exposure, and tread texture.

As an example for trails on RSTBC land Trail Rating Matrix in draft form-  https://www.mbta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/RSTBC-Trail-Difficulty-Rating-Matrix-DRAFT.pdf

We maintain trails on three mountains: Fromme, Seymour, and Cypress. View Trailforks Map

The North Shore is a beloved community asset, a world-renowned trail destination, and a significant Vancouver tourism attraction. The vast trail network has been built and nurtured through thousands of hours of advocacy and volunteer work, and without ongoing maintenance and dedication, this network could fall into severe disrepair, or public access could be lost.

We conduct surveys with membership and the riding community to be better informed of what the community is seeking. Working closely with local governments, land managers, and stakeholders to promote the benefits of mountain biking and to protect and expand our trail networks.

Trails become sanctioned through collaboration with land managers, following a thorough review process that considers environmental, cultural, and recreational impacts. Where possible, pre-existing trails can be “grandfathered” into the sanctioned network through advocacy work and LM agreement (e.g. Cambodia). This process is ever-evolving.

Trail builders and riders tend to be people who love nature, and want to protect it. We see trails as a way to access nature and grow our passion for the environment. As part of our process, we research and employ sustainable practices, such as
– Using sustainable resources (Rock, cedar, mineral dirt)
– Respecting waterways
– Avoiding sensitive areas of the forest
– Ensuring wildlife zones are protected

This is complex question. As mountain bikers we always wish there were more trails. We, as the NSMBA are always trying to get more trails approved. We are not the only ones in the forest and we do have to deal with other user groups and other land manager priorities.

Why aren’t there more:
– Environmental concerns
– Other user group concerns
– Concerns over who is going to maintain the trails (Everyone is excited to build a new trail, not everyone is excited to look after it)
– Concerns over the cohesion of the trail network to ensure the right trails are in the right areas for the right users
– Beauracracy
– Not enough builders

It’s complicated, and really is our biggest struggle. We recognize the need for more quality and varied trails and continue to work on achieving this. It’s not fast though, we all wish it was.

You can help:
– Buy a membership. The more members we have, the more land managers listen to us.
– Show up for trail day. The better condition trails are in, the more land managers see that we have capacity to take on more work
– Send a message to the land managers supporting the NSMBA, and asking for more trails.

Project selection is based on factors such as community needs, environmental impact, available resources, and collaboration with land managers and stakeholders.

Trail standards are guidelines for how to build trails in a sustainable way and to communicate the nature of the trail.
An example of a trail standard would be to ensure a trail has proper drainage, which helps shed water from the trail surface
An example of communication would be trail ratings (Green, Blue, Black). Trail ratings are often controversial, but within a trail standard, there are identifying factors which help us decide which label to use.

In 2024, our volunteer community made an even greater impact than any previous year, with more trail days, increased youth participation, and a record number of volunteer hours dedicated to maintaining and improving our trail network.

Stats from 2024 – 12,000 volunteer hours, 171 public trail days, 1,433 individual volunteers, 488 first time volunteers, 572 youth volunteers.

Members are of vital importance. Membership helps ensure a stable revenue stream and also demonstrates how involved the community is in funding trail work. Memberships account for 27% of our annual funding. In 2024 Memberships brought in $180K to the organization. In 2025, we’ve begun with 3500 members (more members than ever).

Membership is also a key point of interest for land managers when it comes to advocacy for more trails. When we can point to our membership as an interested user group – it shows how many people can be positively influenced by decisions that support mountain bike trails.

We offer volunteer opportunities, host low-cost events, and create educational programs that bring together riders, builders, and supporters to foster a strong, inclusive community and continue to try to reduce any barriers for those who want to access trails. Most importantly, we support the community by helping keep mountian bike trails available for all to use for free.

We’re committed to fostering an inclusive community by providing resources, events, and initiatives that support underrepresented groups in mountain biking.

Yes. We regularly host youth-focused trail days. If you are a school group or a youth group looking to get involved, please email info@nsmba.ca

We host over 120 public trail days annually, providing opportunities for community members to contribute to trail maintenance and development.

Started in 2011 as the “Toonies”, the Fivers have become the flagship series of NSMBA events, combining the community of a group ride with the format of an enduro event. For $10, and a NSMBA membership, riders participate in 3 timed stages and a post ride aprés party with food and beverages.
https://nsmba.ca/fivers/ 

Trail Days are fun and social and meant to provide the opportunity for anyone and everyone from the community to come try out trail maintenance with us! Even if you’ve never mountain biked or never held a shovel, you can come see what the NSMBA is all about. Bring your friends and have fun in the forest! Read our volunteer info and check out our events calendar.

You’ll want to be sure you have appropriate clothing for the weather (close-toed shoes / waterproof layers / warm layers), as well as a backpack with a water bottle. All other tools provided. We suggest bringing Gardening / Work gloves. To save time at the trailhead, please visit our website to download, print, and sign our waiver: https://nsmba.ca/attending-a-trail-day/

 While most trail building is done by volunteers, some projects may have funding for professional builders. Contact us for current opportunities.

If you spot any issues while out on the trails (fallen trees, broken bridges or storm-damaged sections) let us know by submitting a report on Trailforks or emailing info@nsmba.ca (Please include approximate diameter and photo for tree-down reports so our volunteers/ crew can bring appropriate tools)

There are numerous ways to volunteer your support for the NSMBA, volunteering expertise (ie: photographers, grant writing, biologist, environmental assessments, helping with events) or becoming part of the BoD, supporting our committees or out digging on the trails. If you can think of something that you would like to do, or think you would be good at – there’s a good chance we can find a place for you to do it,

As with all charitable organizations, we love receiving financial donations (tax-deductible). We’re always looking for in-kind donations of products or experiences for giveaways and raffles. As well as the usage of office, meeting and event space.

We can add your business to our “in-kind partner list“. We’re also looking for delicious food and beverage suppliers for events and trail-building days that align with our brand and community

If you want to make a larger commitment of time or money, see the TAP program

Our Trail Adoption Plan helps fund maintenance and development through strategic partnerships. We have trails available for TAP on all three mountains. Please reach out to us for information on these partnership opportunities.

A donation to the trails option, where funds go directly to the maintenance and improvement of specific trails. It’s a great way to support your favourite trails.

It’s a community-based trail maintenance and partnership initiative where businesses, organizations, or groups can “adopt” a trail on Vancouver’s North Shore. Partners (businesses or organizations) commit financial resources toward trail maintenance. Volunteer trail days are organized where partners and community members work together. Professional trail builders guide these maintenance efforts. The program helps maintain and improve the extensive network of mountain biking trails on Vancouver’s North Shore.

Brand recognition through trail signage with their logo and name. Recognition on the NSMBA website and social media. Inclusion in NSMBA newsletters and communications. Team-building opportunities during volunteer trail days. Positive community association and goodwill, Direct connection to the mountain biking community. Promotional opportunities at NSMBA events.

Beyond the tangible benefits, we frequently hear stories of how working on the trails has brought teams together and created a more positive atmosphere in their workplace. And of course, there is a warm, fuzzy feeling from doing good.

As a non-profit organization, we rely on donations to keep our operations running smoothly on and off the trails. Tax receipts are available

– Donate through Canada Helps

You can create a one-time donation or set up monthly donations through this portal. Tax receipts are available through this site.

– Donate via Charitable Impact

Any donations above $20 that are made through Charitable Impact will receive an automatic tax receipt.

– Donate through Trailforks

Trailforks.com supports local trail associations by their donation system known as “Trail Karma”. You can donate to a specific trail, location or trail association.

– Mail a Cheque

North Shore Mountain Bike Association

PO BOX 16127 Lynn Valley Postal Outlet

North Vancouver, BC

V7J 3S9

All funds go towards trail maintenance, advocacy, events, and supporting the mountain biking community. We prioritize transparency in how these funds are allocated.