North Shore Trail Strategy 2026

Welcome to the central hub for the 2026 North Shore Trail Strategy. As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, the NSMBA is dedicated to caring for a sustainable trail network within our community.

With a 220% average growth in trail use across monitored sites between 2021 and 2025 (Metro Trail Counters), we are building a comprehensive trail tool for land managers and stakeholders. Helping us advocate for new trails and improve connectivity across the network.

1. The Network We Have (Our Current Footprint)

The NSMBA actively manages a vast, world-class footprint across 3 mountain zones alongside 8 land managers.

• Total Network Size: Over 70 km of total trail metres.

• Downhill Singletrack: 60 km is dedicated downhill singletrack cared for by our builders and volunteers.

• The 3 Mountain Zones:

  • Fromme: The crown jewel of the network.

  • Seymour: Diverse trails mirroring a wide diversity of terrain.

  • Cypress: The fastest, roughest downhills on the Shore.

    

2. The Network We Ride (Usage Data)

To build a strategy for the future, we look at how the community actually utilizes the network. We look at two primary data streams: what riders say they ride, and what they actually log.

• Community Survey Data: When asked what level they normally ride, our community responds:

  • Black Tech/Flow: 36.1%

  • Blue Tech/Flow: 33.3%

  • Double Black: 17.6%

  • Green Trails: 13.0%

• Trailforks Ridelog Data: Real-world tracking shows where the actual ride log data is recorded:

  • Blue Trails: 35.4%

  • Black Diamond: 23.8%

  • Green Trails: 17.4%

  • Double Black: 9.7%

3. Network at a Glance: Current Trail Grades

Our current overall network is heavily weighted toward advanced technical terrain. Below is the total breakdown by metres of what exists across Fromme, Seymour, and Cypress combined:

4. The Network That We Need (What We Are Hearing)

Through our Member Surveys and community outreach, riders have made it clear what the future of the North Shore network should look like:

• Improved connectivity across different zones and networks.

• More green and blue trails to support beginners, progression, and intermediate riders.

• Prioritizing fixing existing trails to keep our current infrastructure sustainable.

• Sanctioning additional trails that already exist naturally on the landscape.

• Preserving the classic, technical North Shore trail style that defined our mountain bike culture.
  

5. Identifying the Gaps: Our Timeline