Trail Counts on Hinton Trails

The HMBA has invested in 12 Trail Counters this past year. 5 are located within the Hinton Bike Park and the other 7 are located on our trail system. These units count trail users, whether biking, hiking or running. These units do not take photos - sorry to those who may have made goofy faces at them :)

We shouldn't be surprised that The J is the most used trail as it leads to one of our favorite spots: the EZ Lookout! Happy Creek and Ranger are high favorites as well.

#bikehinton #HintonBikePark

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Trail Report: May 19, 2018

Hinton Bike Park

Just a heads up: pine beetle crews are still present in and around the bike park.  Please avoid any flagged or signed areas while they complete their work. They are falling trees and are very active.  Thanks for your patience while they complete this important work.  Other than that, the bike park is dry and rideable.   Tuesday, May 22, HMBA will be doing maintenance in the park starting at 7pm.  Hope you can join us!

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Happy Creek Trail System

Trails are in rideable condition!  Just a few soft spots to watch out for.  So as always, please ride with care and be conscious of muddy or soft spots.  Avoid going around wet/muddy spots - this results in trail widening.  Walking your bike through these questionable sections is always a good alternative!

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Jack's Trail System

On May 15, 2018, the Board of the HMBA voted to downgrade this trail system as "unsanctioned".   A lot of clearing and fire smarting has happened in this area and the trails are very difficult/impossible to find.  Upper trails are still "untouched", but getting there will be tricky.  Ride at your own risk!

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Gasifier

Access Road to Gasifier

Gasifier is good to go! But the road to the top may still need some drying out. The snow is probably gone, but there may still be water/mud puddles on the road.  4x4 vehicle highly recommended.

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Trail Report: May 10, 2018

Hinton Bike Park

Just a heads up: pine beetle crews are hard at work in and around the bike park right now. Please avoid the area for the interim while they complete their work. They are falling trees and are very active. This is particularly true in and around the new trail (Pembina Sprockids Trail) by the park and just west of the drop zone, slope wars and Fo shore. Thanks for your patience while they complete this important work.

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Happy Creek Trail System

Most trails are in rideable condition!  Just a few soft spots to watch out for on Bighorn and Just Give'r.  The connecting double-track trail between Happy Creek East and Slow Cooker (south end) is messy/muddy.

Please ride with care and be conscious of muddy or soft spots.  Avoid going around wet/muddy spots - this results in trail widening.  Walking your bike through these questionable sections is always a good alternative!

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Jack's Trail System

If you are not familiar with this trail system, it is best to avoid it.  A lot of clearing and fire smarting is happening in this area and the trails are very difficult/impossible to find.

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Gasifier

Access Road to Gasifier

Gasifier is about 98% ready too! But the road to the top may still need some drying out. So if you like pushing your bike up hill, it's good to go!

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Trail Report: May 3, 2018

Hinton Bike Park

Please avoid the bike park's Dirt Jumps, Skills Area and Flow Master until further notice.

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Happy Creek Trail System

Outer trails are drying up nice!! Just get there, The J, Cleo's, Halloween Connector, Halloween, west happy are all 98% dry, ready to ride. 

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Jack's Trail System

No trail reports available.

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Gasifier

Access Road to Gasifier

Gasifier is about 98% too! But the road to the top still has a lot of snow on parts. So if you like pushing your bike up hill, it's good to go!

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New to our Trails? Here's what we recommend!

New to our trails? One of the loops that locals enjoy is highlighted in yellow, approximately 8.6 km. About 200 m elevation gain. Start on Just Get There and finish on Happy Creek (West side). The trail head is roughly 2 km from the Hinton Bike Park parking lot. This loop has bit of of everything: up and ups, rewarded with downs and flowy single track. And don't forget to stop at our favorite EZ lookout!

Caution on some Trails

You may see some CAUTION notices on our trails.

The Rock Band trail is awesome, but the bottom section is still very wet. Best to avoid this trail until the wet area is re-mediated later this summer.

The Lower Bighorn, between the Beaver Boardwalk and the powerline right-of-way is eroded, so please ride with care, especially when going in the downhill direction.

Thanks!

HMBA Trails Signed

After two years of inventory and planning, map signage at the Hinton Bike Park and on the Happy Creek System trails have been refreshed!  This important project had many phases, including:

• GPSing existing and new locations (usually major intersections),
• fine tuning our trails database,
• acquiring more recent background imagery (2014),
• putting the maps together (digitally) - over 100hrs volunteer time!
• working with local printer (a1 Signs) to get signs created,
• gluing directional signage onto plywood (Thank you RBC!),
• putting up the signs where they need to go and trying not to forget the "You Are Here" dots! - over 30 hours of volunteer time.

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All our awesome signs!

In total, over 200 volunteers hours and community support via donations made to HMBA have made this project possible. 

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RBC Vollunteers

Six staff members from Hinton's RBC Branch came out on June 8th to volunteer their time.  They helped with staining and gluing at the Hinton Bike Park.

The final phase: getting the signs out there

A special thanks to all the volunteers who have helped getting the signs out on the trails!

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Julie Duval

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Gabrielle Duval

Bill Heir

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Maureen Harper

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Tim Trahan

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Jeff Morris

Thank you Bike Boy!

The handy bike trailer has seen a lot of mileage in June!  A special thank you to Bike Boy who had donated the trailer to HMBA over 5 years ago.   

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The sign caddy!

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Going up!

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An up!

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Great travels under summer sunshine

Happy Creek Project Completed!

A year ago in September, the Hinton Mountain Bike Association was awarded $30,000 from Hinton's 2014 Participatory Budget.  The grant was used to revitalize Hinton's amazing signature trail, Happy Creek, which needed some major work done on two large sections of boardwalks.  This project not only benefited mountain bikers, but runners, walkers, hikers, and visitors alike! 

Hoots Inc. was contracted for this project.  Crews were onsite by mid-August and by early September, the work was done!  The construction was done with sustainability in mind with the goal of durability and longer lifespan.

For those familiar with Happy Creek Trail - this new upgrade will be well received! 

Thank you to all trail users in the weeks during construction.  Your patience and understanding were appreciated!

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Before...

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Rebuilding, 1st phase

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Rebuilding, 2nd phase

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After!  Boardwalk 1 

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After!  Boardwalk 2

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Boardwalk repair area indicated in green.  (2011 map)

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This project supported by:

Happy Creek Trail Project: September 1st

Happy Creek Project update: boardwalks should be done by the end of Tuesday or Wednesday this week (September 1st or 2nd). The load of lumber in the photo shows you just how much was needed!

Happy Creek Trail Project - August 26th

Happy Creek Trail Project progress.  Posted by Jay Hoots on facebook, August 26, 2015.

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August 26, 2015

Pictures from earlier dates:

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May 18, 2015

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August 19, 2015

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August 25, 2015

Happy Creek Trail Project - August 25th

Happy Creek Trail Project progress.  Posted by Jay Hoots on facebook, August 25, 2015.

NOTICE: Happy Creek Boardwalk Repair Underway

Notice to All Trail Users in the Happy Creek Trail System

Please be advised that a section on the East side of the Happy Creek Trail is undergoing trail construction until approximately September 4th, 2015.   Progress reports will be posted on our website (www.bikehinton.com) and on facebook.  During this time, we ask that all trail users enjoy alternate routes on our trail systems and avoid passing through the construction zone, as that may cause more harm (i.e. trail widening and/or work interruptions).  Thank you for your understanding and patience!!

Trail Under Construction

Jay Hoots and crew are working on the Happy Creek Trail boardwalk repair - a 2014 Hinton Participatory Budget project.  See green markings on the map below for area affected by this work.  The trail section is found on Happy Creek Trail - East side, just past the Fast Trax intersection when going South.  There are two long sections of boardwalk that have deteriorated beyond repair over the years and will be replaced with a new structure.  The crew will be accessing the site via motorized quad/bike - but have taken precautions to minimize their impact.  A lot of lumber and materials need to go in and out of the site.

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Boardwalk repair area indicated in green.  (2011 map)

Background

Last September, the Hinton Mountain Bike Association had submitted a proposal for Hinton's Participatory Budget.  Hinton's amazing signature trail, Happy Creek, needed some major work done on all the bridges and wood features. This is not just a project that will benefit the mountain bikers, but it will benefit runners, walkers, hikers, and visitors who enjoy using this great trail!  In October, Hinton residents decided to award $30,000 towards the Happy Creek project!  

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This caution sign was posted at both ends of the boardwalks to advise all recreational users during the summer of 2015.

Photo credit: Sarah Burns taken in Fall 2014.

Feedback

If you have any questions, comments or even great feedback about this project, please contact us via email at info@bikehinton.com

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This project supported by:

Inventory of Directional Trail Maps

HMBA needs your assistance!!

Our 1ft x 1ft directional trail signs (see images below) are out of date and need to be updated/replaced.  However, we need to know how many are out there, or need to be out there - and WHERE they are.  YOU can help by participating in a member-sourced inventory.  Using your smartphones and linking to this form via your web browser (with GPS enabled), enter the info at the location of existing directional signs - or at locations where you think there should really be one! Unfortunately, we cannot put them everywhere ($$), so select the most optimal locations. THANK YOU!!

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Bike Park and Happy Creek Trails are priorities at this time.

About the form

Note: please click on the 'get GPS location' button a few times until the accuracy is within 5-10m.  Thanks!!

Alberta Junior Forest Rangers Helped With Repairs on Happy Creek Trail

On a Saturday, May 30th, HMBA once again welcomed the Alberta Junior Forest Rangers!  Together, we replaced a section of boardwalk on Happy Creek East. Check out the before and after photos. Thanks to Christopher Reid and the Town of Hinton for transporting lumber and supplies to the site!

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BEFORE...

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AFTER...

JFR leaders worked with the Hinton Mountain Bike Association to learn about trail building.  To find out more about the Alberta Junior Forest Rangers, visit their website!

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A hard working crew for a job well done!!!  Thank you JFRs!!

Notice of Navigational Re-route

Re-route:  "Halloween Connector'' to ''Cleo's''

HMBA obtained permission for a short reroute between Halloween and Cleo's for ease of navigation between the two trails. The link is now more direct to help save confusion for riders who are new to the area. Thanks to Matt MacKay, Mike Langford and Brayden Langford!

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The re-route provides a better connection between "Halloween Connector" and "Cleo's"

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Happy Creek Trail Report - May 19, 2015

Trail Report

Several sections of boardwalk on the East side of Happy Creek are in poor condition. The longer boardwalk sections have been signed with Caution. The smaller section closer to the Town of Hinton Beaver Boardwalk is not signed. Work has taken place to improve drainage however the structures are soft and boards are missing or loose. Work will take place this week to replace the shorter section near town.   See full Happy Creek reporting on Trailforks.

Ongoing and upcoming maintenance

Lots of great trail work happening out there, trail fairies abound. Corduroy and bridge decking on slow cooker, countless trees (bighorn, slow cooker, bubbas, gassifier etc.) and debris removal on just get there/the J. Thanks for the hard work HMBA members!  FYI please note the status of Happy Creek East. Maintenance day to be announced for this week.

A Great Trail Cleaning Day!

From a facebook post by Jailin Threinen:

We ran into some "garbage angels" on the biking trails today. Thanks for taking the initiative to keep our town and trails clean and enjoyable.  #hintonproud

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Early Spring Trail Report

Bike Park

With the good weather and recent winds the Bike Park is drying up fast. There are still some critical wet areas and subsequent rutting from riders  who are too impatient to wait it out. The ground is still frozen and spring showers are sure to come.

The strong winds also present a hazard with unstable trees in many areas of the areas of the Park. Several of these trees will have to be professionally removed and this may take time.

If favorable conditions hold throughout the week, there will be a basic maintenance day on Saturday April 18th. This will include garbage cleanup, removing debris from the trails, raking leaves and debris from drainages and raking out the unfortunate new ruts.

Stayed tuned on our website calendar for upcoming maintenance dates!

When conditions are poor, you will see signs like these at the Hinton Bike Park.

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Trail Systems

Happy Creek

The Happy Creek trail system has seen high use in the last couple of weeks with favorable temperatures and rapidly melted snow pack.

There are still a few areas with snow/ice and lots of wet problem areas throughout, especially Happy Creek East and Just Giver.  All other trails are in awesome early season shape. 

Downed trees on Slowcooker were cleared this weekend.

Jack's

Report from Jack's Trails of downed trees and wet areas in the obvious spots.

As always, please let us know your trail feedback. Keep us informed on trail conditions and maintenance so we can pass it on to others.   

See you at the AGM!

Winter Trail Pilot Project Underway

Two of our local fat bike riding enthusiasts, Mike Mahoney and Mike Langford, have teamed up on this recent Winter Trail Pilot Project.  With the support of the Hinton Mountain Bike Association and the Town of Hinton, this project will allow the grooming of some of our favorite established backyard trails!

The grooming will be done with a small snowmobile which is handy for mobility and keeping our trails narrow.  Absolutely no trail work needs to be done in order to accommodate the grooming, nor will there be any erosion or damage to the existing trails.  

The groomer is towed behind the snowmobile and it is exactly the same type of groomer that is used by nordic centres to groom for cross country skiing.  The only difference is in the width of the groomer - only 30 inches (76 cm) wide, the ideal width for non-motorized winter activities such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, hiking, dog walking and trail running.

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Grooming is a slow process, the snowmobile runs approximately 5 kms/hr towing the groomer as it rolls and packs the trail down. Once groomed, it takes a few hours to "set up" or harden, then it is ready for use. Grooming will be done mostly at night when there is less usage, and a better chance for the snow to set-up. 

There a several benefits from this pilot project:

• There will be no cost to the town as Mike Mahoney has volunteered his time and money for this project. The HMBA has agreed to review progress in one years time, and if the project is a success, the association will become financially active with the project.

• A groomed winter trail will further promote healthy, "green", carbon neutral activities within our community.

• There is a potential to draw more tourist dollars to our town.

• The HMBA and the town of Hinton are pushing for Hinton to be a "Alberta's Mountain Bike Mecca". What better way then to make mountain biking a year-round sport?

• Dead-fall will be removed throughout the winter thereby reducing the spring workload for the trail crews.

The area that would be groomed include a connection of several small trails in the Happy Creek zone.   Trails that will be part of the groomed loop:

1. The J

2. Ranger

3. GS connector

4. GS

5. Halloween

6. Phil's Thriller

7. Bubba's

8. Bighorn

Happy Trails!!

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The J on February 7, 2015

There's Gold in Them Hills!

If you haven't been out riding or hiking these past few days - make sure you include it in your long weekend activities!  Even a simple jaunt around our extensive town trails in this fine Autumn weather is sure to be enjoyed by all!

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Halloween Trail

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Cleo's

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Happy Creek Trail

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"Wellsite" between The J and Halloween Connector

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The J

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EZ Lookout