The Scenic Trail

2 kms
4hours
difficult
Hiking, Mountain Biking
Spring, Fall, Summer
Merritt, BC

thugboarder

If you shuttle the trail, it is only 2.2 kilometres long, so the trail is fairly short. I ride it on my Kona Stinky in about 30 minutes. A map should be out in the fall of '03'; you can buy one at our local bike shop, Bonzai Cycle in Merritt. Ride hard; have fun.

Directions:

NOT SHUTTLING: From the Nicola Ave. and Voght St. intersection (by the 7-11), go west on Nicola Ave. until you come to Juniper Rd. Turn right on Juniper and go up the hill, just past the golf course. On your left there is a road that goes up the mountain to the Canadian flag (look up and you will see it). Park just a short way up this road out of the way of traffic.

Ride up all the switch backs until you are above the flag. The last switch back ends at a big rock and it's difficult to make the corner. Keep going. Go through the gate of the barbed-wired fence and follow the main trail 50 meters until a cut-off to the right. Follow this little trail through the trees for 10 meters to get to the Scenic Trail. You will know that you are on the right trail once you come to the first stunt (a two foot drop off a log). On a nearby tree you will see a sign that says Scenic Trail. The trail crosses another trail just a little way from here. Then almost immediately after the crossing, there is a fork. Stay to the right. The second stunt on the trail is a wide skinny through the trees. Then it crosses another trail. A little way up the trail you have to cross back over the fence. There is a ladder you can climb over. After the fence is where the nice look-outs are. You will cross yet another trail. Keep going along a little fire road. From here the trail drops you into a little gully on the right. The trail is moderately difficult from here on. After a steep loose section you will be spat out on another fire road. Go left on this road until you see the orange ribbon in the bush on the right side of the road. The trail goes down and then to the left, dropping you into another gully with some stunts in it. A seven foot drop drops you on to another fire road (you can always go around hard stunts). Go left on the fire road all the way down to the end of Pineridge Rd. Go down Pineridge Rd. to Juniper. Turn left on Juniper Rd. and bike back to your car.

SUTTLING: From Nicola Ave. and Voght St. intersection (by the 7-11) Go west on Nicola Ave. until you come to Juniper Rd. Go down Juniper Road and turn left up on to Pineridge Rd. Park your pick-up vehicle at the end of this road. Drive the vehicle (with bikes and riders in it) back down Pineridge and turn left on Juniper. Then turn left again on the Look-out fire road. Drive all the way to the top and park at the parking lot just above the flag. Unload here. Follow the remaining directions from the second paragraph of 'NOT SHUTTLING'.