Escalator - an excellent grade 4 climbing singletrack will take you up into the hills to a small cleared area called "the big skid". The trail called Hang Ten comes down onto it from above with a drop jump and there's a nice little table-top in the middle of the clearing. There's even a picnic table - take a break - you've climbed over 300 vertical metres.
There are two ways you could go from here:
1. UP... Another 200 metres. Either take the firebreak straight up the hill - very steep. Or take the road on the left. You'll hop over two gates and come to two forks - go right in both cases. The grade 5 track Hang Ten starts at the top and takes you back to the big skid and then on down to the bottom of the hill.
2. DOWN... Most people take this option. First there is a gentle little climb along the old forestry road on the right. You'll soon see a small clearing and a track going down on the right. Take it. You'll follow some grade 4 singletrack that starts by wasting altitude but improves to become good riding. You're on a series of trails that have names but with no signs you won't be any the wiser. When you come to forks as you approach the bottom go right and with luck (!!) you'll soon be back on Escalator which is two-way so head on down for a well earned beer.
The lack of signs and poor map boards mean this small mountain bike park is not visitor friendly. Try to ride it with a local. All the trails are steep and you need at least grade 4 skills. It makes for a good workout.
 | Hang Ten |   | 2 mi |
Escalator is the primary climbing track which works but has several excessively steep (20% ) sections. Primary route down is either hang ten or lodestone and bermed monster. Lodestone has fun features but is to narrow and erratic to flow. Bermed monster is built in clay that leads to consistently poor trail conditions. Would be rated "3"except compared to other riding areas like Sylvan forest and Nelson's codgers parks nearby it pales.
| ThankThis trail was somewhat neglected when I rode it and hadn't been much ridden in a while. Hope it's in better shape when you find it.
| ThankDon't go out of your way to ride the Richmond Hills trails but the views from the top of the forest are great and the easy-take-off-angle tabletop at the big skid is fun. It's a good one for intermediate riders wanting to try grabbing some air.
| Thank