Prepared for: Trail Design Report for: Cypress Hills Provincial Park Alberta Environment and Parks Project Number 16PSR824 Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park –Trail Design Plan Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary – Using the Trails Design Plan .................................................................................... 1 2 Introduction..... ............................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Goals and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 4 3 Development of the Trail Design Plan ........................................................................................................ 4 4 Benefits and Value of Trails ......................................................................................................................... 5 4.1 Health & Recreation Benefits ........................................................................................................ 5 4.2 Safety Benefits ............................................................................................................................... 5 4.3 Education Benefits ......................................................................................................................... 5 4.4 Environmental Sustainability Benefits ......................................................................................... 5 4.5 Economic Benefits ......................................................................................................................... 6 4.5.1 Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study ...................................................... 7 4.5.2 Destination Attractiveness ................................................................................................ 7 4.5.3 Economic Benefit to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park .................................................. 7 5 Background Information ............................................................................................................................. 8 5.1 Characteristics of the Local Community ...................................................................................... 8 5.2 Existing Trail Inventory .................................................................................................................. 8 6 Description of Proposed Trail System ....................................................................................................... 10 6.1 Central Hub .................................................................................................................................... 10 6.1.1 Trail Head ........................................................................................................................... 11 6.1.2 Pump Track and Skills Area .............................................................................................. 11 6.2 Fire Rock Trails .............................................................................................................................. 12 6.2.1 Beginner Loops & Interconnected Campgrounds ......................................................... 13 6.2.2 Old Baldy Trail .................................................................................................................. 14 6.3 Cross Country Trails ...................................................................................................................... 15 6.3.1 Campground connectors; Elkwater, Ferguson Hill, Lodgepole, Old Baldy and Beaver Creek Campgrounds ...................................................................................................................... 16 6.3.2 Ranger Trail Collector ...................................................................................................... 16 6.3.3 Upgrades to Horseshoe Canyon Trail ............................................................................. 16 6.3.4 Trail # 8 .............................................................................................................................. 17 6.3.5 Upgrades to Mystery trail and Beaver Creek Trail ........................................................ 17 6.3.6 Upgrades to Tower Road ................................................................................................. 17 6.3.7 Upgrades to Mitchell Creek Trail .................................................................................... 17 6.3.8 Inner Loop ......................................................................................................................... 18 6.3.9 Trail # 7 .............................................................................................................................. 18 6.4 IMBA Epic Ride, Hut to Hut riding ................................................................................................ 18 6.4.1 Overview of the Epic Ride ............................................................................................... 19 PAGE | i Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park –Trail Design Plan 6.4.2 Huts, Campgrounds and Destinations ............................................................................ 19 6.4.3 Spruce Coulee and Western Trans Canada Trail ............................................................ 19 6.4.4 Reesor Lake Viewscape Trail .......................................................................................... 20 6.4.5 Reesor Ridge , Battle Creek Campground, and Police Point Slump ............................ 20 6.4.6 Battle Creek Trail to HWY 41 Group Camp ..................................................................... 21 6.4.7 Cattle ................................................................................................................................. 21 6.5 Hidden Valley Ski Resort ............................................................................................................... 21 6.5.1 Lift Accessed Mountain Biking ........................................................................................ 21 6.5.2 Opening Scenarios ........................................................................................................... 22 6.5.3 Trail locations, style, quantity ......................................................................................... 22 6.5.4 Feasibility of converting lift for summer use ................................................................ 23 6.5.5 Additional Lift Accessed Recreational Opportunities ................................................... 25 6.6 Signage and Trail Amenities ........................................................................................................ 26 6.6.1 Signage ............................................................................................................................ 26 6.6.2 Trail Crossings of Roads ................................................................................................. 26 6.6.3 Back Country Rest Nodes ................................................................................................ 27 6.6.4 Bike Wash Facilities .......................................................................................................... 27 6.6.5 Bike Repair Stations ........................................................................................................ 28 7 Implementation of the Plan ...................................................................................................................... 29 7.1 Marketing and Funding Strategies ............................................................................................. 29 7.2 Trail Planning and Design ............................................................................................................ 29 7.3 Phasing Strategy and Cost Estimates ......................................................................................... 30 7.4 Recommended Quantity of Trail Infrastructure ........................................................................ 30 8 Operations and Management .................................................................................................................... 31 8.1 Liabilities ........................................................................................................................................ 31 8.1.1 Trails Construction and Maintenance ............................................................................. 31 8.1.2 Decommissioning of Trails .............................................................................................. 31 8.1.3 Trail Inventory Mapping and Inspections ...................................................................... 32 8.2 Risk Management ......................................................................................................................... 32 8.2.1 Public Safety ..................................................................................................................... 32 8.2.2 Emergency Planning ........................................................................................................ 32 8.3 Conflict ........................................................................................................................................... 33 8.3.1 Shared Use Trail Hazard Conflict and Impact Reduction Strategies ............................ 33 8.3.2 Winter Use 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