Trails

Are you a recreational rider?

If you ride roads, tracks or trails you qualify and you are not alone! Horse Council BC has approximately 21,000 members and at least 75% of them are recreational riders.

BC Equestrian Trails Group

Horse Council BC has established a discussion group for horsemen and horsewomen and other stakeholders concerned with the establishment of new equestrian trails and horsecamps and the protection of existing equestrian trails and horsecamps in British Columbia. To join the group, please visit the BC Equestrian Trails Group site at Yahoo Groups.

Resources in the Files, Links and Database sections of the site include links to other trails organizations in North America, as well as to sites with information on trail building, files related to trail building, listing of trail building books available on free loan from the Horse Council Equestrian Trails library, a calendar of events related to trail riding and trail work, information provided by the Outdoor Recreation Council on current land use applications, and lists of potential volunteers for trailbuilding work in different areas of B.C.

BC Equestrian Trails Fund

This fund has been established to provide support for HCBC member clubs and affiliates who have researched and planned a specific project related to the construction and/or maintenance of an equestrian trail or horse camping site in British Columbia for public use. Contributions to the fund will be accepted throughout 2010 and the funds will be made available for projects starting in 2011. Details regarding funding applications will be available by the end of 2010. For more information on the fund, contact recreation@hcbc.ca. Donations to the fund are welcome! You can donate by credit card as an add-on from the membership page at HCBC On-line!

New safety item for Trail Riders!

$2 from every ID sold will go towards the new BC Equestrian Trails Fund

Horse Council BC has introduced Emergency ID for both you and your horse. The Rider ID is a comfortable and adjustable wristband that contains a small custom ID card. Your wrist is the first place a paramedic will look for medic alert information. The wristband is reflective and 100% waterproof, and comes with an extra ID card, so one wristband could be used at different times by two individuals.

The Horse ID is also reflective and waterproof. It can be threaded onto a bridle or halter, or clipped to the saddle with a caribiner clip. For more information or to order call the Horse Council office at 604-856-4304 (or 1-800-345-8055) or e-mail recreation@hcbc.ca.

News for trail users regarding Off-Road Vehicle regulations!

Rules for off-road vehicle registration and licensing, helmet use, youth safety and environmental measures will be implemented over the next two years under a new off-road vehicle (ORV) management framework, announced Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger ... view complete article

HCBC Trail Database

The HCBC Trail Database provides maps of equestrian friendly trails throughout the province of BC. It will be continually changing, and we will need your help in order to keep the trail information as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Please submit your comments on a given trail on the form provided at the bottom of each trail's page, or e-mail recreation@hcbc.ca with comments or suggestions. Know of a good trail that's not on our list? Let us know!

Note that if you click on the name of a location on the right side of the Trail Database screen, the map will pinpoint the trails in that area. For example, click on Princeton for trails in the Princeton area. Or if you click on Lower Mainland, all trails in the Lower Mainland will show up on the map, or if you click on Vancouver Island, all of the trails on Vancouver Island that we have information on will show up on the map. Scroll in closer and click on the pointer for more information on a given trail.

There is a Trail Riding Destinations page with information on private facilities that offer horse camping opportunities, or "bed, breakfast and bale" locations where you can take your horse and have access to nearby trails.

How to Register a Trail with B.C. Recreation Sites and Trails Section

The current procedure requires that you apply for an authorization under section 57 of the Forest and Range Practices Act. Currently a new policy is being developed that clarifies the procedure and evaluation process for Recreation Trail Authorization and Management on Crown land. Until the new policy is developed, it is recommended that any proponents contact their local MTSA District Recreation Officer to discuss a particular proposal prior to completing a section 57 application and submitting it to Front Counter BC.

Who maintains and preserves equine access to trails in BC?

Horse Council BC and one of our Affiliate members, Back Country Horsemen Society of BC, have formed the Joint Trails Access Committee (JTAC) to work for the recreational riders of BC by protecting the right to ride the many urban and back country trails. However, it is up to individual riders and community groups to keep up to date on issues affecting trails in their own communities.

What does Joint Trails Access Committee (JTAC) mean to you?

When we speak for horsemen our membership numbers give credibility to our cause. We are a source of information regarding other user groups and ways of working with them. We have experience with stewardship agreements, partnerships and organizing projects. Horse Council BC and Back Country Horsemen provide insurance for riders and volunteers on trails. We offer our expertise on equestrian trail use, related issues and conflicts.

The stated purpose of JTAC is:

to advocate for, and preserve equine access on public land
to gather, record, and distribute information about new and existing trails
to cooperate with the affiliates and clubs as well as other stakeholders
to coordinate representation to all government bodies

This committee is positioned to speak for the recreational rider throughout the province. It will offer information and advice on trail related issues to individual riders as well as other user groups and governments.

Projects in progress include:

connecting with other equestrian clubs
connecting with other recreational user groups
developing relationships with the government regulating bodies
maintaining a database of trail maps and information
producing a manual on building and maintaining equestrian trails
maintaining a database of contacts in diferent levels of government
preparing a checklist of information needed when approaching land owners and managers about trail issues
updating safety information on interactions with other users and road riding safety

Contacts

For more information on JTAC please contact recreation@hcbc.ca

Resource Materials

Trail markers are available to HCBC member clubs on request.

HCBC is in the process of developing a resource library of books/manuals/dvd's that will be helpful in trail design and construction. At this time the materials are only available for viewing at our location; however, if a particular section is needed, we would be happy to work with you in order for you to receive the required information. Currently we have the following titles:

Wetland Trail Design and Construction

Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds

Recreation Trail Management - Chapter 10 of the Recreation Manual available from Tourism, Culture and the Arts website

Conflicts on Multiple-Use Trails (print matter)

Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas - 2008 Edition

A Guide to Using and Developing Trails in Farm and Ranch Areas (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands) - manual

Trail Training DVD Series - Two DVD set