U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
 
Print Page

News.bytesNews.bytes Extra, issue 352

New King Range Mountain Bike Trail dedicated on National Public Lands Day 2008

Mountain bike enthusiasts joined trail building volunteers and BLM staff on National Public Lands Day to celebrate completion of the Paradise Royale Mountain Bike Trail in the King Range National Conservation Area. The NLPD celebration recognized groups and individuals who contributed 4,000 volunteer hours to build the 14-mile loop trail. It is the only public land trail in northern California designed specifically for mountain bikes. (text continues below)

BLM-California, Arcata Field Office Manager Lynda Roush and Tom Ward of the International Mountain Bicycling Association lean over with giant red scissors to cut the gold-colored bicycle chain
BLM Arcata Field Manager Lynda Roush and Tom Ward of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) cut a golden bike chain to officially open the Paradise Royale Trail.

The trail, built to challenge all mountain biking ability levels, is designed to withstand the rugged King Range winters, where rainfall can exceed 150 inches. Joey Klein of IMBA's Trail Solutions was a key player in design.

Three riders - on two mountain bikes - pass a new display with a map of the trail

A mountain bike rider hits the dirt and rocks heading out of a campground
At top, Jim and Cathy Haggen-Smit of IMBA head onto the trail on their tandem mountain bike. In the second photo, a rider heads out from the Tolkan Campground trailhead.

Trail designers and the BLM's King Range staff built upon a "royalty" theme when naming the trail and its challenging features. Because King Peak and Queen Peak are prominent features in the King Range and the trail is located on Paradise Ridge, the name "Paradise Royale" seemed to fit. Riders will experience stretches called Kings Frolic, Prince of Pain, Castle's Moat, Jester's Hat, Fool's Paradise and the Mad Queen Tango.

Tim Daniels reads a plaque as the BLM's Scott Adams (with beard) laughs in the background
Tim Daniels, left, president of the Big Foot Mountain Bike Club of Arcata, presents an honorary lifetime membership to the BLM's Scott Adams, who oversaw the trail building project. Adams happily accepted the award even though he does not ride a mountain bike and insisted that he "never intends to."

During the dedication ceremony the BLM presented special appreciation awards to Jim and Cathy Haggen-Smit of IMBA, and to IMBA itself. Also honored were Whale Gulch School, Marin County's Tamiscal High School, the California Conservation Corps, the Student Conservation Association, Big Foot Mountain Bike Club and Tyce Frazier, coach of the South Fork High School Mountain Bike Club.

- J. Fontana, 10/1/08


BLM-California News.byes, issue 351

 
Last updated: 10-16-2008