Winter Equestrian Newsletter.

Meet Neil Maclaine

FAVOURITE TRAIL: Boundary Ridge Horse Trail

As the owner and operator of Moose Mountain Adventures, Neil feels incredibly lucky to have made a “job” out of exploring the eastern slopes on horseback for the past 30 years. A member of BCT’s Board of Directors, Neil helps us serve the needs of equestrians out on West Bragg trails. He also serves the community as a director of the Bragg Creek Chamber of Commerce. When you see Neil say high – he’s not hard to miss!

Grooming Season has begun!  Please be considerate of the volunteer work that goes into making trails great for everyone and stay on the dedicated trails for your activity of choice. Check out the map section HERE to find maps for all activities.

Welcome to Winter Riding in West Bragg  (Dec – March 31)

General Information

  • There is an equestrian only parking lot in the SE corner of the WBC Parking area.
  • A short, separate trail for equestrians leading from the hitching rails, across the perimeter trail then west to the kiosk on Mountain Road and Snowy Owl trailhead has been developed and will help separate horses and other users in this congested area.
  • The perimeter trail around the WBC parking area is groomed for skiers, so please avoid using. Leaving manure on this trail isn’t great for groomers or other users!
  • Please keep all dogs on a leash and remove all animal waste from the PRA.
  • Do not leave manure in the parking area or throw it into the bush. Pick it up and take it home in your trailer.
  • Equestrian parking with access to WBC trails is also available at the Fullerton Trailhead, located across Highway 66 from Allen Bill, on the road to Elbow Falls.
  • The Trails Center is currently closed due to COVID. There is a cellular ‘hotspot’ located right at the entrance – 911 calls can be made there.

Trail Etiquette

  • Be respectful of other trail users.
  • To protect the local watershed and to avoid damaging the trails, do not use ride trails in soft or muddy conditions.
  • If you are making ruts or post holes in dirt or snow, please leave the trail system.
  • Mountain bikers yield to hikers, horseback riders, snowshoers and skiers.
  • Hikers yield to horseback riders.

Winter Horseback Riding Options, Safety and Constraints

  • BCT kindly requests that winter horseback riding not occur on ski trails including Mtn Road once winter ski trail grooming commences and until March 31.
  • The one exception is Elbow south to access Snagmore, Sugar Mama and Sugar Daddy from the Fullerton Trailhead. Please ride to the side of the Elbow south trail to avoid damage to the groomed portion of the trail.
  • From the West Bragg Creek equestrian parking lot, equestrians may ride on Snowy Owl going west, then left onto West Meadow trail; or north on Old Shell Road and then west on Moose north all season trail, Tom Snow north and return. In winter, horses are not permitted on Mountain Road except to cross.
  • Winter riders may also ride on Iron Horse, Iron Vista, Boundary Horse, Snagmore, Sugar Mama, Sugar Daddy, Bobcat and Boundary Ridge (south of the Iron Creek TCT Connector junction only) trails.
  • Winter horseback riders may not ride on Braggin Rights, Merlin View, Long Distance, Disconnect, Whitetail, Boundary Ridge (except south of the Iron Creek TCT Connector junction), Ranger Summit and Strange Brew.
  • Not all trails can be ridden as loops in the winter.
  • Trail conditions vary with weather and trails may become very icy. Some trails are steep and narrow. Please use good judgement in choosing a trail and consider asking your farrier to put ‘sharps’ (either borium or caulks on steel shoes) on your horse.
  • Many other trail users are not familiar with horses and may not know or understand how to safely pass. When conditions are such that other users, such as fat bikers, cannot easily move off the trail to pass, please move your horse into the deeper snow and let them pass on the trail.

Please be an ambassador and help educate other trail users!

Some Suggested Equestrian Routes

  • Snowy Old to Mountain Road. Easy. An out and back trail of short duration, perfect for barefoot horses used to meeting other users. Please stay to the side where the trail is shared with skiers.
  • From Snowy Owl: Old Shell Road to Moose north all season trail to Tom Snow north and return.
  • Snagmore to Sugar Daddy to Sugar Mama loop. This moderate to high moderate trail is a loop from Fullerton Trailhead on Highway 66. It varies from very rocky to steep and narrow. Sharps recommended as shoes are needed on the rocks.

Winter Equestrian Map

click map to enlarge

Lots of Options for Winter Equestrians!

BCT is diligently working to provide winter equestrian trails that offer safe, exciting terrain while minimizing potential for inter-user conflict. This map shows AEP approved winter riding options for 2020/2021 as of December 2020. Winter trails rules commence this year on December 1 after which no equestrians are permitted on ski trails including Mountain Road until March 31. Please ride only the trails displayed on this map.