2025 Another Busy Year for Squamish Trails Society
STS had another productive year advocating and caring for our local trails:
1. We replaced a section of boardwalk on the Coho Park Trail and worked to repair handrails and decking to the upper bridgework.
2. A sinkhole was repaired on the Dipper Trail near the Salmon spawning viewing platform.
3. We helped support improvements to the Squamish Jump Park and MTB skills Park.
4. STS provided considerable input into the Squamish Front Country Trails Assessment which provided a comprehensive accounting of the trails in the various areas in and around Squamish.
5. We brushed, resurfaced and realigned the north end of the Finch Creek Loop Trail to provide improved accessibility and trail connectivity to the Seven Peaks and Anthem Mtn Village neighbourhoods.
6. STS contributed to the replacement of the Lumberjacks Trail Bridge below Perth Drive and established the smooth entrance and exits to the bridge.
7. The aluminum bridge that is slated to connect the Coho Park Trail to the Garibaldi Springs Nature Preserve trail network was moved to a location adjacent to where it will be installed when we eventually get permission from the Province for its installation.
8. Work was done to improve the accessibility and sustainability of the middle section of the Wonderland Trail. This work was interrupted by the Debecks Hill wildfire. Work has begun at the north end of the trail to make it accessible for adaptive mountain bikers and indeed improve the all-weather trail experience for all trail users.
9. Drainage and trail surface of the Looking Glass Trail below its intersection with the Pleasure Trail was improved to help sustain that section of trail. The work that was done at the north end of the trail has held up brilliantly despite the recent onslaught of atmospheric rivers.
10. STS has initiated partnership agreements with BC Parks and Trails and Rec Sites BC to allow for more seamless cooperation to advocate and care for trails in their jurisdictions.
11. Bridgework on the Nature Loop was repaired and downed trees were removed to clear the Nature Loop and Loggers Creek Trail.
12. STS supported SORCA with a variety of grant applications to support: The Trail Crew, Squamish Nation Youth MTB Program and a variety of specific trail projects and repairs.
13. Last (for this list, but certainly not least), our brushback volunteers put in countless hours (we really did lose count some time in June) to clear many kilometers of trails ranging from the Oceanfront, in the south, through all neighbourhoods: Valleycliffe, Dentville, Downtown, Northyards, Finch Creek, Brackendale and the Highlands to Brohm and Cat Lakes to the north. It was a busy year for our brushback volunteers!
Sooooooooo……. What does 2026 have in store for us?
Well, in spring, we’ll re-activate our Brushback Crew to ensure that the blackberry brambles, salmonberry bushes, scotch broom, slide alder, vine maple, etc. do not reclaim our trails. We will continue to work with the District of Squamish, The Province and trails related groups to advocate for and promote active transportation and improved trail connectivity. Our Senior Smoothers will seek to resurface the Ray Peters Trail paralleling the Cemetery to ensure it sheds rain water and road run-off into the Government Road side ditch and keep water from running down the trail during heavy rain events. Improvements to the water management and trail surface of the Ray Peters Trail paralleling Squamish Valley Road up from the water tower is also planned. Resurfacing some sections of the dike trail beside the Golf Course and along the Dipper Trail where it parallels the Corridor Trail may also be tackled if time and resources allow. Work to improve the accessibility of the Wonderland Trail will also continue. 2026 is already shaping up to be a busy year!