KC Milky Way Loop

Trail Riding

Rossland’s gold mining heritage created a vast network of miner’s tracks, rail grades and wagon roads that surround the community. Today, many of those trails serve as the foundation of one of the finest mountain biking trail networks in Canada. Riders of all abilities can explore the forests and mountains on well marked and signed single-track trails. Some of the best routes involve combining several shorter trails into one long, spectacular circuit with climbs and descents through a variety of landscapes. For trail riders, there’s certainly more to Rossland riding than the Seven Summits Trail, as the Kootenay Columbia Trails Society constantly improves its extensive network of diverse trails. If you enjoyed or aspire to ride the Seven Summits trail then you’ll love these local favorites.

KC – Milky Way Loop
Distance: Approximately 10km from Downtown
Level: Intermediate / Advanced
Time: 1.5 – 2hrs

The KC – Milky Way Loop is an outstanding circuit offering tremendous diversity of Rossland’s geography and cross country riding. From rocky ridgelines to rain-forest, this ride has broad appeal to any intermediate to advance enthusiast. The climbs are modest, while the descents are typically fast and fun and wickedly entertaining. There are endless options to customize the length or challenge of your ride.

Kootenay Columbia is a prominent peak and viewpoint to the immediate northeast of Rossland and serves as the highpoint of this ride. From downtown climb steeply up Washington Ave to the Centennial Trailhead, and the Monte Christo Road. Kootenay Columbia trail breaks off right after climbing for about 300m. It then traverses and climbs to the summit for one of the best views in the area. KC Ridge trail drops suddenly down the eastern ridge, with a series of tight switchbacks before heading into the forest on gentle angled old mining roads. Signs direct you towards Milky Way trail on a traverse (not shown on the current trail map) north across a section of the Back of KC trail. Milky Way trail descends into a cedar forest on a fast, flowing singletrack, then through open fields where it joins with Columbia Kootenay Rd for a short distance. Lower Milky Way continues down through a deciduous forest with a mix of roots, buffed bench-cut, and bermed, swooping turns that reward fast smooth riding. At the junction of Green Door trail, turn right and climb as far as Rogers Trail which traverses a series of rolling benches to Cemetery Trail, continue left and down on Cemetery trail for 300m then right into the Old Cemetery (signed but not shown on the current trail map), through and on up into Happy Valley for a climb on residential streets back into Rossland.

Other Options: Advanced riders should explore the Techno-grind and Full Monte trails. Continue down Cemetery and complete the Loop trail circumnavigating Rossland.