Trail Building

We encourage trail builders to work with us as we continue to make the network more sustainable, functional, and fun—creating an even better experience for all users.

By getting involved, you’ll be part of the full trail project process and gain valuable experience in building and maintaining trails. UROC will help guide you through each step, working alongside others to bring new projects to life. Contact UROC at: weride@unitedridersofcumberland.com

If you haven’t built a trail before but want to get involved, UROC always has projects on the go and we’re always looking for extra hands.

By volunteering and spending time with UROC trail builders, you’ll learn what’s involved in a trail build and the level of commitment it requires. UROC can get you involved in all the steps of the process — trail planning and layout to GPS mapping and applying for landowner approval.

UROC can support builders with the right tools for the job, materials, and support to meet the challenges ahead.

You should always check in with UROC before you do any trail work. We ask you not to move dirt, build or change features, or blaze in new sections of the trail without authorization and checking in with UROC. Any works like this is called significant trail works and we ask you not to carry out significant trail works. The best thing you can do is contact UROC at: weride@unitedridersofcumberland.com

• Any building or construction of a new trail without permission from the landowners.
• For existing trails, re-routes, tree root or embedded rock removal, building features or structures, major drainage work, or any other trail alteration.
• If you are using a chainsaw or axe, you are probably doing “significant trail work”.
• If you are moving a lot of dirt, you are probably doing “significant trail work”.
• Clearing deadfall on a non-existing trail is “significant trail work”
• Clearing deadfall or other debris/obstacles, brushing, or addressing minor drainage issues on existing trails is not “significant trail work”.

• The trail network exists on privately owned land.
• Unauthorized trail work on that private land could jeopardize the access agreement UROC has attained with the landowners.
• In addition to trail building and maintenance, this access agreement allows us to have vehicle access for trail work, have a paid trail crew, apply for government funding, and host events.
• Our collective stewardship of the trails is crucial to maintaining the reputation of the mountain bike and trail user community.
• Failure to follow the builder guidelines potentially jeopardizes access to the trail network for everyone.
• In cases of unauthorized trail building, the builder could be held liable. UROC insurance may not apply. It is possible the builder/s would be asked to pay for the restoration of the line. 
• UROC takes unauthorized trail work seriously. UROC is obliged to decommission any unauthorized trail building and report the circumstances to the landowners. The landowners may consider issuing fines or taking legal action against the offenders.
• The trail network is becoming denser and there is a need to be strategic about new trail construction.

Throughout the years the Cumberland network has started to see some areas that identify with different user groups and riding interests, this is largely due to the terrain characteristics and the type of trails built. We have learned over time where the bad places and the good places to build sustainable trails, i.e. where the wet patches are, where the watershed exists, the different landowner boundaries, or the landowners are next conducting operations. We also know what character of trails would enhance or add to the trail network through strategic planning. We can save a lot of time and effort if you contact us first: weride@unitedridersofcumberland.com

• The United Riders of Cumberland works with the planning and construction guidelines and trail application process published in 2020.
• Any new builds or significant trail work guidelines as published in 2020.
• The United Riders of Cumberland works from and maintains trails to the Whistler trail standards.

See the link to download the guidelines below.