TROWBRIDGE FOREST MASTER PLAN

THE FUTURE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THUNDER BAY

After securing grant funding from Tourism Northern Ontario, Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club was able to partner with the City of Thunder Bay Parks Department and bring in industry experts to consult on a Master Plan Design for the trails in Trowbridge Forest. The design looked at all uses of the park areas known as Shuniah Mines, Centennial Park (north of the highway), Kinsmen Park, Trowbridge Campground, and the rest of the undeveloped land between Balsam Street, on the west side of the Expressway, and up to Cascades Conservation Area to the north.

 

Blacksheep is currently working on securing the funds to make this project a reality. To successfully complete this masterplan we need to raise $1.5 million to be able to construct all the trails, bike park, play structures, and reroutes to the highest quality. We have successfully secured 50% of the funds needed to complete the project.

 

The plan may be mountain bike focused, but it takes into account all user groups of the park and attempts to provide expanded recreation opportunities for everyone to enjoy in all seasons!

Overall, approximately 20,800 meters of trail will be added to the system.

New Singletrack

The master plan will see a significant expansion to the mountain bike specific trails, mountain bike optimized multi-use trails and park amenities. Overall, approximately 20,800 meters of trail will be added to the system. Key areas of expansion will include:

Planned
  • Trowbridge Mesa – A mountain bike optimized multi-use trail will ring the top of the Centennial Mesa offering views of Lake Superior and the Current River basin. Mountain bike specific lines will link in with this trail both on top and below the ridgeline. Optionally advanced boulder lines will provide a technical challenge.
  • Gravity Zone – Four gravity specific mountain bike trails ranging from intermediate to advance will flow down from the Centennial Mesa. Riders will have the option of both flow trail and technical lines. An uphill switchback climb will allow for quick access back to the top.
Completed
  • Conveyor Belt – A Beginner level trail that connects Shuniah Mines to the trailhead at Kinsmen Park.
  • Drift – 1.5km intermediate flow trail linking from the top to the bottom of Hill Top. This trail features lots of optional technical trail features such as rock jumps and drops.
  • Balsam Street Connector Trails – Completed in 2021, this section added 3 trails to the system which connect Shuniah Mines to Balsam St. A new parking lot is scheduled for construction for early 2022.
  • Kinsmen Bike Park – Completed in 2021, the bike park includes 4 jump lines progressing from beginner to expert and a pumptrack.

 

Once complete the final system will provide approximately 32 km of mountain bike trails and over 42 km of recreational trails. On top of all this, the plan will see significant expansion to winter trail use for fat biking/ snowshoeing and provide more areas to be machine groomed.

Kinsmen Bike Park

Featuring four jump lines and a pump track, the Kinsmen Bike Park is a great place for new and advanced riders to continue to progress their skills.