Tourism Rossland is excited to announce the development of Mxiɬp (Cedar) Trail, named in consultation with representatives of the Sinixt people
Rossland, British Columbia (June 23, 2022) – Tourism Rossland is excited to announce the Mxiɬp Trail development, opening later this summer and expanding the 200-kilometre singletrack trail network. Named in consultation with representatives of the Sinixt, the Mxiɬp Trail means Cedar in their traditional language and speaks to the towering cedars that mark the beginning of the trail.
“As you walk the beginning of this trail, the trees can begin feeling you, feeling that you have some love in your heart,” said Sinixt Elder and Matriarch, Marilyn James. “This place is beautiful, it’s easy to love because it is so beautiful.”
The creation of the trail was done in such a way that it protects the trees and the land it was being built on. Where conventional trail building methods may dig down, this trail was created by building on top of the tree roots so as not to disturb them.
“We worked with the contractor to modify trail construction techniques to protect the trees,” said Stewart Spooner, operations manager with the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society and a Rossland city counselor. “We’re trying to highlight these beautiful old growth trees, and to protect the root system, we built the trail up and over the roots rather than digging down and potentially harming them.”
The old growth cedar canopy of the trail offers a lush backdrop for a mountain bike ride or calming walk through the forest. The vision for this trail is to complete an 18-kilometre route connecting Rossland through to the IMBA ‘Epic’ Seven Summits trailhead. The 3.25-kilometre lower section of trail was roughed in by the end of 2021 and will be ready to ride early this Summer. The new upper 7.8-kilometre section of trail, finishing at the Seven Summits trailhead, will be a major construction focus for the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society and is expected to be completed by the end of Summer.
One of the stunning features of the trail is the gateway at the beginning created by Rossland artist Lars Baggenstos. The gateway marks the unofficial start of the trail and is a stunning work of art created from cedar to represent the soft, yet enduring, nature of the forest around you.
For more information on the Mxiɬp Trail watch this video
About Autonomous Sinixt
Autonomous Sinixt are those Sinixt who reject the authority of the governments of Canada, British Columbia, The United States of America, Washington State, Colville Confederated Tribes, Okanagan Nation Alliance, or any other governing body who claims the authority to represent our interests and by proxy, exert authority over our təmxʷúlaʔx and siwɬkʷ, culture, customs and traditional governance. Sinixt governed ourselves for thousands of years, dictated the path of our own culture and customs for thousands of years, and it will be so again. Sinixt have never signed a Treaty in Canada nor ceded their lands. For more information visit www.sinixt.org.
About Tourism Rossland
Rossland is located in the beautiful Kootenay Rockies Region of British Columbia and is home to Red Mountain Resort and Big Red Cats, the world’s largest cat skiing operation. Featuring one of the top 10 largest ski terrain resorts in North America, with over 200+ km of single-track mountain biking trails, Rossland has been recognized as the Mountain Biking Capital of Canada. Located on the Powder Highway in the Kootenay Rockies, Rossland offers both summer and winter charm and visitors will experience a unique and authentic experience that will have them coming back again and again. For more information visit www.tourismrossland.com.
About Kootenay Columbia Trails Society
The Kootenay Columbia Trails Society (KCTS) is a registered, non-profit society, based in Rossland B.C., funded by and serving the communities of the Lower Columbia region. KCTS exists to manage, maintain and develop a regional network of recreational trails for a variety of non-motorized trail users. These trails serve as a popular amenity for local residents, and as a significant draw for visitors. The Society is governed by a dedicated volunteer board, and operations are carried out by an experienced professional trails manager and crew. Most of the trails are located on private property, and public access is only made possible by the generous cooperation of the landowners, who enter into insured agreements with the Society. For more information visit www.kcts.ca.