NOTE from mid-June, 2010: Construction activity has turned Dipsy Doodle into an industrial site. You don't even want to park there. Instead, turn left on Howse Pass (entrance to the Cedar Creek subdivision), and then right on Thompson Trail. Park at the end of the road, hike back a few metres, and follow the dirt road into the "Stadium" area of the trails.

Synopsis: The nordic ski trails at Dawn Mountain, near the foot of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, are available for hiking during the off-season. There are more than 25 kilometres of trails available, so they can't all be described here. Trail maps are available at the trailhead, and you can find a route to suit any time schedule and energy level.

Access: From the lights in Golden, drive north on Highway 95 (10th Ave), cross the Kicking Horse River, and drive three blocks to 7th St. North. Turn left and follow the signs for the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and the Golden Golf and Country Club. Once it reaches the dikes, 7th St. turns into Kicking Horse Drive and eventually crosses the Columbia River on a single lane bridge. Drive 700 metres past the bridge and and stay straight at the intersection with Golf Course Road. Follow the road all the way to KHMR. Go past the day lodge and continue for 450 metres. Turn right on Hector Trail and follow it to the end of pavement. Do not turn right onto Dogtooth Close, but continue straight, and park near the sign that announces the Dawn Mountain Nordic Trails.

NOTE: The access point to the trails will be affected by on-going expansion of the real estate at the ski hill.

Trailhead: Go straight ahead and enter the trail network on Dipsy Doodle. Parts of this first trail can be very boggy.

Trail: Trail maps are available online here. Click on the link. You will get a PDF file.

There are trail maps at many junctions, but during the summer some of them are lying face down on the ground. After you study them, please return them face down so they don't fade away in the sunlight. Beaver Loop and Chickadee Loop are two of the easier routes to follow, while Caribou takes you a fair way down a logging road. (Great views of the ski hill and the Dogtooth Range from here, though.) If you are not familiar with the trails, take a map if they are available, or you could spend a lot of time wandering in loops.

Cautions:

• In the spring, there are muddy sections on some of the trails. Ergo, in summer the bugs can be brutal. Fall is the best time here.
• Watch for wildlife, including bears.
• There may be equipment doing maintenance or upgrading on parts of the trail network during the summer.

NOTE: These trails are constructed and maintained by the Golden Nordic Ski Club. You can find out more about the club and its projects at the Golden Nordic Ski Club website.

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