There’s plenty of excitement within British Columbia’s interior this summer. The region around Tulameen is home to the province’s brand-new Timberline Cruisers ATV Club. The club looks after and maintains trails across a diverse landscape from gold and coal mining ghost towns to the Lodestone, Rabbit and Pike Mountain areas.
RidersWest caught up with Kelly Reichert, president of Timberline Cruisers ATV Club, to find out everything you need to know to ride through Tulameen’s expansive trail network.
When was the club started?
We just started the club in July 2020 and are still trying to find our legs—or is it wheels?—and get everything in place and organized.
How did the Timberline Cruisers ATV Club come about?
There was a need for a positive voice in our area to help get the word out on the local restrictions, rules and regulations as well as a voice for our section of The Great Trail and its upkeep and maintenance. So our first year or two is about building members, education and trails. Then we can branch out to events for the membership.
Kelly Reichert’s family take a break on Champion Creek bridge. — Photo courtesy Kelly Reichert
How would you describe the Timberline Cruisers ATV Club?
We are proud to be the little sister to Timberline Cruisers Snowmobile Club. This club has been alive and thriving for many years and have been gracious enough to allow us to share their name and guide us. The reasoning for the name share is so everyone knows who we are, what we stand for and where we are located. It’s a Tulameen household name.
How big is your riding area? What communities and areas does the Timberline Cruisers ATV Club cover?
We have a huge trail system in our little neck of the woods.
For historians, there is Granite City and Blakeburn. These are gold and coal mining ghost towns that are waiting to be explored. They are located just out the backside of Coalmont.
Lodestone Lake is almost at the top of Lodestone Mountain and is a beautiful place for lunch and fishing. The view from the peak is vast. Numerous ways to return from there can take you through Upper Tulameen Forestry Road, which will take you to the rest area at the Coquihalla or an alternate route could be through Champion Creek Forest Service Road. All these tie into Lawless Creek and Boulder Mountain network of forestry roads and the KVR (Kettle Valley Rail Trail). Right now there are some closures as bridges are being worked on/replaced.
Wells Lake Trail is a full day ride that brings you out by the Hope/Princeton’s Whipsaw Bridge. Then there is the Pike mountain area which is home to several fishing lakes and forestry camping sites that also lead to the A&P Guest Ranch where you can rent a cabin. There are trails in all directions.
What are your main riding areas/trails?
Our most popular destinations are Lodestone, Rabbit and the Pike Mountain areas.
From Tulameen/Coalmont, you can head to Princeton and park just before Subway and walk in for lunch.
Tulameen River moves toward Kelly Peaks in the distance just before entering Tulameen. — Photo courtesy Kelly Reichert
Many riders like to ride in and have lunch or an ice cream at the Tulameen Trading Post when they come to fuel up.
What makes your riding area special?
The beauty and ease of access to all the trails. We are smack dab in the middle of it all!
What do you see along the way?
The scenery is breathtaking. We go from sensitive wetlands full of birds—Canadian geese, a variety of ducks and cranes—to high alpine plateaus with alpine flowers and berries—Indian Paintbrush, wild lupins, heather, fireweed, chicory, wild onions, raspberries, huckleberries and saskatoons. Lakes are full of a variety of trout as well as whitefish. Lodestone peak is over 5,000-feet high, while Tulameen sits at 2,800 feet.
The ride to Princeton along the KVR features two tunnels and three trestles looking down at the Tulameen River as well as hoodoos and examples of the red ochre that Tulameen is famous for.
You never know what you might see on any given day—moose, bear, elk, and deer are always around.
When and where do you have your club meetings?
We are hoping to have our first meeting soon at the Tulameen Community Club, but with COVID-19, our numbers already exceed the safe gathering limit.
How many members are in your club?
Over 60.
How does someone join the club?
Memberships are available online on ATVBC.ca. Just pick Timberline Cruisers ATV as your local club or in person at Reichert Sales & Service.
Comments