Hidden MTB Paradise Found in British Columbia’s Movie Backdrop

Located just a few hours northeast of Vancouver, BC, on Highway 7 is the small town of Hope. Surrounded by mountains and at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla Rivers, Hope is, on paper, an ideal location for mountain bike trails, much like many areas in British Columbia. However, it has only recently opened its first legal trail known as ‘First Blood’, an homage to the favorite beer of the trial builders and the iconic film of the same name starring Sylvester Stallone.

‘First Blood’ is an incredible-looking trail, with almost 1,000 meters (3,233 ft) of descending over a 4.5km (2.3 mi) long track that winds through the steep and raw mountains above the town of Hope. Remy Metallier recently took a trip to Hope to see what all the hype was about surrounding this new trail, and his latest video does not disappoint.

From top to bottom, we can see the remarkable undertaking that it was to carve a trail into this raw and rugged hillside, earning the crew at FVMBA profound respect from anyone who has ever poured blood, sweat, and beers into building trails in untouched terrain like this. This monster of a trail is technically a black diamond, but many riders who have ridden it claim that, depending on weather and trail conditions, it could feel more like a double-black trail. 

Although the trail is still under construction in the video, this footage offers an epic glimpse into what is likely to be a must-ride trail in the area. Ideally, the opening of this trail will help solidify Hope as a dream destination for mountain bikers seeking to avoid the crowds of Whistler, Squamish, and other popular mountain biking spots in the area. I know it’s on my list next time I’m up in British Columbia!