An 8.4-mile trail that connects the popular Bear Basin and Brundage Mountain trail systems has the green light to be built this summer, thanks to more than a decade of planning and an extensive public/private/community partnership spearheaded by CIMBA, the Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association.

The multi-use single track trail will connect the 30+ mile Brundage Mountain Resort trail system with the 15-mile US Forest Service system in Bear Basin.

The multi-use trail will be open to hikers and mountain bikers. It will feature playful mix of smooth lines through shady forest, along with sweeping views of Meadows Valley, Long Valley, Payette Lake and Salmon River Mountain peaks as it descends 1,700 vertical feet, from 6,900 feet elevation on the Brundage Mountain end to 5,200 feet elevation on the Bear Basin end.

The trail will be built from both ends, with construction on the lower portion of the trail set to begin in late June. Trail work is scheduled for completion by late October of 2022 and the trail is expected to open to the public in Spring of 2023.

CIMBA is the project lead. CIMBA volunteers and the Brundage Mountain Trail crew will be working alongside some of the leading bike trail builders in the world. Progressive Trail Design from Bentonville, Arkansas and Dirt Candy Designs from Grand Marais, Minnesota will each take the lead on a section of the trail. These contractors specialize in sustainable trail design that focuses on connecting people with their environment.

“Local hands will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting with this project,” says Brundage Mountain General Manager, Ken Rider. “We are bringing in extensive trail building expertise from other mountain bike meccas to make this trail the best it can be, and also expand our local team’s knowledge and skills for future trail construction across the area.”

This trail has been in the works for more than a decade. It was originally conceived by Payette National Forest recreation staff in 2009.  It was included in a larger landscape restoration project for the Greater Bear Basin area in 2011, but it was put on hold due to a lack of funding.

The project came back to life in 2019 when CIMBA, the One Track Mind Foundation, and Brundage Mountain Resort partnered on the design of this project. The group got final approval from the Payette National Forest in 2021 to begin construction this year. It wouldn’t be possible without the partnership and support of the JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Richard J. Sabala Foundation, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the IMBA Dig-In Program and the City of McCall.

“CIMBA truly appreciates the partnerships and grant awards that have made this possible as well as the generosity of the many donors who have contributed to help us reach our financial goals”, says CIMBA project coordinator, Dave Bingaman. “This trail will be an amazing link between two of our major trail systems and will also provide opportunities to connect bigger loops that include the Payette Lake and Payette Rim trails for some calf-burning climbs and some epic downhills.” 

The adjacent Payette Rim Loop and recently-completed West Side leg of the Payette Lake trail comprise an additional 18 miles of scenic single track.

“Good things come to those who wait… AND to those who work relentlessly to make it happen and THAT is what mountain bikers are all about: patience, endurance, passion and commitment! These qualities are at the heart of this project and we can’t wait to kick off trail work linking two of the trail systems in Payette National Forest,” says One Track Mind Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Paradise. “This project lays the groundwork for future opportunities to connect bigger loops. One Track Mind Foundation knows you’re going to love it and could not be more excited to be a part of this incredible project.”