The Sobo No Michi climbing trail is a great bike workout in Cumberland

 
By Keith and Heather Nicol

The Sobo No Michi climbing trail is a perfect way to get to the upper single track trails in Cumberland and is a great workout at the same time. The name Sobo No Michi apparently means Grandmother’s trail in Japanese and is a good name since the trail builders have built a well designed climbing route.  This trail veers left off of Davis Lake Main just past the bridge over Preseverance Creek and involves countless switchbacks to gain elevation.  This trail is an up trail only for good reason- you don’t want anyone coming at you as you steam uphill. The trail can be ridden with a front suspension bike only but if you want to come down most of the trail accessed by this route you will want a full suspension bike. However if you want to use this route for fitness only and are not comfortable on the single track Cumberland trails you can always take Trent River Main down since it is a wide logging road with a good grade. 

                                            Steve cresting the top of the Upper Part of Sobo No Michi

You can do the trail in a few different sections- the lower section climbs 117 meters in 1.8 km and accesses popular routes like Old Vanilla, Middle Vanilla and Lower Vanilla and Blue Collar. From the upper section which climbs 163 meters in 2.6 km you can access popular routes like New Vanilla, Upper Climax and Blue Print.  Note that to get to the base of the climbing trail you need to climb up the lower part of Davis Lake main so this is definitely a good workout when you add up all the climbing. Fortunately much of it is in the shade and only the upper part breaks out into a cut over (see photo below) and is in the sun. But the grade of the trail means that you can keep peddling and there are no roots to jump over or interrupt your progress. One reviewer who has cycled all over Western Canada and the US gives it 2 thumbs up and thinks it might be the best climbing trail in the entire region. So if you are getting ready for the xc ski season like I am or just want a great way to get to the top of the trail system check it out if you haven’t already. See you on the trail.