Tyler’s Traverse

Route Description for Tyler’s Traverse

Another option you have, if you want to isolate the descent, is to park at Tyler’s Trailhead. To get here turn left just before the Welcome Centre onto Conklin Rd. Follow this road for just under 6.4 km until you see the small turn off on your right. This is the end of Tyler’s Traverse. As a matter of fact, you can park anywhere along Conklin Rd, as Catch and Release (the trail which connects Tyler’s to the Welcome Centre) roughly parallels the road.

At the end of the parking lot find the Tiddlywinks Trailhead. Begin along this trail as it descends slightly then enters a flat, lightly forested meadow. This is the XC portion of the trail. Soon you will reach a junction with a yellow “Y” on it. There are many of these on the trail, and all they mean is that you have two options on how to proceed for the next short while. Usually they will also have stickers on them identifying the respective difficulties of your two options. Don’t worry, they all meet up at the same place!

After getting all warmed up from the meadows you will start a climb. Though short, this unexpected climb can really catch people off guard, as most people proceeding along the trail are expecting a downhill romp. Finally, you will reach a signposted junction. Turn right here to continue climbing along Kiwa Butte Trail. This path connects the standard Tiddlywinks Trail with Tyler’s.

Follow this trail for under 3.2 km until you reach yet another junction. Here you will turn left to start along Tyler’s Traverse. The trail isn’t immediately downhill, you will have to do a little bit of traversing before hitting the big berms! This traverse is the most technically challenging part of the trail, as you will pass over many steep boulder gardens.

Finally, you will start trending downhill, swooping through large berms and table top jumps. Like Tiddlywinks none of these jumps are mandatory and are easily rolled over. After two longer sections of fast flowy riding you will enter a denser forest, where the trail will narrow, and the speed will decrease.

Soon you will reach a junction with Larsen’s trail, where you will turn right to continue straight along Tyler’s Traverse. At this point the grade will decrease slightly, and keeping speed through the berms will become imperative. Finally, after continuing through the young, dense ponderosa pine forest you will reach the Tyler’s Trail Trailhead.

For those who parked at Tyler’s Trailhead here is the end of the trail, however for all the others, pull a 180 out of the parking lot and start along the Catch and Release Trail. This flat trail connects Tyler’s with the Welcome Centre, and is a classic moderate cross-country trail. Finally, you will reach the highway, which you will cross to get back to your parked car at the Welcome Centre.