Phil's Descent

Description:

This rough trail was built as a mountain bike descent by Phillip and Tony Parisi. It leaves the Swift Mountain Forest Road at the 7th switchback and descends the hillside south of the road to join the Selwyn Traverse, with a branch to a viewpoint overlooking Selkirk Creek basin and the Robson Valley. The viewpoint trail branches off at a south-pointing switchback about two thirds of the way down the hill. Salvage logging in the area has made the trail somewhat difficult to follow in places, although it is not significantly blocked off by any logging debris. The upper end is easier than the lower end to locate, as it connects to the road directly at the switchback. The trail has no "structures" at present but has the longest steep drop of any mountain bike trail in the area.

Getting there:

As for McKirdy Meadows (Five Mile) trail but begin counting swithcbacks as you ascend the Swift Mountain Road, with the Selwyn Traverse trailhead as # 1. At switchback # 7, look for the trail descending into the woods from the right hand side of the road. Arriving at the Selwyn Traverse, turn right and return to the Swift Mountain Road.

Hiking time:

Allow about an hour and 15 minutes to descend the trail, plus a few minutes to visit the viewpoint on the way down. If you are making a loop of it by walking back up the road to your vehicle, add about another hour and a half.

Biking time:

Possibly 15 to 20 minutes for the descent if all you lose is altitude (have you noticed yet - this isn't really a mountain biking guide?).