Albion Hills Conservation Area (Practicing for the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice)

**UNCLE ERIK FAVORITE**

Address: 16500 Regional Road 50, Caledon, ON L7E 3E7
Recommendations: DO NOT go riding there on Wednesday evenings (as of 2022). This is because there is a weekly mountain bike race event happening at that time, and your riding the trail will interfere with the racers.
Also, do not ride the trail less than 24 hours after a huge rainstorm (this will break the trail). This behaviour pretty much applies to any mountain bike trail.
Terrain: Mountain bike trails (singletrack and doubletrack), course is fast and flowy, not too technical.
Washrooms: There are bathrooms at the chalet, the splashpad, and other locations. Please refer to the map.
Safety considerations: Very easy to get lost. Have the map pictured here (click for a larger image).
Bike Repair Station: None. Bring your own tools.
Maps: There is a map kiosk by the chalet and at other trailheads. You can also request a paper map at the gatehouse when you pay to enter the park.

This article is about listing the trails (within the Albion Hills Conservation Area summer map) that are typically used (and the ones not used) in the Chico Racing 24 Hours of Summer Solstice event. This can help you focus your efforts on learning only the relevant areas if you are limited on time.

Sections typically used during the Summer Solstice event

Please note that the course layout changes every year. However, the following trails are pretty good to practice (please refer to the map pictured above (click for a larger image)):

Start at the Chalet. The trailhead information kiosk is pretty much Marker 1 on the map.
Proceed to marker 3, 8, and 9. The event always starts this way (except for the first lap which is slightly longer).
At marker 9, you will notice the sign for IMBA Alley (A). All named singletrack signs will look like this. Go into IMBA Alley. You will encounter a left(up)-right(down) split. Take the right (down) path which will take you back near the chalet into what is the spectator area during the event.
This part is hard to describe. Once you are back in this spectator area, it will take you through a doubletrack behind a treeline that is behind the parking lot. Once you go through that doubletrack, at the end of the treeline, take a left, then a right into a huge climb. Once you have completed the climb, make a right to a descent that will lead you to a trail sign called Ridge Run. No markers to help you on your way; only that you have to make your way from the chalet to marker 17 and that is the shortest way.
Proceed to marker 17 and do In Speed We Trust (T), Speed-o-Rama (U), and Summer Solstice (V) back-to-back.
You will exit Summer Solstice into some doubletrack (yellow trail on the map). Make a left to marker 12 and make the climb of this long hill (called "Brown Monster") towards marker 9.
From marker 9, make a right into marker 10, and near marker 10, you should see the entrance to Gnarly Berms (B).
Do Gnarly Berms, Goat Path (C). Woo Wu (D), and then Sugar Rush (F).
You will (usually) exit Sugar Rush into a road crossing that crosss into marker 26. Make your way using the blue trail on the map to marker 31.
Climb up until you reach the entrance/sign to Moraine Momentum (H).
Do Moraine Momentum until you exit it near marker 40.
Proceed to marker 39. You should find the entrance/sign to Albion Witch (M).
Complete Albion Witch and you will exit left onto some doubletrack. Make your way to marker 32.
At marker 32, make a left and find the entrance/sign to Pining for More (I)
Enter Pining for More. You will exit right and it will take you to marker 30, and proceed to marker 32.
At marker 32, make a left and ride for a bit until you reach the entrance/sign to Pinecone Express (J).
Complete Pinecone express, which should take you near marker 35. Make your way to marker 33, and then 34.
At marker 34, make a left and ride a bit. The organizers will make you do BMBC Twister (L) in reverse, so you will not see the sign. Just notice an unmarked entrance halfway between marker 34 and 37 to get into BMBC Twister in reverse.
DO BMBC Twister in reverse, which will exit you (right) near marker 37. Go to marker 38, and you should see a road crossing. Cross the road into Live And Learn (N).
Live And Learn will take you to a 2-way bridge. Keep left at the bridge, and once you reach the and of the bridge, there will be a little straightaway trail going slightly up in the grass. take it and then this blazed trail will take you to a 90 degree left turn and a bit of a climb, and then a left to make your way to marker 48.
At marker 48, Do Epic Ride (O), Handle with Care (P), High Roller (Q), and Hot August Nights (R) in that order.
Once you exit Hot August Nights, go to marker 47, then go to marker 46, and you will notice that the single track trail continues to the 2-way bridge (keep left on the bridge) and back to crossing the road to marker 38.
Home stretch. Take the blue path to marker 41, 42, 20, 22, and back to the chalet and the spectator area for the finish.

Other trails to practice if you have time

Ridge Run (S). Despite the man-made features, parts of this trail can be used from time to time.
The connections from IMBA Alley (A) to Gnarly Berms (B) have been used a couple years back.
Part of Sugar Shack (E) sometimes makes an appearance (and especially in reverse), but it has not appeared in the last few years.

Trails NOT worth practicing

Get Groen (G). Never seen it part of a Summer Solstice event.
Rough Ride (K). I remember it being part of an event one year but that was the only time.
The second part of Live and Learn (N) (the part where you turn immediately left AFTER the 2-way bridge) is never used in the event.