Spring Cleaning (lower)

Spring Cleaning is reliably the first trail to open in Rossland each year and quickly becomes the chosen ride for advanced and expert riders. This steep and technical trail benefits from its southern exposure and lower elevation and is often at its tackiest best in April, when most other trails are still under snow. The ride is predominantly old-school, connecting rock slabs with fall-line tread, a little bumpy and sometimes sandy, just the way many riders like it. There are features galore, many jumps, both man-made and natural and overall the experience is fast flowing and exhilarating.

Starting from the old Mining School in Happy Valley, Spring Cleaning drops into woodland forest with a series of small, committing, rock steps, connected by rough, bob sled-like trail. The grade lessens after the steeper top section, as the trail weaves under the power lines and continues bouncing down to Hwy 3B. Cross the highway barriers and begin pedaling uphill for 60 m to where a sign post indicates the lower section of Spring Cleaning. The lower half has a distinctly different feel than that of the upper section. Where as the upper is tighter, steeper and more technical, the lower section is less forested, less fall-line as it weaves through open grassland. The crux, however, occurs in this short section below the highway where the trail falls down a series of rock slabs. The route ends at the Wagon Road, where riders can either turn right and climb 2 km back to Lower Rossland, or turn left and descend 1.7 km down to Warfield.