The Back Country Horsemen of BC’s Robson Valley Chapter is located in the Robson Valley, and includes the nearby communities of McBride, Valemount, Dunster, Tete Jaune, Mount Robson, Crescent Spur and Dome Creek.
The Robson Valley Chapter was founded in the spring of 2010 by a small group of avid back country riders and, over the years, has grown 53 members in 2022, including several youths. Members include everything from front country riders to avid multi-day back country riders.
The chapter has no set days or locations for meetings, but tries to meet once a month for various events. Elections are held annually in November.
The Robson Valley Chapter was started up because members saw the need for improvement of access to both the front country and back country areas of the Robson Valley, as well as exploration and rehabilitation of historic pack trails in the area along the Continental Divide (Great Divide). Since inception, the chapter has been involved in such activities as improving trail heads and staging areas, GPSing and mapping of existing trails so they are officially recognized through Forestry Act Section 15 and 16, building new trails, and, regularly maintaining and preserving existing trails for day rides and back country excursions.
The Robson Valley Chapter strives to create positive, safe riding experiences for its members, and promotes awareness and understanding for a co-operative wilderness experience. As well, we work to preserve and enhance the recreational use of public lands and trails for all equestrians through collaboration with individuals, land managers, provincial and federal government, businesses, and other recreational users of public land.
The Robson Valley Chapter hosts trail rides, workshops, work bees, and potluck get-togethers as well we participate in parades and other events. The Robson Valley Chapter also organizes an annual poker ride in late September, which is always well attended by both locals and out-of-town riders.
Some of the chapter members’ favourite front country places to ride are the Swift Current Creek trail, Belle Mountain Equine Trails, Jackman Flats, McBride Mountain, Tiere Mountain and the Hinkleman Lease (Two- Rivers trail).
If you are interested in back country rides, there is easy access to the Great Divide Trail via the Moose River and Blueberry Creek trails.
Over the 12 years since we have been a chapter, we have become a well respected and major contributor to the communities in the Robson Valley. We participate in the annual Pioneer Days weekend, and work collaboratively with other trail user groups. We appreciate the incredible local support we receive from the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and the Village of McBride, as well as Mount Robson Provincial Park and Recreation Sites and Trails BC and all the local recreation groups.
Our most recent project now completed and open for equestrian use:
Belle Mountain Equine Trail Network & McIntosh Equine Recreation site.
Robson Valley Chapter has received the 2025 BCHBC Outstanding Project award. To earn this award of excellence, the project truly needs to be outstanding, and exemplify the mission and vision of Backcountry Horsemen; to build/preserve access for equestrians and other users to recreate on public lands.
The Robson Valley Chapter and surrounding communities are proud of this recreation site and receipt of this award is momentous for our local communities which are transitioning away from a primarily resource-based industry (logging) to a more diversified economy. Equine tourism is proving to be a good fit for this very scenic valley. The project, which spanned six years of development, has resulted in an extensive 42-kilometer equine trail network and 16 site equine campground on Belle Mountain in the Robson Valley near McBride. The Mountain was already known for excellent sledding and cross-country skiing in the winter. With the addition of an equestrian trail network suitable for hiking, snowshoeing, and horseback riding the mountain is now open to with year-round recreation enthusiasts.
Belle Mountain Equine Trail Network
The 42km trail network extends from the River Valley to the alpine with many loop options at low, mid, sub alpine and alpine sections of the mountain. The trail system is unique in that it is one of the few equine trails where riders can have access to alpine riding on a day ride. With a trail system that extends from lowest to uppermost elevations on the mountain, you can imagine, there is quite a choice of diverse ecosystems, vegetation, and terrains that the rider can experience depending on the section of the mountain they decide to ride.
To accommodate riding preferences, there are four staging areas located at different elevations on this broad Mountain: Refer to P1, P2, P3, P4 on maps at the Horse Council of BC’s trail database (www.hcbc.ca) under their Recreation tab:
P1 – 1km on The Dore River FSR, for lower shorter valley trails and vista views or loop through connecting trails for a day long network perimeter loop ride.
P2 – 3km on Belle Mtn FSR where the lower and mid trails connect.
P3 – 4.5km on the Belle FSR for access to gentle mid mountain ski trails or ride up an unmaintained forest service road to scenic alpine meadows.
P4 – drive 3km on McIntosh Road to access the trails from the McIntosh Equine Recreation Site.
McIntosh Equestrian Recreation Site (Campground)
The 16-site equestrian campsite, adjacent the Belle Trail Network, is located 13 km west of McBride, off Highway 16 west (look for highway signage), and 3km up McIntosh Road, a well-maintained logging road with many pullouts. It can also be accessed by horseback from the mid-mountain section of the trail network. The camp is built alongside the steep McIntosh Creek Canyon (caution at canyon edge please!) in a hemlock forest. Camping is first-come-first served, and free, but we do appreciate donations toward camp/trail maintenance. Please e-transfer robsonchapter1@gmail.com.
The camp is non-serviced and has 11 equine sites with at least 2 12’x12’ corrals at each site. Some sites have 6-8 corrals to accommodate families and groups. There are 5 non-equine campsites that don’t have corrals. The camp has outhouses, manure pits and piped non-potable horse water. All sites are level gravel with picnic tables and firepits. All equine sites can accommodate large rigs. A kitchen shelter with a wood stove and outside fire ring is a nice place to gather.
Contact the Robson Valley Chapter of BCHBC (robsonvalley1@gmail.com) for information or to connect with a member to ride with and show you our beautiful valley!
- Belle Mountain is a horseback heaven! And we just made it better! In 2017, The Robson Valley Chapter of Backcountry Horsemen Society of BC started looking for an area to build some easily accessed front country trails in the Robson Valley. Fast forward to 2023. The Chapter has not only built a 42 km trail network, but has also developed a 16-site equestrian campground and recreation site easily accessed offhighway 16 west of the town of McBride.
The trail system connects trails extending from the Dore River Valley all the way to the Alpine meadows of Belle Mountain. There are many loop options within the network. All the trails are connected but there are three staging area access points for the network( P1, P2, & P3), so riders can customize their ride by starting closer to their ride destination. i.e. Ride at the river valley level, or the mid bench ski trails/campground area, or ride directly to the sub alpine Valleyview trail and venture all the way to the Belle Alpine meadows. - The Rustic Equestrian Campground is located on Belle Mountain beside McIntosh Creek. The trail network can be accessed from the campground. The campground has 11 equestrian sites, each with two adjoining corals and one hitching rail. (22 CORALS TOTAL). The sites are very large and can accommodate large horse rigs. There is non-potable drinking water available for horses. This is a forestry recreation area, so campers must arrive self sufficient and come equipped with potable drinking water for drinking and domestic use and firewood for personal use if desired. There is No electricity or running water, etc. No highlining or electric fencing please to prevent damage to the delicate mossy ecosystem. Five campsites do not have corals or hitching rails so can be used by non-horse campers.
- DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM HIGHWAY 16: Turn south onto McIntosh Logging Road 12 km west of McBride. The road is unmarked but there are green highway signs (a horse inside a tent) directing you to the campground turn off (just west of the McIntosh Creek if you are travelling from McBride and east of Clyde Creek if you are travelling from Prince George). The campground is located 3km up the logging road.
A geo-referenced trail map can be downloaded from www.hcbc.ca under the recreation tab. Download requires internet access, so should be completed before you arrive. Cell service is spotty at the campground and on the trails.