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Mount Fromme: 7th Secret -> Expresso Loop

A killer singletrack loop on some of the 'shore's best trails

Mountain Biking Severe

Distance
8.7 km
Ascent
517 m
Descent
517 m
Duration
1-2 hrs
Low Point
300 m
High Point
769 m
Gradient
10˚
Mount Fromme: 7th Secret -> Expresso Loop Map

Mt Fromme on Vancouver’s North Shore is ground-zero for freeride mountain biking, and this loop is a beauty. It’s almost entirely on singletrack and will challenge, possibly frustrate, and definitely reward good intermediate riders and better. Several of the trails in this route are rated amongst the top 10 in the world on trail review websites.

Description

The uphill singletrack route has been stitched together over a number of years with countless hours of volunteer work and the generous sponsorship of a number of local companies. It’s so well built that a rider with great skills could (theoretically) keep their feet off the ground all the way from bottom to top. Don’t let the green and blue ratings fool you, though: this is a tough climb that gets more technically challenging higher up. Look for arrows marking the "uphill" trail.

Park along E Breamer Road and look for the small pull-out where the Dempsey track starts. From here, the up trails are Dempsey, St. Mary’s, Skid Row Connector/Ascent, Baden Powell, Dreamweaver, Executioner Connector, Executioner, Ramble On, and D’Yer Mak’er. They start off at a cruisy gradient with a few wooden bridges and rocks to keep things interesting. D’Yer Mak’er at the end is a real grunt with some steep, tricky roots to negotiate. This spits you out onto Mountain Highway, the main gravel road. Follow this uphill, around one switchback, and past the turn-offs to a few other downhill trails before you arrive at the start of 7th Secret. Have a break—you’ve earned it!

Of the two trails down, 7th Secret is more challenging than Expresso. The entry move is probably the scariest part and serves as an ability filter. After that, it’s a fast roller coaster down a well-armoured trail, with all sorts of features coming at you—wooden ladders, rock drops, and log rolls. Definitely take it easy the first time! 7th Secret drops you back onto the gravel road, right in front of Expresso. This trail is all fun! Officially it’s a black, but many North Shore riders consider it intermediate. It’s fast, with bermed corners and a bunch of mostly optional technical features.

Zig and zag down through the lush forest until you hit an intersection with the Baden Powell. Do a quick left and then right onto Lower Expresso. Everything is fast and rollable here! Finish up back on Dempsey. All too soon, and seemingly without warning, you pop out at your car. Ready for another lap?

Difficulty

Severe

Widely variable, narrow trail tread with steeper grades and unavoidable obstacles of 15in/38cm tall or less. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. Ideal for advanced-level riders.

Medium Exposure

2 out of 4

The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.

Remoteness

1 out of 4

Close to help in case of emergency.

Best time to visit

between April and December

Features

  • Technical
  • Singletrack
  • In the forest
  • Drops
  • Roots
  • Tabletops
  • Rock Rolls
  • Rock Slabs
  • Wooden Feature

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area