West Bragg Creek Mountain Biking.
Built in 2014, Merlin View followed the successful build of Bobcat the previous year and it shares the same trademark features: consistent grades for easier climbing and flowing descents, sweeping bermed corners, rollers, bumps & table-tops. It has some good views too but you're likely to be too engaged by the trail to notice
Easily accessed from the trailhead via Braggin' Rights, Merlin View is a loop that can be ridden in either direction and combines seamlessly with Braggin' Rights to create a fairly easy & shortish (14km) ride. You could also add Merlin to the traditional Northern Flow loop (15km) for some extra climbing. Choosing to ride Merlin View counter-clockwise gives you the shorter (2km, 9%) climb and the longer (3km, 6%) descent.
From the Braggin' Rights / Reconnect junction head west into the long meadow / cut-line and turn right to begin the climb (if you're riding counter-clockwise). The trail follows this cut-line for the next kilometre, snaking back and forth through the trees on either side, until it reaches a big meadow. There a bench made from boulders offers a chance for a rest at this mid-point on the climb and you can take in the views to the south & east.
The trail then enters the trees and after a short rock-armoured section it climbs to the summit before following the ridge for 500m. It dips briefly and crests another minor summit before the descent begins for real - and it continues for the next 3km!
The descent is punctuated by all sorts of berms & bumps etc. to add to the fun, but there's nothing that interrupts the flow or demands advanced riding skills.
Eventually the trail emerges into a meadow / cut-line again, and finally climbs (via one switchback in the trees) up the cut-line back to the Braggin' Rights junction. Take the right turn there to return directly to the trailhead. (From Trailforks)
