Page 88 - Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 2024/2025

PARKS, RECREATION & SPORTS NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2024/2025
Clover Creek Preserve; Redding. 1.5-mile flat paved loop. Views are wide and make
it easy to keep an eye on children biking ahead. Additional dirt trails lead to a pond and add to the nature and wildlife viewing experience. alltrails.com/trail/us/california/ clover-creek-preserve. 3705 Shasta View Dr. The Great Shasta Rail Trail; Burney. 40 miles of open trail sections on this planned 80-mile trail linking Burney and McCloud. Red cinder trail compacted in the center but be careful of loose sides. A more advanced family adventure; prepare for wilderness conditions with extra food and water. great- shastarailtrail.org. (530)925-6362. HealthyShasta.org. Find new places to bike on roadways and trails at healthyshas- ta.org/be-active/biking. Help make biking safer and more enjoyable in our communi- ty by downloading and using the mobile app at lovetoride.net to track miles and trips and share your experience.
Hornbeck trailhead; Redding. Off Quartz Hill Road, this is a relatively smooth trail with a few short climbs and descents. Follow the green arrows for a six-mile beginner mountain bike route, or simply go out and come back when you are ready. How many smiley faces painted on rocks can you find? Did you find the geocache? This area was largely spared by the 2018 Carr Fire. 12086 Quartz Hill Rd.
Northeast Crossing Trail; Redding. Start from Highland Park at 555 Mill Valley Parkway. Ride along quiet Mill Valley Parkway north to the trail head. Enter the paved trail that meanders through native oak woodlands and a bridge that crosses Boulder Creek. Mostly flat. Ends at College View Dr. 3 miles roundtrip. Connects to Sac River Trail and more.
Paradise Bikes. Bikes, mountain bikes, BMX, ebikes, parts, repairs, custom builds. shop.paradisebikes.com.
Paradise: 6282 Skyway. (530)877-3992. Oroville: Facebook@paradisebikesoroville. 2100 Myers St. (530)282-4349.
Sacramento River Trail; Redding. 12 miles of paved, mostly flat trail with some rolling hills. Access a section of the trail near the Middle Creek Trail intersection and find riv- er views, picnic spots, a Peace Labyrinth of painted rocks (have fun adding to it!) and playground stops including Amethyst Park, Jump River and Caldwell Junior Bike Park. traillink.com/trail/sacramento-river-trail/. Swasey Flatlands; Redding. Just west of Redding off Swasey Drive is a network of mountain bike, hiking and equestrian trails on BLM land. Park at the first parking lot and take the ditch trail (Mule TH Connect) out of the southwest end of the parking lot. Consider trying the short Learner Flow Trail on the way back to the parking lot. Forlonger ride, follow the green arrows
out of the first parking lot on the Mule TH Connect trail. The route is six miles of rel- atively flat dirt trails. trailforks.com/route/ bac-mtb-swasey-flatlands/.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Gateway Trail Loop; Mount Shasta. 10.6- mile single track loop trail for intermediate level mountain bikers. A popular, mostly wooded cross-country ride. Be ready for a combination of smooth berms and a little
88 North State Parent Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 2024/2025 • www.northstateparent.com
Unleash Family Fun with the New Expansion at Terrain Park Climbing Center
BY SARAH KIRBY
Rock climbing, whether in a rock climbing center or on a mountain, improves fitness, strengthens muscles throughout the body, builds confidence,
boost brainpower and has mental health benefits, according to Time magazine health and wellness expert Amy Haupt. At Chico’s Terrain Park Climbing Center (TPCC), families are encouraged to climb with their kids, not only promoting fitness but creating priceless family bonding experiences. To further support family fun times, TPCC co-owners Paul Hendricks and Mitch Robison are thrilled to announce an exciting gym expansion, Terrain Park Adventure Center, set to open in September, which they developed specifically for beginner climbers, kids and toddlers.
Pioneering entrepreneurship leads to fun for the whole family
Paul and Mitch opened TPCC six years ago, because as Paul says, “two young college graduates had a dream of opening an indoor rock-climbing gym and weren’t going to take no for an answer. We wanted to own a small business and to be our own boss, and a climbing gym had everything we were looking for and more! We couldn’t be happier to be here in Chico working with this awesome community.”
When these two young entrepreneurs opened the gym in 2018, they only used half of the building, renting out the other half. When an opportunity showed up for them to use the other half, Mitch and Paul decided to expand to make the climbing facility an even more kid friendly. “There aren’t a lot of indoor recreation options for kids in the area and we thought that we could create the ultimate adventure space! So, Terrain Park Adventure Center was born,” says Paul. “We are super excited about our 3-story play structure, It is so crazy to see in person and we know that everyone is going to have an absolute blast exploring all the fun features!”
A space for family members of every age to climb and explore all year-round
Along with the play structure, the new expansion includes rope climbing with 12 new auto belay lanes and a dedicated toddler area. Terrain Park Climbing Center also offers bouldering walls that are 16 feet tall with around 120 different climbing challenges, known as boulder problems, ranging from very easy to highly challenging to allow climbers of all experience levels to participate. They also have a new Kilter Board - an advanced training wall featuring LED lights that can be adjusted to various angles from flat to steeply overhanging (0 to 70 degrees), providing more than70,000 different climbing routes to practice, with routes changed up regularly.
Pushing boundaries in the safe environment
Paul and Mitch know that climbing is a good workout and having a healthier lifestyle is a great byproduct of climbing, but they believe the real benefit is having a lot of fun while releasing endorphins and creating friendships. “[Climbing] also expands your problem-solving skills and can get you out of your comfort zone! Kids are naturally great climbers and it’s very valuable to be able to let them explore those abilities and push boundaries in a very safe and controlled environment. It gives them a sense of independence,” Paul says.
TPCC hosts two climbing competitions each year. “Anyone and everyone is welcome to sign up and compete,” Paul says. “We also have a Youth Climbing Team which practices weekly throughout the year. The focus is on improving climbing abilities in a group setting with the opportunity to compete if interested. All our climbers are encouraged to take their skills outside to climb on real rock! We have a lot of very knowledgeable outdoor climbers at the gym that are happy to educate and pass on great info and safety for outdoor climbing.”
TPCC has space available for birthday parties and company events, offers monthly memberships, daily drop-in opportunities and the center includes a weightlifting room. To learn more visit terrainparkclimbingcenter.com
Children of all ages can climb, bounce and explore to their heart’s content at the new Terrain Park Adventure Center. Photo credit: Terrain Park Climbing Center.