The story of the Silver Spoon Trails begins in the fall of 1972, when Henry Hollo and Aston Eikrem cut the original R and D loops, often using old hiking paths as a guide. The name “Silver Spoon” came from a real silver spoon found by their sons, Sean Hollo and Andreas Eikrem, while they played in the woods as their fathers worked.

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As interest in cross-country skiing grew in Deep River—and with preparations underway for the first Silver Spoon Ski Festival in 1975—the trail network expanded. In 1974, the X and C loops were added with the help of Bill Bishop, Bill Taylor, and Mike Watson. Building the X loop meant overcoming the challenge of Kennedy Creek, which required two bridges. At the time, the D, R, X, and C loops totaled 8.5 km. To meet the 15 km race requirement, organizers temporarily added a route across the golf course. Shortly after, the M loop and an extension to D were created by Karel Mika, Bob Birse, and others, bringing the total trail length to 13 km.

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The loop names—D, R, X, C, and M—formed the foundation of the DRXC trail system. Over time, rerouting became necessary: the building of the hospital displaced part of R loop, and several bridges had to be relocated, often due to beaver activity. Notably, the Bishop and Ormrod bridges on M loop had to be rebuilt entirely.

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In 1980, the DRXC Racing Program moved from the west-end Three-M trails to the Silver Spoon Trails. This marked a turning point, as volunteers began developing the trails more permanently. Grooming was done by hand and with homemade equipment to start. Trailers were brought in to serve as an equipment shed and clubhouse, located up the laneway from Balmer Bay Road. At the height of the racing program in the late 1980s, the power line was even floodlit for evening practices.

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To create more advanced terrain for training, the S loop was added in 1982 by Brian Cox, with help from Dave Thompson. Together with M loop, it created a 5 km circuit used for the 1985 provincial championships. Cox and Thompson later led work on the B loop, known as the “Silver Bullet,” which brought the race trail to 7.8 km. The final major addition was the H loop (the “Horseshoe”) and an M extension, spearheaded by Bernie DeAbreu. These completed a 10 km racing circuit that became a Saturday morning ritual for local racers—some of whom would go on to win national medals.

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In the late 1980s, the race trails were further refined. The zigzag on B was replaced with a straight uphill climb, two descents were realigned for better flow, and the course was widened for skate skiing. In 1987, bridges on X loop were rebuilt in memory of Henry Hollo, using construction-grade lumber. A rustic alternative route, the Lake Trail, was also completed to reach Cranberry Lakes.

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Up until this point, all trail development had taken place unofficially on land owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). That changed in 1994, when AECL announced plans to sell the land. The local community mobilized quickly, raising a third of the purchase price through donations, with the rest coming from land sales in the Balmer Bay area. The result was municipal ownership of 360 hectares—excluding about 55 hectares of developable land. In 1998, the Four Seasons Conservancy was created to own and manage 25 hectares of land along the access roads and to hold access rights across an additional 30 hectares. The area became officially known as the Four Seasons Forest Sanctuary, with a mandate to preserve the land for public recreation and environmental stewardship.

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Following the land transfer, parts of C loop were rerouted, and access to D loop—which crossed private land along Banting Drive—was revoked. It took several years before the Conservancy was able to acquire this 32-hectare “Cooper Property.” The purchase allowed the completion of walking and snowshoe trails around Betty’s Marsh (named for trail advocate Elizabeth Van Wagner), and secured the snowmobile corridor south of the marsh.

While the 1970s and 1980s were driven by racing and the annual Silver Spoon Ski Festival, the late 1990s saw a rise in commuting skiers and backwoods explorers. The Jackrabbit program brought a new generation to the trails. In response, volunteers like Ray Metcalfe and George Doubt created new ungroomed sections to form the Perimeter (P) loop, a 9 km backcountry route. Ray also worked with Ron Wensel and Bruce Smith to design the F “Fun” loop and a series of kiddie hills behind the chalet. In 1999, Ron Wensel and Stephen Eyvindson led construction of the current DRXC chalet at 112 Balmer Bay Road, replacing the trailer-based clubhouse. Karen Colins coordinated the move of equipment from the previous location.

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Today, the Silver Spoon Trail System offers 35 km of trails, serving both recreational and competitive skiers. Approximately 20 km are groomed regularly, with 10 km suitable for skate skiing. Maintenance is performed by DRXC volunteers and funded by ski membership fees. Use of the trails requires registration through the DRXC website to acknowledge safety rules and landowner liability terms, but Conservancy membership remains free and open to all.

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In the early 2000s, a 25 km snowshoe trail network was added by George Doubt, Ray Metcalfe, and Dave Hunter. These trails are open year-round for walking, biking, and winter skiing with dogs. In 2020, Deep River’s zoning by-law formally recognized the 360 ha municipal land as protected for conservation and passive recreation, with active use limited to designated snowmobile corridors.

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Though only a few names are mentioned here, the creation and ongoing care of these trails reflect the efforts of countless volunteers. Beyond skiing, the Four Seasons Forest Sanctuary offers year-round recreation, education, and ecological wonder. With Kennedy Creek winding through it and the Ottawa River nearby, the sanctuary is home to towering white pines, ancient yellow birch, glacial erratics, and Ontario’s largest known tamarack. It also preserves part of the historic Pembroke–Mattawa Road, lined with stone walls, old farm machinery, and forgotten fields.

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For those seeking nature and community close to home, the Silver Spoon Trails remain one of Deep River’s most treasured legacies—and a lasting gift for future generations.​​​​