Whistler

Whistler is located in the Sea to Sky corridor - which is effectively the mountain bike capital of North America. Logging roads are everywhere and they provide access to endless wilderness. Trails abound, many with diverse origins such as those of which where once coastal Salish trading routes. North of the Village you'll find the relativly unknown Spruce Lake Trail system on an area which literally covers thousands of square miles. Around the resort there are dozens and dozens of trail to discover. On the mountain you have the renown mountain bike park which just keeps getting better and better. You can head south all the way to squamish on the Sea to Sky trail (although you'll miss some great rides on route if you go direct) and once you get there what will you find but hundreds of kilometres of more single and double track.

 
 

Finally just a little further on is what many consider the best mountain biking in the world, the infamous "north shore".

British Columbia isn't a province of backroads like Quebec or Ontario and of course it's also very mountainous. If that suites you, you'll find it to be a great long distance touring area with some of the worlds best scenery, along with lots of easily accessible campsites.

Whistler Mountain Biking

On the Mountain

  • After Atlantis - Easy/Intermediate, Traverses the hill, then turns into the an expert trail, the Blue Crumble
  • Route Rutabaga - Expert, Short downhill spur off of the After Atlantis which runs into the Rippin Rutabaga
  • Blueberry Crumble - Expert, Connects the After Atlantis with the Badlands (Expert) and Golden Triangle
  • Badlands - Expert, Connects the Blueberry Crumble to the Golden Triangle
  • Golden Triangle - Intermediate, Traverses the hill forming a loop with the After Atlantis, Blueberry Crumble and Badlands
  • Rippin Rutabaga - Intermediate, Downhill section from the After Atlantis
  • Crabapple - Easy/Intermediate, Follows a ski trail from the Atlantis
  • Fantastic - Intermediate, Branches from the downhill off the Olypic Station to the Olympic Meadows Lookout then turns into the Oly Oly Road
  • Old Oly Road - Easy, Starts at the bottom of the Fantastic and traverses the hill
  • Northwest Passage - Intermediate, Starts just off of the 201 and follows over to Whistler Creek
  • Ho Chimin - Easy, Connects the 201 to the BMX
  • Northern Lights - Expert, Twisting down hill it snakes back and forth across the ski trail
  • BMX - Intermediate, Connects the main trail system to the Comming Home Trail
  • Dual Slalom - Expert, Just as the name suggests
  • Coming Home - Easy, The final trail home to the base of the Mountain
  • 101 - Easy, Short connector between the Old Oly Oly Road and the 201
  • 201 - Easy, Connects the 101 tot he Ho Chimin or the Northwest Passage
  • 301 - Intermediate, Connects the Oly Oly Road to the Norhten Lights or you can climb back up the 401
  • 401 - Intermediate, From the intersection of the 101 and 201 to the Northern Lights (Expert)

Elfin Lakes - The trail is in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park area and travels to the shelter at elfin lake over 16km. Expect to climb a lot but the scenery is well worth it.

Lost Lake Trails - These are easy trail which accessible from the Village and take you around lost lake and over to green lake. You'll find lots of nice viewpoints as well as spur trails heading off in all directions.

Sea to Sky Trail This is a work in progress and what a piece of work it is. Winding its way through some of the worlds most breathaking scenery the trail is spectacular. With plans to go from south of Squamish, through Whistler, Pemberton and then on to D'Arcy this is a hell of a ride. The section from Squamish past Whistler is already open and the rest will be completed shortly. You can access the trail in several area for short rides or you can attempt the whole 150kms. The trail is multi-use.

Whistler Interpretive Forest This area lies north of Whistler just above Alpha Lake. Turn north on the westside main road which follows the Cheakamus River. The area has five trails which range from easy to difficult.

There are lots of other great rides around town which will satisfy everyones expectations. Easy trials through the lost lake area are contrasted by break burners such as the North West Passage. There are several trails on the west side of Alta Lake for expert riders. Following Alta Lake Road will lead you to some awesome single track. More riding can be found on the east side of Green Lake and to the north along 16 mile creek.

Most of the Lost Lake Trail system as well as the paved Valley Trail are accessible to road bikes. The multi-use Valley Trail runs the lengh of the valley from Alpha to Emerald.

Surrounding Region - Sea to Sky

Brohm Lake South This is a whole network of trails which can be accessed from Alice Lake Provincial park but might best be accessed from hwy 99 south of Brohm Lake, as the name implies. The area includes the Cat Lake Trails and the Garibaldi Highlands Trails. Difficulties really vary with easy fireroad and steep twisting single track along with good climbings and easy flowing decents.

Grouse Mountain/North Shore Trails. Considered some of the gnarliest and best in the world. While you can still find some easy rides on jeep and single track the focus here is becoming extreme. If slick mud, water soaked roots, wicked drop-offs don't get, you some of the trail builders have added even meaner elements to bend your metal. It doesn't matter how good you are you'll find your match on one of these trails. You can access the trails at the end of Mountain Highway in North Vancouver. See Mount Seymour for more north shore trails.

Mount Seymour/North Shore Trails Considered some of the gnarliest and best in the world. There is not much easy riding (see the Lynn Valley Trials for easier rides) here the focus is definately on the extreme. Like the Grouse trials we're lookin at slick mud, water soaked roots, wicked drop-offs and some of the steepest single track you'll find anywhere. If your good you'll get better, if your bad you'll get broken. You can access the trails from Old Buck logging road just at the base of Mount Seymour Road.

Lynn Valley These are some relatively easy trails in great surroundings. The Lynn Canyon is a beautiful area. You can enjoy the day here or use it for a warm-up for the nearby "North Shore Trails". Access just east of Lynn Canyon, turn north from Kieth onto Riverside Drive and go to the end of the road.

Pemberton/Mosquito Lake There are a number of trails south of Pemberton including the area around Nairn Falls Provincial Park but the best of the best is the Mosquito Lake Trails. There are over ten excellent trails here ranging from easy flat loops to some almost impossible sections. Definatly look before you leap in this area.

Valley Cliffe Trails Located in Sqaumish this area has several trails with excellent single track. Follow loggers lane north east from the lights on highway 99.

 
 

Resources

Whistler

Out-There's Whistler Main Page
Out-There's Vancouver Coast and Mountains
Vancouver Accommodations
Vancouver Restaurants

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