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Mountian bikers in the Vancouver area have truly endless opportunities. Overstated? Not even close! Even within the city proper there is plenty of riding and lots more to be had in the adjoining cities of Burnaby and New Westminister. Then there's the world famous "north shore" (North Vancouver) where you find some awesome technical single track along with those kamakazi nightmares (both natural and man made) that you'll only find here. Head up the coast to Squamish and you can choose from 50 more trails which will challenge the best bikers in the world. Further north at Whistler, surprise another extensive trail network, along with the bike zone which has been layed out on the mountain. We haven't begun to mentioned the possiblities in the south or the east (and there's lots).

 
 

The really amazing thing is that no matter how often you ride there are so many logging roads into the back country connecting to even more trails that you'll get really tired long before you'll get bored. You have died and gone to heaven, get the picture!

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.

Powell River Trails/Duck Lake Trails Nice riding in an easily accesible area. Follow Duck Lake Road to north from Hwy 101 to the access point.

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.

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Mountain Biking - Ski Hills and Resorts

  • Apex Mountain - Penticton, Thompson Okanagan, British Columbia
  • Blue Mountain - Lift access to trails, rentals, school, great restuarants and bars, Ontario
  • Bromont - One of Quebec's best places to ride, lift access and dozens of excellent trails. Bromont, Quebec
  • Canadian Olympic Park - Calgary, Alberta
  • Fernie - Fernie, British Columbia
  • Kicking Horse - Golden, BC Rockies, British Columbia
  • Kimberley Alpine Resort - Lift serviced trails, rafting, hiking, Kimberly, British Columbia
  • Mont-Saint-Anne - 200km+ of trails. A few minutes from Québec City, Mont-Sainte-Anne is the ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, mountain bike, camping
  • Panorama - Invermere, British Columbia
  • Silver Star - Vernon, British Columbia
  • Sun Peaks - British Columbia
  • Mount Washington - Lift serviced trails. Vancouver Island, British Columbia
  • Whistler Resort - Mountain biking park with an awesome vertical, lots of great trails for all levels and surrounded by dozens and dozens more in the area. Lift serviced trails. - Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park
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Whistler

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.

Vancouver Island - Mountain Biking

Hartland/Mount Works

This is southern Vancouver Island's best area for mountain biking. The trails provide a broad range of riding and are well designed and maintained. Maps are available for the area in local bike shops in the Victoria and Sidney area. The group responsible for the park is the South Island Mountain Biking Society, have a look at thier website for more information. To get to the park follow highway 17 (south from the ferry at Swartz Bay or north from Victoria) and take the Royal Oak exit and head west then turn right on West Saanich Road then left on Hartland. The entrance is on your right. South Island Mountain Biking Society (SIMBS) Mount Works is one of British Columbia's Provincial Parks BC Parks

Mount Washington

The ski/snowboard resort caters to mountain bikers (hikers and campers as well) in the summer months providing over 1600ft of vertical accessible from two chairs (fee). The mountain has over 50km of trials accessible from the lifts. You'll find rentals and basic repairs available on the mountain as well as clinics if you want to improve your riding. The resort is located north of Nanaimo west of the main highway between Campbell River and Courtenay on the new Inland Island Highway. From Nanaimo follow the 19 north to exit 130 then head west on the Strathcona Parkway and follow the signs to the resort. Mount Washington

You'll also find easy trails which will get you into the woods in both Thetis Lake and Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Parks just a short distance from Victoria. See our Regional Parks section for more information.

BC Rockies

Yoho National Park - Yoho Trail Map

The parks fireroads are available for the use of Mountain Bikers. These include the following:

Amiskwi Trail - 24km If you fork left on the road to Emerald Lake, the trail starts at the end of this road. The trail follows the Amiskwi River northwest, then north until it ends at the point where it crosses over the river.
Trail details are available in "Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies" by Doug Eastcott and Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books

Kicking Horse Trail - 19.5km The trail starts at the same point as the Amiskwi Trail. The trail follows the Kicking horse river to the Chancellor Peak campground. To return you can follow the road back to your kick off point.
Trail details are available in "Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies" by Doug Eastcott and Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books

Otterhead Trail - 8.0km The trail branches from the Kicking Horse trail 4.1km from it's origin. It heads northwest along the Otterhead River to Tocher Ridge Junction.
Trail details are available in "Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies" by Doug Eastcott and Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books

Ice River Trail - 17.5km The trail starts at the Hoodoo Creek campground and heads south where it follows the Beaverfoot River. It finally veers north to follow its namesake, the Ice River Trail. Details are available in "Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies" by Doug Eastcott and Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books

Ottertail Fireroad - 14.7 The trail starts on the Trans-Canada between the Natural Bridge and Field and follows its namesake, the Ottertail River, towards Kootenay. If you want to add some panniers to your bike, there are two wilderness campsites along the trail, Float Creek and McArthur Creek. The trail ends at the McArthur Creek warden cabin. This is a shared trail so ensure you give hikers and backpackers the right of way.
Trail details are available in "Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies" by Doug Eastcott and Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books

Ross Lake Trail - 8.7km The trail starts just inside Yoho's eastern border and travels to Lake Louise in Banff.

Tally Hoe Trail - 3.0km
Short connector trail from the park office, which brings you to several other other trails.

All other trails in the park are off limits to mountain bikers.

 

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