For mountain biking enthusiasts across the world, the pristine wilderness of Canada offers some of the best terrain and views to experience MTB. Practically every province in Canada offers superb MTB experiences. From the forest wilderness of British Columbia to the endless stream of trails found in the lush countryside of Quebec, mountain biking in Canada is serious stuff. But what makes Canada so great for mountain biking?
Canada is a major hub for mountain biking for bikers the world over. Each province features numerous trails with corresponding riding dynamics based on the terrain. Another thing that makes Canada great for MTB is the large presence of a mountain biking culture all over the country.
In this guide, we are going to explore some of the best destinations for mountain biking in Canada. From the Yukon to St. Edward Island, there are numerous trails and bike parks to discuss, each with its own unique details that make for a fantastic experience. Canada is a large country with major fluctuations in terrain and weather to be aware of, and we will explain all of this below to help you decide the best trails to experience.
Whistler Mountain Biking
Whistler is by far the premier mountain biking destination in Canada. And with an endless amount of beautiful scenery and 250km of lift-accessed trails, it is easy to see why Whistler is one of the most popular MTB destinations in the world as well.
Whistler is tucked into the heart of British Columbia province. Situated north of Vancouver, just a couple of hours drive from Vancouver International Airport, this makes getting here fairly easy.
Whistler is a world-class resort with slopes in the winter for snow sports, but when the summer season kicks off, the mountains of Whistler practically flood with mountain bikers from all over the world. In the middle of Whistler is the bike park, which for all intents and purposes is virtually a mecca of sorts for MTB riders. Whistler is also home to the Crankworx Festival of Cycling that typically happens each year in August.
Believe it or not, Whistler was once known as ‘London Mountain’ and this is due to the thick, low-hanging cloud of fog that permeates throughout the upper layer of the region. This quintessential feature frequently appears in stellar MTB pictures and videos taken each year during the summer MTB season.
Not a mountain biker or, are you looking to try a different style of mountain biking? Whistler has a number of convenient bike rental options. If you want to try a short-travel bike or an e-bike, those are available for purchase as well. At Whistler, the options are virtually endless.
As mentioned, there are over 250km of trails, all accessible by uplifts. There are five lifts to serve sixty-eight trails. The bike park is split into five zones: Fitzsimmons, Creek side, Garbanzo, Peak lift, and a GMC pump track. Across all these zones are a huge variety of trails for all riding abilities. The trails offer 9% beginner, 31% intermediate, 34% advanced, 22% expert, and 4% pro.
If you are looking into honing your skills or basically building up your technique, there are also three different skill parks dotted around the main bike park. There are pump tracks, skinnies, drops, roll arounds, and each park also offers coaching sessions from the coaches and guides segment down at the bottom. All of this will help you build up your techniques, show you where you are going wrong, and just basically take you onto the bike park for real-time practice.
For cross-country enthusiasts, and those who love to spin their legs, Whistler has incredible cross-country trails outside the bike park.
There is so much more to Whistler than just the bike park. If you want to put your bike down for a day, you can go hiking, kayaking, playing golf, hanging out at the lake, and much more.
North Shore Mountain Biking
Few places on Earth have had as much impact on the world of mountain biking as Vancouver’s North Shore mountains. From way back in the day it has been featured in countless freeride films and inspired trail builders and bikers around the world to replicate “The Shore” style of riding.
Only 45 minutes from the furthest outlying suburb of Metro Vancouver, the beautiful North Shore Mountains are a treasure to both residents and visitors of the region.
‘The Shore,’ as it is affectionately referred to by locals, is the backyard playground to the region’s 2.3 million residents and offers some of the best and most challenging mountain biking in BC. Comprising three main riding zones—Mount Seymour, Mount Fromme, and Cypress Mountain—the trails on Fromme and Seymour are well maintained through countless volunteer hours.
Duluth alone has over 40+ miles of singletrack trails, and the North Shore is hard at work with new trails opening up every year. The latest is the Jackpot Connector trail that stretches from Tofte to Lutsen, 28 miles there and back. This is like the Holy Land for mountain bikers. With Mount Fromme, Cypress Mountain, and Mount Seymour as major anchors, North Shore riding makes single-track look like kindergarten.
In all honesty, imagine the most difficult, technical terrain you can find—fallen logs, boulders, huge ravines, combined with man-made obstacles on fast-riding trails, most of which are well-maintained by Vancouver’s active mountain biking community.
The paved Gitchi Gami Trail currently has a handful of sections complete, the longest section being Gooseberry Falls State Park to Beaver Bay. One of the best things you can do is purchase a Superior National Forest map and plan your own customized route and ride.
On that note, although bike riding on Highway 61 is legal, it is NOT recommended as it is dangerous due to narrow shoulders, increased seasonal traffic and road work.
The same holds true for the Gunflint Trail. Instead, choose one of the safer routes just to be on the safe side.
Trails cross private, county, state and federal lands – please respect this. Take note – most trails are in isolated areas that offer no immediate services. Watch for traffic on these routes. A one-mile-plus paved road runs through Brighton Beach, the first park northeast of Duluth, just past the Lester River, which can help you avoid these pitfalls.
A bike ride along Scenic 61 showcases Lake Superior and allows you to explore along the way. Stop for lunch, and pick up some delicious smoked fish.
Four all-season bike/hiking trails (3 of which are groomed in the winter) traverse over 400 wooded acres and connect to a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail (motorized). Two of the trails incorporate part of the gravel Britton Pit Road, which is a good novice trail system.
An easy paved path from the Lake Superior beach at Burlington Bay through Lakeview Park is also a good trail to consider as there is a playground across the street, which is great if you are riding with kids. Past the Two Harbors lighthouse/museum along Agate Bay beach where you can see the ore docks, ships, the Edna G tugboat, a huge steam locomotive, the Yellowstone, and the smaller 3 Spot engine with freight car and caboose, is also a good path.
The path ends up at Waterfront Drive near shops, a brewery and restaurants. You can also park by trains and museum and use the west end as a trailhead. There are also Jackpot/High Climber mountain bike trails connecting Britton Peak trails to Lutsen Mountains.
This sixteen-mile wilderness trail through the Sawtooth Mountains offers big climbs with rewarding fast and flowy descents, jumps, rollers, massive berms, incredible rock features, and scenic vistas all located in the maple forest of the North Shore.
To access Jackpot, leave the parking lot on Shortstacker, climbing gently for the first half mile, before turning onto Cross Cut to where it intersects with Jackpot. Jackpot connects to High Climber on the Onion River Road and ultimately leads to Lutsen Mountains. When leaving Jackpot and returning to the parking lot, the last 3/4 mile of Cross Cut is a ripping fast, one way blast to the trailhead.
Vancouver Mountain Biking
The region of Vancouver is where BC mountain biking was born and where it thrives today. World-class bike communities—from the North Shore to Pemberton, the Fraser Valley, and over to the Sunshine Coast—make this region a true hot spot of biking culture, trail building progression, and unmatched terrain.
Vancouver’s North Shore is known for its technical terrain, hand-built wooden features, tight switchbacks, and rooty and rocky downhill that is also beginning to sprout flowy all-mountain and cross-country trails. Variety is Fraser Valley’s forte where riders can choose from six main trail networks.
Long descents and manageable climbs are the pinnacles of Squamish riding where loamy dirt intersects with granite features as a natural stage for downhillers and trail riders alike. Manicured trails and features are designed for every level of rider at the Whistler Bike Park and riding in the Whistler Valley claims endless kilometers of singletrack and enduro riding.
In Pemberton, a vast trail network has an array of amazing well-maintained singletrack with steep, loose, and long descents. While the lower Sunshine Coast has a wide range of fun and flowy trails for any style or level of rider and Powell River’s extensive trail network is marked by loamy soil and skinny singletrack resides in the midst of the rainforest of the Coast Mountains.
Let’s take a closer look at each of Vancouver’s best MTB trails.
Fraser Valley
Sculpted over millennia, by glaciers and rivers, the Fraser Valley is one amazing region to explore. Just an hour away from Vancouver, here you’ll find massive peaks rising above the mighty Fraser River that winds itself through the landscape. Trail-seekers here will discover quality trails that offer both technical challenge and flow, along with great bike shops and après-ride experiences.
Squamish
When it comes to mountain biking, few places in the world rival Squamish’s legendary trails with rock slabs, deep loam, and amazing flow. From its industrial heritage, the town has transformed into a world-class destination for adventure seekers and is home to a welcoming biking community that builds, maintains, and rides the hundreds of kilometers of trails found within a few minutes from the center of town.
Sunshine Coast
There is no need for your bike to stay unused in the shed when you can ride the Sunshine Coast year-round. The array of different terrain—from adrenaline pumping downhill to technical cross-country—accommodates every style and level of rider.
The Southern Sunshine Coast—a short 40-minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay—is known for its smooth flow trails through spectacular scenery while the Northern Sunshine Coast is notorious for its phenomenal cross-country rides through vibrant old-growth forests.
Pemberton
At the north end of the Sea-to-Sky Highway is Pemberton, the hidden gem among so many well-known riding destinations found further down the road. Not to be underestimated, this place offers some of the most technically advanced trails in the province.
Kelso Mountain Biking
Kelso’s Trail network is a premier mountain biking destination in Ontario and has trails for all levels of mountain bikers, which is why the Kelso Weekly MTB Race Series is hosted at the park. Whether you are after a laid back ride with friends or an intense training session, Kelso is the perfect place for your two-wheeled adventure.
Located in Halton region, a travel distance of less than an hour (by car) from GTA and Downtown Toronto, Kelso summit is one of the finest places for mountain biking. With a large selection of around 30 km of quality trails of all difficulty levels, you can take your pick based on how much thrill you can handle. Whether you’re a beginner or a highly skilled biker, there is an equal opportunity for you to enjoy riding these fine trails.
The entire escarpment area has spectacular views with an abundance of maple trees all around that acts as a catalyst to spark your motivation further as you proceed to the final destination of Summit Entrance at 5301 Steeles Ave W, Milton, ON L9T 7L3 . The September/October time-frame offers even more colorful views with all kinds of autumn colors.
Turkey-shoot trail is a blue level difficulty that is not very hard to bike on, in fact is a very enjoyable ride with some challenges thrown at you due to the very curvy nature of this trail. Majority of the track is dirt, but do watch out for those sticky branches as you get through them.
At the end of your track, you have two choices, one you can continue on to merge into “Old Farm Lane” for a very small patch which further connects into “Bell School Line” you can take all the way back to your start point leading to the entry gate/parking.
“Bell School Line” gravel/dirt patch is quite wide and flat and easier to ride helps you restore your energy a bit. As the name says, if you’ve got the skill and up for a more thrilling experience of a black diamond, here is an X-Treem trail for you to enjoy. The patch spans about 2 km, and this trail is packed full of adventurous rock drops, climbs, ladder bridges and sharp turns to get your enthusiasm intact.
At the last point, you can head back on a much flatter patch of “Old Farm Lane” merging into “Bell School Line” heading back to the starting point in a bit of easy mode to treat yourself because both of them are green rating wider trails. On this path just after merging into “Bell School Line”, there is a very nice lookout point with a bench to stop by, have some water and snacks while looking over an amazingly blue/green reservoir to relax for a while and head back.
The climb difficulty is somewhere between a green and blue rating which is not that difficult but keep in mind the continuity of the steep climb can be tiring to do in one stretch so you may want to consider breaking it down by taking a few stops . Please take extra precautions on the technical sections of the trail as some of the rock drops could be quite challenging and put your skill to the test. Nonetheless it’s a great thrilling loop to ride on.
Camp Fortune Mountain Biking
Located within Gatineau Park, Camp Fortune is its own outdoor activity destination: a ski resort during the winter and an extreme mountain biking facility during the warmer weather months.
More than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of trails are shared by mountain bikers and trail runners. The trails are recommended for intermediate to expert riders who want to practice their advanced skills.
In fact, the challenging vertical drops are popular training grounds for competitive bikers from Ontario and Quebec.
The downhill mountain biking trails at Camp Fortune have been recently upgraded and are in excellent condition due to a rigorous maintenance schedule and other improvements designed to provide riders with the best downhill trails possible. In recent years, the crew is paying particular attention to downhill trails like Salamander, with undulating features that are great for beginners.
With flowing berms, Salamander and similar trails are also a blast for intermediate and expert riders. If you go, be sure to test-drive their new runs, including the “Super Armoring” National run, which is not to be missed.
Camp Fortune claims that mountain biking there tests even the best of riders and recommends that it is suitable for intermediate and expert technical riders. But it also looks like they are trying to deliver a little more in the “something for everyone” category, so if you find yourself in Quebec anytime throughout the year, you’ll want to put this stop on your list, regardless of your own skill level. We’re betting you’ll find lots of great riding here.
Hardwood Hills Mountain Biking
Hardwood Ski and Bike has over 80 km of beautiful, rolling trails through hardwood and pine forests for mountain biking. In addition to the 34 km of rolling double track trails, there is an additional 50 km of challenging single track trails that intertwine with the ski trail network creating endless possibilities of courses and obstacles.
With learning in mind, Hardwood Ski and Bike wants to make mountain biking accessible to anyone from 4 – 70 years of age. There are trails for every level and ability and lessons/programs in place for everyone from beginners to elite athletes. Kids can enjoy the Radical Riders program or Camp Hardwood while adults can enjoy a Ride Better Clinic, Women’s Clinic, or CycloCross Clinic.
With biking and non-biking activities at the resort, the whole family can have an awesome day outdoors at our facility. Included in the facility pass is the opportunity to play beach volleyball, disc golf, and utilize the trails for orienteering, hiking, walking, and trail running.
With a café serving healthy, delicious meals and snacks, a service shop for all your rental, tune-up and repair needs, as well as a retail shop equipped with riding gear galore, this option is perfect for a family MTB family outing that will see that you’ll have an amazing, full-service experience.
Quebec Mountain Biking
Québec City should be on every mountain biker’s must ride list. With almost 300 km of singletrack trails less than an hour out of town—many added in recent years—this larger‑than‑life setting has plenty of great terrain and is home to a thriving mountain biking scene.
Having hosted the UCI World Cup for more than 27 years in a row, Mont‑Sainte‑Anne trail is a bit of a given, with downhill and cross‑country trails that have gained mythic status among racers worldwide. Luckily, you don’t have to be a fully advanced, professional MTb rider to go for a rip.
Take La Boutteaboutte, which opened in 2016. It’s a two‑way trail with a great mix of bermed corners, bridges, and rock gardens, perfect for working on those intermediate skills. Designed to keep you moving down the mountain at a good pace, La Boutteaboutte is best enjoyed as a descent.
Serious about downhill? Take the gondola up to the top and hit La Chômeuse, one of the most technical trails on the mountain (and probably in eastern North America).
The trailbuilders at Sentiers du Moulin got the Enduro memo alright. Five descents from the summit of the main hill, all fairly technical, have been added since 2015. Viking runs through a mature deciduous forest and has some really nice wood ramps, making it the prettiest of the five.
Léon has great scenery, too. It’s longer, with a few sections that can be a little intimidating.
Get your heart pumping on the Toblerone. This fast descent has bermed corners, big jumps, and a ramp made out of an old trailer. All in all, it’s one heck of a ride through the countryside.
If jumps aren’t your thing, try Grand Eggen, which is just as fast and fun but with a lot less jumps. Both trails are on Suisse Mountain. You will likely be better off taking Jolie Jaëlle and Roche-Mère to get over there. They’re both nice descents.
Ideally, any mountain biking trip to Québec City includes a pilgrimage to “Shannahan”, home to the legendary Neilson Nord trail. Built with love along the Neilson River, this cross‑country epic trail takes you past a bunch of different views of Cap des Sept‑Côtes, an impressive glacier‑carved rock face.
It’s the kind of trail people come back for, year after year. For a bigger ride, add the new Neilson Est trail to your loop. It’s an extra 10 km, half descent, half climb, with wicked views of the Neilson Nord sector.
Revelstoke Mountain Biking
Legendary for its alpine backcountry access, Revelstoke offers a mountain biking experience that changes with the seasons. From its location on the banks of the mighty Columbia River, Revelstoke has two entire mountain ranges as its playground. Alpine adventure abounds in both the Monashee and Selkirk ranges, whether you are looking for shuttle-accessed downhill riding, a cross-country tour, or just pedaling to see what’s on the other side of the mountain.
Bikers to Revelstoke can also ride the most vertical in North America from the lift-assisted Fifty Six Twenty trail at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Use the gondola to bump you up, and then pedal 7 km (4.3 mi) on a purpose-built mountain biking trail. At the top, a flowy 15 km (9.3 mi), 5,620 vertical-foot descent rewards you for your efforts.
Let’s take a look at the best trails for MTB at Revelstoke.
Frisby Ridge
This is the ultimate “Too Much Fun” trail of Revelstoke—the kind of trail that lets you ride like your best self. But mostly, it is just the most good, clean fun you can have. Flowy single track through alpine meadows, with staggering views of the Columbia River Valley, Mt. Begbie and the surrounding peaks, Frisby Ridge is an alpine playground.
It’s at a higher elevation than other trails, and the town awaits the coveted opening of the trail (usually around July 15), with a collective excitement that lends itself to shouted conversations across streets, “Buddy! Heard you were up Frisby? How’s she looking?” “Sweet, bud! Bit of snow up high, but she’s good to go!” This is the work of the Revelstoke Town Criers, which is something truly unique and sort of medieval.
MacPherson
The Upper and Lower Mount Macpherson trails, split by Highway 23S, complement one another with a quick hop and a jump over the road. In Upper Mac, you’ll find massive trees and flowy trails, and jumping into Lower Mac, you’ll rip along the banks of the Columbia River. Keep your eyes peeled for a view across the valley of snow-capped peaks of Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Trails range from green to black, but are on the Revelstoke sliding scale (read: they are all still quite challenging). To summarize: single track, rooty in spots, smooth in others, blazing through the carnage of cut blocks, teetering over hollowed-out tree bridged creeks, whipping along the Columbia River and heart pounding back up into the mountains. Good berms are abundant, too. This is a great place for a fitness date, if you’re into that sort of thing, that is.
Martha Creek
If you’re looking for a “THAT WAS AWESOME” kind of response at the bottom of a trail, Martha Creek is your go-to. 1,560 meters of vertical descent, flowing through tall trees, blooming alpine wildflowers; ripping around naturally formed berms and bouncing through steep, technical sections.
For several consecutive years, just because Revelstoke is like that, there was an enduro race on this trail, starting at the bottom of the logging road that accesses the trail head. Aptly named the Martha Creek Meltdown, the payoff of the grueling ascent makes it all worth it.
Boulder
Boulder Mountain is tucked into the southwest corner of Revelstoke, and its trails look down over the Columbia River Valley and this picturesque little town. Its lower elevation allows it to open earlier in the season, the biggest hazards then being windfall and slick dirt, which will make for a pretty exhilarating challenge.
The biggest hazard with this trail is it being steep and you will go FAST and then you risk the chance of being what is referred to by locals as a “Tumbelina.” Boulder is best for downhill biking with a shuttle, but if you don’t have your own truck or friend with a truck (or a friend of a friend), there is always Wandering Wheels, a local business offering guided tours and a shuttle service in a big comfy white truck (to show off mud/dirt-levels haha).
Durham Forest Mountain Biking
The Durham Regional Forest Main Tract consists of plantation forests established over 90 years ago, as well as mixed hardwood areas.
There are over 16 kilometers of trails in four loops, as well as numerous secondary trails throughout the main tract of Durham Forest which provide an opportunity for hiking, biking, horseback riding or skiing on the rolling topography of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
There is a great selection of fast, flowy and technical single and double track trails. It’s a bit of a maze with little signage, so best to have a guide or join a group ride if you want to find the best trails first time. Trail Numbered posts are at trail intersections and markers key locations. Each post has a trail map, with a “You are here” indicator. The posts have a sloping top, with the slope oriented towards the North.
Also, there are blaze markers, with directional arrows to help you follow the trails.
The Durham Regional Forest Main Tract consists of plantation forests established over 70 years ago, as well as mixed hardwood areas.
This forest encompasses a 405 hectare area that is located at the top of the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is renowned for its excellent cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. As part of ongoing forest management practices in Durham Regional Forest, the Conservation Authority is conducting selective thinning in order to promote the forest’s overall health and the growth of saplings.
Hikers, mountain bikers and others are encouraged to explore alternate locations during this time. Those wishing to visit the site over the next two months are asked to observe and pay attention to the warning signs posted in the work area.
Kicking Horse Mountain Biking
Kicking Horse (KHMER) trail has one of the best views of any Canadian MTB trail.
The start of it is the view from the alpine launch which is dominated by the three mountain ranges that surround the park, and the wetlands of the Columbia Valley.
From there it is all downhill where the wahoo factor is amplified by multiple berms, jumps, wooden features (Stickrock has to been ridden to be believed), rock slabs (look directly below the gondola to see the longest) and plenty of good ol’ white-knuckle singletrack. The only thing missing is crowds, but we suspect you won’t mind that.
Accessed by a single scenic Gondola ride, the Kicking Horse Bike Park offers one of a kind alpine riding, offering all types of trail in an alpine meadow surrounded by majestic mountain vistas. Trail bikes are welcome, as we have everything from easy, buffed single tracks to rocky, rooty technical descents. Want more? Pedal back up through “Excalibur”, which is a new uphill track.
Get a taste of the KHMER bike park by riding the Catamount chair up and taking It’s a 10 to Easy Rider. Once you have mastered these trails try out Superberm and Buffalo Jump before heading up the gondola. This combination of a machine built trail and single track will give you an idea of the big mountain experience waiting for you at the top of the mountain. Take in the view from the top of the gondola before starting down. It’s a 10.
From there choose either Dragon Chaser for turny and pumpy or Pipestone for rough and rocky. Next jump on Chute to View for a quick rip through the sub alpine. Make sure you go left at the split to make it to the top of Magic Carpet Ride. This trail winds its way into the tree line with several challenging corners before crossing the road and continuing on our newest section of trail. Next drop into Road Runner and then hit the wall rides on Trappers Trail.
Finish with the always popular Super Berm all the way to the base. So you’ve ridden all the greens and blues. The first trail off It’s a 10 is Northern Lights. It was built by animals so it is straight and fast. Continue down Dirt Devil for more high speed tech. From the base of the Stairway to Heaven chair check out Time Travel for steeper, tech riding with optional old school skinnies.
This trail joins with the Magic Carpet Ride so continue down there to the top of Blaster. Blaster is mostly small jumps and big berms with a bit of technical riding to keep it interesting. From the bottom of Blaster the choices become more difficult (or easier depending which way you look at it).
If you like old school tech check out Pioneer for steep rock slabs, roots, and chutes. If wood work is your thing and it hasn’t rained recently head down Trappers Trail to Stick Rock and L.Y.M. If your hands need a break and you need some air time cruise Trappers Trail to Swamp Donkey and the Jump Zone (via Super Berm).
Jasper Mountain Biking
In most places, ‘Mountain Biking’ either means one of two things; finding some dirt next to the sidewalk to ride on, or flinging yourself down a mountain on something that costs more than a motorcycle (but with smaller brakes and no engine). However, if you bike in Jasper, you get that rare third option; cruisy, cross-country fun.
Jasper has what might be the best trail system in the world. Ask any cyclist why they come back to Jasper, and you’ll likely hear that it’s because the park’s well-connected, well-maintained trails are the perfect way to actually experience nature while at the same time avoiding crowds.
Let’s take a look at some of the best trails at Jasper.
Fortress Lake Trail
This ride begins at Sunwapta falls and follows an old fire road. The trail is great for the first 16k, all the way to the Athabasca Crossing suspension bridge. After the bridge the biking gets pretty rough, but it is possible to hike another 9 km to Fortress Lake.
Jacques Lake
Begin at Medicine Lake’s south end, at the Beaver Lake picnic area, and follow a lushly vegetated valley 5 km to the first Summit Lake. The going is pretty flat up to Beaver Lake, making for an easy ride suitable for just about anyone. Going to Jacques Lake can be somewhat difficult due to mud, if there’s been lots of rain or recent snowmelt.
Fryatt Trail
Jump on this bike trail 2 km up the Geraldine Fire Road at the Fryatt Valley parking lot. The trail cuts through a somewhat thick forest at a low elevation for the first 8.2 km, the ride includes several creek crossings. From the lower Fryatt campsite, you can hike another 10 km to the upper Fryatt Valley on foot.
Whirlpool Fire Road
Driving down Hwy. 93A catch the Moab Lake turnoff and go to the Moab Lake parking lot. From there it is 8.5 km to the end of the fire road. You can hike or bike another 3 km from here to Tie Camp on foot.
Snake Indian Falls
Drive down Celestine Lake Road to the Celestine Lake parking area where the North Boundary Trail begins. A nicely-graded gravel road goes from here for 22 km to Snake Indian Falls. Just 1 kilometer past the falls, the road becomes a heavily-trafficked trail to the Willow Creek area and the Rock Lake exit.
Moose Mountain Biking
Situated within easy access to Calgary, the Moose Mountain and Bragg Creek area has become popular among local outdoor enthusiasts. With stunning views, impressive fall colors, and miles of trails, it’s easy to see why visitors from near and far come to appreciate the area.
Visits to the area are an outdoors person’s dream, with a multitude of options for guests. Trails are available for running, hiking and biking, and various viewpoints entice trail users to venture into the backcountry. Be sure to stop by Elbow Falls, or take a day to summit Prairie Mountain. The splendor of the Canadian Rockies is on display and won’t disappoint.
Moose Mountain offers a mix of x-country and downhill trails with some of the most challenging technical riding in Alberta mixed with family friendly leisurely rides. The downhill trails involve single track with north shore style ramps, jumps and berms to keep you adrenalized. With the option to shuttle your ride on most trails, you can save your sweat and energy for the ride.
Alternatively, burn all of your fat stores on a strenuous x-country trail, or take the kids for a relaxing ride on an easy nature loop.To access Moose Mountain Trails, drive to Bragg Creek. From the 4-way stop, on HWY 22 next to Bragg Creek, turn south down HWY 22 and continue for 3km to a T intersection. Turn right (westbound) onto HWY 66.
Useful Tip for Downhill Trails: For most of the downhill trails, continue down HWY 66 for 16km to Moose Mountain Road. Moose Mountain Road will be your first right after Station Flats and will provide several parking options from the base to the summit. If you’re shuttling, most rides will Terminate at Ing’s Mine Parking, just west of Moose Mountain Road.
Useful Tip for X-Country Trails: Numerous options exist with Station Flats being the most popular launch point, and likely the easiest to traverse if you have no map.
Larose Forest Mountain Biking
South of Ottawa lies the large Larose Forest where mountain bike riders can find 17 km of fast, flowy loops to please everyone.
This large forest is typical of many wooded areas that were either too rocky or sandy for farmers to use. This one has a very fine sand base. Surprisingly it’s firm to ride, with only a few spots so loose on turns you could slide out. Even so, there are berms at many of these curves to keep your speed.
Many riders that ride the loops near P1 often complain that they are too tough. The track is smooth with few roots and no rocks at all, but there is a sharp descent.
To be honest, a few log hops set on the route would likely clear this problem up. Maybe they are omitted to keep it as an easy, beginner MTB experience.
A number of loops run along the top edge of small creek valleys that drain off a rather flat topography. Here trail builders have cut a few harder, quick sidelines to get a thrill. Added are drops, a bowl and pump tracks to give it more interest.
North of Ottawa finds you plenty of rocky technical riding, whereas this southern trail was an easy, fast, smooth ride to enjoy. Further on the east side of this forest at P4 you can find 3 more MTB loops to ride. There are also Nordic, ATV, Equestrian paths and gravel sideroads to explore in this large forest.
Panorama Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking at Panorama celebrates old school riding while embracing the new directions and trends of the ever evolving sports of downhill and XC mountain biking. The park’s roots are obvious in the braided labyrinth of burly tech DH trails. Panorama’s Bike Park offers a number of trails to challenge riders of all levels.
Renowned for singletrack trails with natural features for all abilities, Panorama’s variety of trails include wide cruisers and expert terrain with man-made stunts.
Recent host to the Canadian Downhill Championships, Panorama might be mellow but its trails will give you a run for your money. With one high speed gondola for access, and non-existent crowds, riders can lap Panorama’s freeride and downhill mountain bike trails without lines or chaos.
The recently developed Bike Skills Park is a great place for kids and beginners to practice and play. This park is built for fun, with small jumps and rolls as well as some wooden features and best of all – no lift access is required. The laid back resort community offers family activities, bike and bed packages, cross-country trails as well as freeride and downhill features.
Yukon Mountain Biking
Canada’s Yukon Territory packs a serious punch when it comes to mountain biking. Think endless sweeping trails with just enough switchbacks to keep you guessing, wildlife spotting opportunities aplenty and vast open skies and you’ve pretty much got mountain biking heaven.
The Yukon’s mountain bike scene is known for easily accessible single track mountain trails, downhill runs, and back-country roads, making a two-wheeled dirt adventure an unforgettable way to connect with nature.
With this in mind, what are some of the best MTB trails in the Yukon Territory?
Montana Mountain
This charming former mining mountain in Carcross, an hour’s drive from Whitehorse, has been converted into a mountain bike park. The park features long single track runs like the Sam McGee Trail, with rock drops, bridges, dirt jumps, and technical runs that go all the way to beautiful Bennett Lake.
Trails are lovingly constructed and carefully maintained by local Aboriginal youths under a program designed to help to get them re-connecting with their traditional territory and out “on the land”. Their reward? The trail builders get to take the first run down any trail they create.
Mount Mcintyre
Don’t forget your camera on this ride as the trail winds through stunning scenery. Ride through multiple ecosystems, from alpine meadows filled with wildflowers to thick forests, as you climb ever-higher to the top of Mount McIntyre. On the outskirts of Whitehorse, the climb to the summit is worth the sweat equity for the outstanding views of Whitehorse, Fish Lake, and Lake Laberge.
Whitehorse And The Millennium Walkway
This is a great starting point to get your Yukon bearings. The mostly-paved Millennium Walkway and Yukon Loop Trail is an ideal family route, perfect for a relaxed ride or newbie mountain bikers. Nearby, Gray Mountain has a network of trails, with gently swooping runs, and epic views of the capital city of Whitehorse and the deep green Yukon River.
Ride down to Miles Canyon for beautiful views of the Yukon River and the canyon that gave Whitehorse its name. The rapids, now tamed by an efficient hydro dam, looked like white horses galloping over the rocks to 1898 Klondike gold rushers.
Ridge Road Trail
Historic Dawson City is home to a couple of lengthy biking trails perfect for single or multi-day adventures. From the trail enjoy epic views of the town and surrounding countryside with its mountain-dotted landscape. The 32-kilometer Ridge Road Trail winds through the Klondike Gold Rush route, while the 106-kilometer Top of the World Highway is a fantastic long-distance ride, which will take you all the way to the Alaskan border.
The Yukon Territory can be punishing due to the extreme drops in temperature overnight, so it is wise to traverse the Yukon during the summer months for the best overall experience. Montana Mountain is likely the best track to consider if you are just starting out with MTB in the Yukon Territory.
The 28 km restored Mountain Hero trail climbs about 1400 meters up old mining roads that eventually level off in the alpine, providing incredible views of the river system that surrounds Montana Mountain and adjacent regions. This is a great way to be both challenged but also remain fairly intermediate at the same time.
