British Columbia is home to some of the world's best mountain biking. Riders of all skill levels are drawn to BC for its thousands of miles of single track trails, numerous lift-accessed mountain bike parks, and endless opportunities for downhill, cross-country and freeriding (a modern mountain biking discipline that combines downhill, dirt jumping and stunts etc).
What Makes BC Great for Mountain Biking?
From the urban sophistication of Vancouver to the small-town beauty of Rossland, BC's rugged mountains and dedicated local riders combine to create trail networks that are second-to-none. The province has also turned out some impressive biking athletes: BC-born bikers Wade Simmons and Richey Schley are two who've stood out on the international mountain biking circuit. Go Mountain Biking in BC!:
Learn more about Mountain Biking in BC's regions and cities:
BC's Must-Do Rides
In the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, head to Vancouver's North Shore and ride the legendary CBC or Ned's Atomic Dustbin trails. To the north, the town of Squamish hosts one of North America's premiere cross-country mountain bike events, the Test of Metal, a 67km, point-to-point mountain bike race held each summer. Whistler is home to Crankworx, one of the world's largest and most popular freeride mountain bike festivals. The nine-day event draws top international riders and thousands of spectators to world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
The mountain bike hot-bed of Rossland in the Kootenay Rockies region is the site of the Seven Summits Trail, named as BIKE magazine's 2007 "Trail of the Year". BC is also home to several IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) "Epic Rides": Whistler's Comfortably Numb; the North Shore's Eagle Ridge Expedition; and the aforementioned Seven Summits.
Mountain Bike Parks
When the snow melts, numerous BC resorts convert their legendary slopes into lift-accessed networks of gnarly downhill trails. Resort bike parks in BC like Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Mount Washington, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Silver Star are some of the many parks to offer a true vacation-style riding experience: new trails, specially outfitted lifts, professional instruction, ride-in ride-out accommodation, skills camps for all levels of rider — the list of possibilities is endless. Lift-accessed bike parks are found on Vancouver Island and in Whistler, the Thompson Okanagan, and the Kootenay Rockies.
Click on one of the resorts below to learn more (or use our Search bar at the top of the page to find a particular resort not listed here).
The North Shore and World-Class Mountain Biking Trails
Widely known by biking enthusiasts as the "birthplace" of free riding, Vancouver's North Shore is a mecca for serious mountain bikers, because of its close proximity to excellent mountain ranges and dozens of technical trails – all within view of British Columbia's largest city. Travelling north from Vancouver, visitors will find popular mountain biking destinations like Squamish, Whistler, Williams Lake, Prince George and Terrace. Riders can take a BC Ferry to Vancouver Island and check out the Cumberland Trail Network, or head east to the Kootenay Rockies, a mountain bike mecca featuring limitless routes.
Mountain Bike Rentals
From big air to downhill to scenic cross-country treks — you don't need to own a bike to experience BC's epic rides. Rental shops are found in many cities and towns, and the rental fleets at BC's bike parks offer a range of full suspension, high-performance downhill, freeride, and cross-country bikes from top makers such as Santa Cruz, Kona, Rocky Mountain, Giant and Norco; accessories like body armour and full-face helmets are also available for rent. Had a Great BC Biking Experience?
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Find out more about Cycling in British Columbia or click on the link below to learn more about BC's mountain biking businesses.