108 Mile Ranch Trails
Summer's most invigorating rides can be found at 108 Mile Ranch, where beginner-to-intermediate cross-country routes take you over spectacular terrain.
Follow wide, smooth paths with moderate slopes on 150 km (93 mi) of marked trails. You'll ride through open meadows, beneath forest cover, past working cattle ranches, across rippling creeks and enjoy great views of the Cariboo region's legendary rolling hills.
One of the area's best known trails is the 108 Mile Lake/Sepa Lake Trail, a 9.2-km (5.7-mi) easy route with fairly flat terrain. The trail starts at the 108 Mile Heritage Site and circumnavigates both lakes. The route offers excellent opportunities for viewing waterfowl, and riders can take a refreshing dip in 108 Mile Lake from one of three sandy beaches.
The trail network can be accessed from the 108 Heritage Site along Highway 97. You can also begin your ride from one of the area's many inviting resorts, guest ranches or bed and breakfasts. Ask at the South Cariboo Visitor Centre in 100 Mile House for information about bike rentals, maps and guided tours.
108 Mile Ranch is located off Highway 97, 10 minutes north of 100 Mile House. Biking season generally starts in April and continues until sometime in October.
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Quesnel
There's something for every kind of rider in Quesnel's multi-use trail system. Trails range from gently sloping, forested paths in a park setting to fast, stunt-heavy single-track. Some offer fantastic views.
Hallis Lake is a series of loop trails that range from 2.5 km (1.5 mi) to 15 km (9.3 mi) in length and gain as much as 180 m (591 ft) in elevation. Difficulty levels range from beginner to advanced. Located 10 minutes south of Quesnel, they feature various types of forest and some terrific viewpoints.
Wonderland Trail is a single-track loop with log rides, log ladders, drops, ramps and teeter totters, most with go-arounds. Six km (4 mi) long and very versatile, it can be used anyone, beginner to expert.
Hangman Springs has three loop trails for beginner to intermediate riders. Each trail is about 20 km (12 mi) long with an elevation gain of 100 m (328 ft). Ride through pine and fir forest on old roads, double-track and single-track trails. The trailheads are located 20 minutes west of Quesnel.
Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park has 10 km (6 mi) of beginner to intermediate trails with minimal elevation gain. Spend anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours exploring this trail network. One 2-km (1.2-mi) trail leads to a beaver pond, where beavers have built a lodge and a series of dams. You can also camp, fish and swim in this park.
Quesnel is located north of Williams Lake, on Highway 97. The best time for mountain biking is mid-May through October.
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Sheridan Lake / Fawn Lake
The South Cariboo's Interlakes District contains more than 100 lakes, most of them teeming with fish. It's best known as a fishing destination but two areas, Sheridan Lake and Fawn Lake, have trail systems that welcome mountain bikers.
Sheridan Lake's system is made up of old logging roads, skid trails and game trails. North-south trails are numbered. East-west trails, such as the notable, 23-km (14-mi) "E" trail (easy to advanced), have letter names. In all, the area offers 209 km (130 mi) of well-maintained, multi-use. Trails are very scenic, and some have fantastic viewpoints.
Fawn Lake Trail is relatively flat and gains just 50m (164 ft) in elevation over 13 km (8 mi). The trail starts and ends on intermediate-level terrain and gets more advanced mid-ride.
Ask at the South Cariboo Visitor Centre for information about rentals, maps and guided tours.
Sheridan and Fawn lakes are located off Highway 24, between 93 Mile on Highway 97 and Little Fort on Highway 5. The best time for mountain biking is mid-May through October.
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Spruce Lake
The multi-use Spruce Lake Trails are located in South Chilcotin Provincial Park, a wilderness park that protects a number of intact watersheds and headwaters. Highlights of the terrain include mid-elevation grasslands, sub-alpine and alpine meadows, alpine lakes and mountain peaks.
One of the trails, Gun Creek Trail (moderate), takes about two days to complete, roundtrip. It starts at Jewel Bridge, in the park's south end, and follows Gun Creek to a junction with Deer Pass and Warner Pass Trails. About halfway along, you can take a short detour to Spruce Lake.
High Trail (extreme) gains takes about 2 days to complete, roundtrip. Starting at the south end of Tyaughton Lake, it extends through the Lower Eldorado Basin and over Windy Pass and terminates at the south end of Spruce Lake.Warner Pass Trail (difficult) takes about 3 days to complete, roundtrip. It starts near the cabin at Trigger Lake and follows Warner Creek to Warner Lake. Tyaughton Creek Trail (moderate) takes about 3 days to complete, roundtrip. It starts off the Mud Creek Forest Service Road, on the southeast side of the park.
Spruce Lake is located north of Pemberton and northwest of Lillooet, off Hurley River Road and Highway 40 respectively. Access is via rough, unpaved roads through the community of Gold Bridge. Float plane service, bike rentals, maps and guides are available at the Tyax Mountain Lake Resort. The best time for mountain biking is June through September.
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Williams Lake
Williams Lake is an old ranching community that has retained much of its Old West charm. Surrounded by lakes and a vast network of world-class multi-use trails, it's a superb destination for fishing, bird watching, hiking and mountain biking.
The trail system can be accessed directly from town. Cross-country ski trails and old logging roads, great for biking, are just minutes away. Some trails pass through pasture, so be sure to close all gates behind you.
Jimmy's Fox Trail is a 15-km (9.3-mi) stretch of moderate-to-difficult single-track that features great views of Williams Lake. It takes approximately three hours to complete, roundtrip.
Two trail networks, South Side and West Side, are spread across a plateau above Williams Lake. They offer both single- and double-track routes for riders of all skill levels. Intermediate riders will enjoy the ridges and hollows in the South Side network. West Side's technical Spokey Hollow Trail offers expert riders about three hours of pure cardio and some terrific views.
Experienced riders will enjoy riding the six technically challenging trails on De Sous Mountain, which is a 20 minute drive from Williams Lake.
Visit the Williams Lake Visitor Centre or local bike shops for trail maps. Bike rentals and information about guided tours are available at local bike shops. Biking season generally starts in May and continues until sometime in October. Williams Lake is located south of Quesnel, on Highway 97.
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