Parksville's Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park ranks as one of British Columbia's top facilities for challenging off-road cycling, alongside bike parks in Whistler, Sun Peaks Resort, and Mount Washington Resort (in the Courtney/Comox area an hour north of Parksville). Other challenging routes are found at the Abyss, in Nanaimo's Extension Ridge area – a favourite with locals. For a smoother easier ride, make the trek (by two ferries) to Hornby Island, and the root-free trails of Mount Geoffrey.
Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park
Oceanfront resorts are within minutes of the Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park, so resort visitors can easily leave cars behind and spend the entire day in the saddle. Hook up with the 5km/3mi Top Bridge Trail at the Rathtrevor Beach end of Resort Drive, then follow the route under Highway 19, and onwards to the bike park. From there, cyclists can cross the new suspension bridge and ride all the way to Englishman River Provincial Park. The quickest access point to the bike park is from the parking lot at the end of Chattell Road (which can be reached from Highway 19A by carefully avoiding the on-ramp to Highway 19, passing by the truck scales and following Kaye Road to Chattell).
Arrowsmith Mountain Bike Club
Local cyclists under the banner of this proactive, all-ages organization carved out and maintain to this day the Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park's eight moderately difficult circuit routes. Founded in 1994 and dedicated to the joyriding fun of the sport, the AMBC also hosts a series of bike races, notably an ultra-tough endurance test known as Hammerfest.
Parksville Region Mountain Biking
Parksville is a great central point for mountain biking throughout the region. Due south in Nanaimo's Extension Ridge area is the Abyss, so named because of the earthquake fissure that runs through the area. Local bikers have trailblazed here and created a scenically beautiful series of challenging routes. North of Qualicum Beach, catch the ferry to Denman Island from Buckley Bay and then another to Hornby Island, where cyclists can tackle the smooth, fast, root-free trails of Mount Geoffrey. In Parksville, cyclists can pick up tips, trail maps, and supplies at such local bike shops as Arrowsmith Bikes (next to the bowling alley at 674 East Island Highway) and Island Cycle (downtown at 114 Hirst Street), or stop by the Visitor Centre for more information.