Planning Cariboo mountain biking and not sure where to start? Begin with the town networks: Williams Lake, Quesnel, Wells and the south Cariboo each offer a different style of riding.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fox Mountain (Williams Lake) trail count | 28 trails |
| Fox Mountain single track, Trailforks listing | over 45 km |
| Fox Mountain single track, Mountain Biking BC blog | over 50 km |
| Driving distance, Williams Lake to Quesnel | 120 km |
| Aflow Daddy, Fox Mountain classic | 1 km |
These figures come from Trailforks and a Mountain Biking BC blog post. Trail counts and lengths change as networks grow, so check the source before you rely on them.
Cariboo mountain biking basics
The Cariboo is a big, spread-out region of interior British Columbia. Riding here means moving between small towns, each with its own local trail network, rather than visiting one large resort. That suits riders who like variety and don’t mind a drive between stops.
The networks are built and looked after largely by clubs and volunteers, and that shapes the experience. Trails can feel more hand-crafted and less polished than a lift-served bike park. Surfaces, signs and trail status vary, so carry a map and allow extra time.
If you are comparing the region with the rest of the province, our overview of mountain bike trails British Columbia shows how the Cariboo fits into the bigger picture.
This site is an independent editorial guide. It is not affiliated with any trail group, tourism body or business mentioned, and it does not take bookings or enquiries.
How the region fits together
Think of the main riding towns as stops along one long corridor. Moving from south to north, you meet 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel and then the high country around Wells and Barkerville. Each stop suits a slightly different rider.
- 100 Mile House: newer club-built trails close to the highway.
- Williams Lake: the longest-running network, with something for most abilities.
- Quesnel: two networks, one gentle and one more technical.
- Wells and Barkerville: shared multi-use trails with a gold-rush backdrop.
You do not have to ride them all. Many visitors pick one base and make day trips, which keeps driving to a minimum.
Williams Lake and Fox Mountain
Williams Lake is the natural base for many visitors. The town has several networks, and our guide to Williams Lake mountain bike trails compares them.
Fox Mountain is the headline. Trailforks describes it as “the longest standing trail network in Williams Lake”, and lists 28 trails totalling over 45 km of single track (Trailforks). A Mountain Biking BC blog post gives a higher figure of over 50 km, so treat the exact total as approximate.
You can reach the trails in two ways, according to Trailforks:
- Pedal up one of the climbing trails: Jimmy’s Fox, Con Nino Y Pero or Skyline.
- Shuttle up Fox Mountain Road, if you have a vehicle and a driver.
For details on specific lines, grades and where to park, see the separate guide to Fox Mountain trails Williams Lake.
Trails worth knowing on Fox Mountain
Trailforks calls Aflow Daddy “a Fox Mountain classic and the most ridden trail”, so expect company on it. It is listed at about 1 km, which makes it a short, rewarding lap rather than an epic.
Newer or less confident riders have gentler choices. Chicken Scratch is described on Trailforks as making “a nice begginer loop on top of fox”. Mountain Biking BC also names Foxfire and Shuttle Bunny as family-friendly green trails (Mountain Biking BC).
The network depends on volunteers. Trailforks invites riders to buy a Williams Lake Cycling Club membership to support the trails, which is a simple way to give something back.
100 Mile House and the south Cariboo
South of Williams Lake, 100 Mile House is a popular stop for riders heading up or down Highway 97. Mountain Biking BC calls it “the gateway to the Cariboo Chilcotin” and “a growing trails and mountain bike destination” (Mountain Biking BC). Our dedicated page on 100 Mile House mountain biking covers what to expect there.
The same story explains the town’s name and history. It sits at the 100 Mile marker from Lillooet, at the start of the Cariboo Wagon Trail, the route thousands of people travelled during the gold rush years of the late 1800s.
The HunCity Mountain Bike Club has worked with Recreation Sites and Trails and the District of 100 Mile House to build trails in the District Woodlot at Mile 99, just south of town on Highway 97. The post names Lower and Upper Climb and Punishment and a signature flow trail, Hustle and Flow, among the new additions.
Treat the post as a snapshot. It describes development as of its publication, and clubs keep adding and revising trails, so confirm current status locally before you go.
Quesnel: Dragon Mountain and Wonderland
Quesnel sits 120 km north of Williams Lake, according to Mountain Biking BC. The town has two main networks, and our guide to Quesnel mountain bike trails goes further.
- Dragon Mountain: the family in the Mountain Biking BC story drove their motorhome to the trailhead and started on a two-way green trail called Walk in the Park.
- Wonderland: described as Quesnel’s other trail network, near Dragon Lake.
The City of Quesnel says trails through Dragon Mountain Provincial Park are popular with mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers, and can be reached from Durrell Road (City of Quesnel). Because several user groups share the park, ride in control and be ready to yield.
How Dragon Mountain is being developed
The network has been a planning focus for local government. The City says that in 2018 it and the Cariboo Regional District consulted the Gold Rush Cycling Club and the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium to develop the Dragon Mountain Master Development Plan.
From that plan, the group and BC Parks chose to develop a 9 km mountain bike climbing line in the park (City of Quesnel). The aim is a phased approach: upgrade existing trails and add new ones.
Two-way green trails such as Walk in the Park are handy for mixed groups. Everyone rides at their own pace, but you meet other riders head-on, so keep right and call out when passing.
Wells and Barkerville
East of Quesnel, the old gold-rush towns offer a very different feel. Our page on Wells BC mountain biking goes into the detail.
Quesnel Tourism says the Wells-Barkerville trails “range in difficulty and elevation”, with some reaching peaks and sweeping views and others looping through the valleys (Quesnel Tourism). The same page says the trails are open to hikers, skiers, mountain bikers, snowmobiles and even horseback riders.
That means shared trails. Slow down for walkers and horses, call out before passing, and give animals plenty of room.
Barkerville itself is a National Historic site, described by Mountain Biking BC as “the largest living-history museum in western North America”. The same story mentions a route called Valley Trail that connects to Wells directly from the Lowhee Campground, which is useful if you camp.
When to ride and how to string it together
Timing matters in the interior. Snow lingers at higher elevations, summers can be dry, and the shoulder seasons bring variable surfaces. Our page on the best time to mountain bike in the Cariboo covers the seasons in more depth.
A simple south-to-north route works well for a road trip:
- Start in 100 Mile House for an easy first ride.
- Spend a few days at Williams Lake and Fox Mountain.
- Drive 120 km to Quesnel for Dragon Mountain and Wonderland.
- Finish in Wells and Barkerville for high-country riding and history.
If you would rather travel by pedal power between towns, read about bike touring in the Cariboo. Distances between towns are long, so plan food, water and accommodation carefully.
Choosing a base
Your base matters as much as your route. A single base saves repacking and lets you pick trails by weather. Moving every night gives variety but eats riding time.
The family trip in the Mountain Biking BC story used an RV, which let them cover several networks in a week. Not everyone needs that. Camping, motels and cabins all work, as long as you book early for busy summer weekends.
Preparing to ride
Good preparation matters more in a remote region. Cell coverage can be patchy, help can be a long way off, and some trails are long. Tell someone your plan and carry basic repair supplies.
Brushing up your mountain bike skills before you travel makes the steeper and rootier trails far more enjoyable. Choosing sensible mountain bike gear also helps, from a helmet and gloves to spare tubes and a pump.
A short checklist before each ride:
- Check the current trail status and weather.
- Carry water, food, a first-aid kit and a charged phone.
- Download an offline map, since signal may fade.
- Respect closures, stay on marked trails and pack out litter.
- Consider supporting local clubs that maintain the trails.
Trail etiquette and wildlife
Shared trails work when everyone follows the same few habits. Uphill riders and walkers generally have right of way, so the rider heading down yields. Slow before blind corners and say hello when you approach.
This is also bear and wildlife country. Make some noise on quiet, tree-covered trails, keep food sealed, and give any animal you meet plenty of space. Follow local advice and posted notices.
Matching the network to your riding level
The Cariboo’s networks reward a bit of homework. A trail that suits a fit, experienced rider can leave a beginner walking, and the reverse is true for a family on a relaxed day out. Start by being honest about your fitness, your skills and how much daylight you have.
Most networks use the familiar green, blue and black colour system, and Trailforks lists ratings and popularity for each trail. Ratings are community opinions, so a black diamond in one town may feel different from a black diamond somewhere else. Ride a trail below your limit first to calibrate.
If you are new to mountain biking
Look for green trails, loops that return to the parking area, and places where you can turn back easily. On Fox Mountain, the green trails Foxfire and Shuttle Bunny and the Chicken Scratch loop are named in the sources above as gentler options. In Quesnel, Walk in the Park is the two-way green trail the Mountain Biking BC family rode.
Keep rides short at first. Cariboo trails can include sustained climbs, and tired riders make more mistakes on the descent.
If you ride regularly
You have more freedom to link trails together. A climbing trail up Fox Mountain followed by a classic such as Aflow Daddy makes a satisfying lap. Elsewhere, the all-mountain and downhill terrain around Mile 99 near 100 Mile House and the more technical parts of Dragon Mountain are natural next steps.
Read trail descriptions before dropping in, particularly for features such as wooden structures, which the Mountain Biking BC post notes are a feature of Hustle and Flow. Walk anything that looks beyond you.
If you ride with kids
Families have ridden the region successfully. The Mountain Biking BC story follows a family with a young daughter who rode Fox Mountain, Dragon Mountain, Wonderland and the Wells-Barkerville area in a single week-long trip. Their route is a useful model for a relaxed pace with a mix of riding and sightseeing.
Plan snack stops, keep distances modest and let children set the pace. Two-way trails need extra care so that small riders are not caught by surprise.
Weather, seasons and conditions
Interior weather changes quickly. A warm valley can sit beneath cool, damp high country, so pack layers even on a sunny morning. A light shell, spare gloves and a warm top weigh little and can make an unexpected storm a minor inconvenience.
Wet trails are easily damaged, and riding them can harm the work that volunteers put in. If a trail is soft or muddy, choose another route or wait for it to dry. Local clubs and trail pages often post notices, so look before you set out.
Higher trails, such as those near Wells, usually clear later in the season than trails around the lower towns. For a fuller seasonal picture, use our page on the best time to ride, linked above, and confirm conditions locally before you drive.
Bike setup and trip logistics
Bring a bike that suits the trails you plan to ride. Fox Mountain is listed as all-mountain and downhill terrain on Trailforks, so a trail bike with decent brakes and tyres is a sensible choice. A rigid, lighter setup can suit gentler networks, but it will make steeper lines harder work.
Before you leave home, give the bike a proper check:
- Inspect brake pads and bleed or top up as needed.
- Check tyre condition and set pressure for rooty, rocky ground.
- Lube the chain and test all shifting.
- Pack a spare tube, a pump or inflator, a multi-tool and a chain link.
Towns in the region are small, so you cannot count on finding a particular part in every location. Pack the essentials rather than assuming you can buy them on the road, and remember that driving between towns takes real time.
If you plan to shuttle, arrange the vehicle and driver in advance. Shuttling Fox Mountain Road is an option on Trailforks, but it depends on your own arrangements and the road conditions at the time.
Giving back to the trails
The riding described here exists because clubs, local governments and volunteers have built and maintained it. Names that appear in the sources include the Williams Lake Cycling Club, the HunCity Mountain Bike Club, the Gold Rush Cycling Club and the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium.
You can support them in simple ways. Join a club if you ride a network often, stay on marked trails, avoid wet-weather damage, and carry out what you carry in. Thank volunteers when you see them working.
This site does not run or represent any of these groups. For their programmes, membership details and current trail notices, go to their own pages.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a first-time visitor start?
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Williams Lake is a convenient base because Fox Mountain has trails for several abilities, including beginner options such as Chicken Scratch, Foxfire and Shuttle Bunny.
Can I ride without a shuttle?
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Yes. Trailforks says Fox Mountain trails can be reached by climbing Jimmy’s Fox, Con Nino Y Pero or Skyline, or by shuttling up Fox Mountain Road.
Are the Wells trails only for bikes?
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No. Quesnel Tourism says they are open to hikers, skiers, mountain bikers, snowmobiles and horseback riders, so share the trail politely.
How accurate are trail lengths?
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Sources differ. Fox Mountain is listed at over 45 km by Trailforks and over 50 km by Mountain Biking BC, so check a current map before you plan a day.
