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Fox Mountain: What to Know Before You Ride

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Fox Mountain trails Williams Lake

Wondering what the Fox Mountain trails Williams Lake riders talk about are really like? It is the town’s longest-standing network, with 28 trails and over 45 km of singletrack, reachable by climbing or shuttle.

Item Value
Number of trails 28 trails
Total singletrack Over 45 km
Primary trail type All-Mountain & Downhill
Shuttleable Yes
Foxfire rebuild Summer of 2019

These figures come from the Trailforks Fox Mountain region page, which showed trail info last updated November 9, 2026. Trail counts and conditions change, so check the source before you rely on them.

Fox Mountain trails in Williams Lake: the basics

Fox Mountain sits just outside town and is described as the longest standing trail network in Williams Lake. The same page says it hosts some of the most stunning scenery in the Cariboo.

The network is one piece of a wider local scene. For the bigger picture, see our guide to Williams Lake mountain bike trails, and for the whole region, start with Cariboo mountain biking.

The region page tags features you can expect to find, such as berms, jumps, skinnies, drops, bridges and rock gardens. It also lists a bike repair station, restrooms and shuttle access among its points of interest, though you should confirm what is in working order on the day.

How do you get up the mountain?

Trailforks says every trail can be reached by a pedal climb or a shuttle. You have these options:

  • Climb Jimmy’s Fox.
  • Climb Con Nino Y Pero.
  • Climb Skyline.
  • Shuttle up Fox Mountain Road, if you have a vehicle and a driver.

The region is marked as shuttleable, so a two-vehicle day is realistic. Plan your own logistics and check current road conditions before you go.

Some descents are one-way. Trailforks notes that one trail is downhill only and asks riders to use the Pandora’s Fox route for climbing, so read each trail’s description before you head up.

Parking matters too. A 2021 report on the club’s planned upgrade named Ross Road and the Tourism Discovery Centre as the most accessible and largest existing parking areas on the network.

What kind of riding will you find?

The listed primary type is all-mountain and downhill. That means you should expect real climbs and descents, not a flat park loop.

The region page gives a difficulty split of 28% beginner, 37% intermediate and 40% advanced. Those percentages are as printed on the page and do not add up neatly to 100, so treat them as a rough picture only.

Fox Mountain trails Williams Lake
A helmeted mountain biker jumps above a dirt trail among tall trees.

Trail ratings on Trailforks are user-contributed, so use them as a guide. Scout a descent on foot or ride it slowly the first time, and walk anything that looks beyond your skill.

Which trails suit beginners and families?

If you are newer to singletrack, start with the gentler options. Chicken Scratch is described as a popular blue-difficulty singletrack, and another listing for it says it makes a nice beginner loop on top of Fox.

Foxfire is another good candidate. The region page says it was rebuilt in the summer of 2019 and is a fun flowy trail for the whole family.

The page also lists a 2 km climbing trail on Con Nino Y Pero that connects the start of Shuttlebunny to the main trail. It is a useful link if you want to earn your descent rather than shuttle.

What are the signature trails?

Loose Moose is described as Fox Mountain’s new signature trail. It is listed at 3 km, and Trailforks’ popularity list also names Pandora’s Fox, Chicken Scratch, Crackle and the lower section of the TDC trail among the most popular rides.

That popularity list is a good starting point for a first visit. Pair one climb with one flowing descent, then add more once you know how the terrain feels.

Does Fox Mountain have a racing history?

Yes. The region page features a route for the 2016 Osprey BC Enduro Series, with Williams Lake listed as Round #3. The route is shown as a loop of 31 km, which gives you a sense of how much terrain the mountain can link together.

You do not need to race to use that idea. A long loop that strings together several climbs and descents is a fun way to see a lot of the network in one outing, provided you are fit enough and carry enough water and food.

Smaller additions appear on the page too. One listing notes that a 3 Lil Pigs extension was put in during fall 2021, a reminder that the network keeps changing and that new links may appear between visits.

How should you prepare for a first visit?

Start with the map rather than the trail names. Open the Trailforks region page, pick one climb and one descent that match your skill, and check the recent reports for that day.

Think about your own comfort level as well. Fox Mountain is listed as all-mountain and downhill, so a helmet, gloves, working brakes and sensible tyre pressure are the basics. Riders who like extra protection may choose knee pads for steeper trails.

Weather and trail surface in the Cariboo can shift through the season. If the ground is very wet, consider a different route or another day, since riding soft trails can damage them and the volunteers who maintain them.

Finally, share the trails. Yield to uphill riders where signed, slow down near blind corners, and say hello to walkers and dog owners you pass.

How has the network been growing?

Local reporting shows the Williams Lake Cycling Club investing in the mountain. A March 2021 West Coast Traveller report says machine-built downhill trails appeal to riders from beginner to advanced, and that the Foxfire rebuild in 2019 was an introduction to that success.

The same report describes a planned machine-built section of roughly 1.5 kilometres, with another two kilometres of existing trail to be improved, as covered by West Coast Traveller.

A November 2020 My Cariboo Now story says trails around town reached all-time highs for usage in 2020. It adds that the club applied for a $30,000 grant toward a progressive flow trail, as reported by My Cariboo Now.

Those are older reports about plans, so confirm what is built today before you head out.

Planning your ride

  • Check Trailforks for recent trail reports and closures.
  • Bring repair tools, water and a layer.
  • Tell someone your route before you set off.
  • Respect one-way and downhill-only trails.
  • Consider supporting the local trail club through membership, which the region page encourages.

If you are travelling further south on a Cariboo trip, our 100 Mile House mountain biking page covers another option. This site is independent and is not affiliated with any trail group or app named here.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Fox Mountain trail network?

Show answer

Trailforks lists 28 trails totalling over 45 km of singletrack.

Can you shuttle Fox Mountain?

Show answer

Yes. The region page marks it as shuttleable and mentions shuttling up Fox Mountain Road.

Is there anything for families?

Show answer

The region page calls Foxfire, rebuilt in the summer of 2019, a fun flowy trail for the whole family.

Who builds the trails?

Show answer

The Williams Lake Cycling Club has led recent rebuilds and upgrades, according to news reports from 2020 and 2021.