Planning a ride and wondering where the best mountain bike trails British Columbia has to offer are? Start with Whistler, Squamish and the North Shore on the coast, then add the quieter Cariboo.
This guide is part of our look at Cariboo mountain biking, and it puts the province’s big names in context.
| Region | Key figure |
|---|---|
| Whistler (all trail networks) | 667 trails, highest elevation 2388 m |
| Whistler Mountain Bike Park | 130+ trails, net descent 1,529 m |
| Squamish | 293 trails, highest elevation 2,225 m |
| North Shore (Vancouver) | 347 trails, highest elevation 2,079 m |
| Sunshine Coast | 693 trails, highest elevation 1,852 m |
| Williams Lake (Cariboo) | More than 200 km of trails |
Figures come from Mountain Biking BC’s Vancouver, Coast & Mountains page and its Cariboo Chilcotin Coast page. Trail counts and season dates change, so check the source before you rely on them.
How mountain bike trails in British Columbia are organised
British Columbia does not have one mountain biking scene. It has many regional hubs, each with its own trail association, terrain and character.
Mountain Biking BC, a promotional site for riding in the province, sorts the province into regions. These include Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, Northern BC, Thompson Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Vancouver, Coast & Mountains.
That structure helps when you plan a trip. Pick a region first, then a town, then a trail network.
This site is independent. It is not connected to any of the organisations, parks or trail groups named here, and it does not sell trips or take bookings.
Whistler: lifts, volume and variety
Whistler is the name most riders know. The Mountain Biking BC page lists 667 trails in the wider Whistler area, with a highest elevation of 2388 m.
Within that, Whistler Mountain Bike Park is the lift-served core. The same page describes it as delivering world-class lift-accessed riding alongside extensive singletrack, enduro and smooth valley trail networks.
The bike park listing shows 130+ trails and a net descent of 1,529 m. It rates 10 trails easy, 55 intermediate, 35 difficult and 27 extra difficult.
Whistler also suits riders who do not want a lift. The page notes that visiting riders can rely completely on two wheels to explore the trails scattered around the valley.
- Best for: riders who want lifts, variety and a busy resort town.
- Season: the page listed opening day as May 15, 2026 and closing day as October 12, 2026. Dates differ each year, so look up the current ones.
- Trade-off: it is the busiest option in this guide.
Squamish and the North Shore: coastal loam and steep tech
Squamish sits between Vancouver and Whistler. Mountain Biking BC says few places in the world rival its trails with rock slabs, deep loam and amazing flow.
Its listing shows 293 trails and a highest elevation of 2,225 m. By difficulty that is 50 easy, 112 intermediate, 89 difficult and 42 extra difficult, so intermediate riders are well served.
The North Shore, in Vancouver’s northern municipalities, lists 347 trails with a highest elevation of 2,079 m. Its split leans harder, with 136 difficult and 67 extra difficult trails.
Next to it, Grouse Bike Park is a smaller option. It lists 15 trails, with an opening day of June 5, 2026 on the page.
Beyond the coast: the Sunshine Coast and the Interior
The Sunshine Coast is a good example of a gentler region. Its listing shows 693 trails, and 211 are easy and 395 intermediate. Only 76 are difficult and 11 extra difficult.
That makes it a friendlier choice for newer riders or mixed-ability groups than the steeper North Shore profile.
Mountain Biking BC’s community list also names Interior and mountain towns such as Kamloops, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Rossland, Fernie and Nelson / Kaslo. Each has its own association and its own trail personality, so read local guides before you commit to a trip.
Trail counts differ between directories because each one counts and groups trails differently. Use them to compare scale, not as exact measurements.
The Cariboo: three hubs, fewer crowds
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast is where this site focuses. Mountain Biking BC says the region has three major riding hubs: Williams Lake, Quesnel, and the South Chilcotin Mountains.
It says Williams Lake has a sprawling network of more than 200 km of trails. Quesnel offers multiple riding zones including Dragon Mountain, Wonderland and its bike park, while the South Chilcotin delivers remote alpine backcountry riding.
For detail on the closest hub, see our guide to Williams Lake mountain bike trails.
The region page also answers a common worry. It says Williams Lake and Quesnel both have dedicated beginner flow trails alongside advanced terrain.
If you want to link several towns by bike rather than base yourself in one, read about bike touring in the Cariboo.
What Quesnel adds to the picture
Quesnel shows how varied one Cariboo town can be. Mountain Biking BC says Dragon Mountain offers technical, rocky singletrack with panoramic views.
The same page says Wonderland has blue/black flow trails minutes from downtown. The Quesnel Bike Park adds progressive jumps, a pump track and a skills area for all ages.
Terrain there ranges from beginner doubletrack to raw, technical singletrack. That range means a mixed group can share a town even when their skills differ.
- Dragon Mountain: rocky, technical and scenic.
- Wonderland: flow trails close to the town centre.
- Bike park: jumps, a pump track and a skills area for practice.
Planning a trip to any BC region
Good planning matters more than the name on the map. Trail networks run on volunteer work and local rules, so the details shift from place to place.
Before you travel, work through these steps.
- Pick the region that matches your skill level and the terrain you enjoy.
- Find the local trail association named on the regional page and read its current trail notes.
- Check season dates for any lift-served or seasonal bike park.
- Look at the difficulty split of the network, not just the headline trail count.
- Allow time to ride a few easier trails first to judge the local grading.
The difficulty split is a useful reality check. A network with a big trail count can still be thin on the grade you want, so read the breakdown.
Also remember that grading is local. A blue trail in one town can feel different from a blue trail in another, so start gently on arrival.
Choosing a region for your skills
Match the place to the riding you actually want. A short checklist helps.
- Want lifts and a resort? Look at Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
- Want steep, technical coastal riding? Look at Squamish or the North Shore.
- Want mostly easy and intermediate trails? The Sunshine Coast listing leans that way.
- Want space, singletrack and fewer people? Look at the Cariboo hubs.
Whatever you pick, check trail status with the local association before you go. Conditions, closures and seasons are set locally and change.
Frequently asked questions
Which BC region has the most mountain bike trails?
Show answer
Among the listings used here, the Sunshine Coast shows 693 trails and Whistler 667. Directories count differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.
Is Whistler Mountain Bike Park open all year?
Show answer
No. The Mountain Biking BC listing gave a May 15, 2026 opening and an October 12, 2026 closing for that season. Check the current dates before you travel.
Is the Cariboo good for beginners?
Show answer
Mountain Biking BC says Williams Lake and Quesnel both have dedicated beginner flow trails alongside advanced terrain.
Which Cariboo towns have major riding?
Show answer
The region page names three hubs: Williams Lake, Quesnel and the South Chilcotin Mountains.
