Southern Chilcotins Mountain Biking, B.C.

The thought of mountain biking in British Columbia conjures up images of insanely difficult technical trails confirming the province’s status as the birthplace of freeride. Less known, however, are the incredible cross-country trails lacing the countryside. The Southern Chilcotin Mountains epitomize B.C.’s backcountry riding experience.

Here, impeccable singletrack winds through tight ponderosa forests above rushing rivers. Riders descend wind-scoured alpine ridges from desolate rolling passes at white-knuckle speed and weave through meadows of technicolor wildflowers while taking in panoramic views of the mountains.

The Chilcotins are also home to a diverse wildlife including grizzlies and black bears, wolverines, California big horn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, and countless other critters. Large mammal sightings are common and some ride with bear bells to prevent startling these amazing creatures.

Location:

The Spruce Lake Protected Area in the South Chilcotin Mountains is located 150 km north of Whistler, and 100 km west of Lillooet, B.C. The area is nearly 72,000 hectares in size and sits adjacent to, and just south of Big Creek Provincial Park.

The Terrain:

This is arguably the best cross-country mountain biking in Canada. An abundance of singletrack takes you to some of the most scenic high country in BC. Epic mountaintops rising to over 10,000 feet form rugged panoramas in all directions; There are alpine meadows bursting with exotic flora, hundreds of kilometres of well-established trails and moonscape ridge-tops overlooking crystal alpine lakes.

Maps:

The best recreation and trail map available is the Southern Chilcotin Mountains Trail Map. Readily available at bike shops, it’s amazingly detailed and packed with recreation info and is a must-have for the mountain bikers visiting the Chilcotins.

Season:

Mountain biking is possible between June and September, with July and August being the busiest times. Although there are numerous trails at lower elevations, the best biking is in the alpine meadows and on the high ridges and passes. Book well in advance if you wish to charter a floatplane drop or rent accommodation, as the area becomes extremely popular at this time.

Who can ride?

Anyone. The Chilcotins are famous for non-technical cross-country trails, and mostly moderate downhill sections. There are lakeside and forested trails suitable for beginners, kids, and families, as well as gruelling backcountry epics to challenge the most experienced and fit riders.

Where to ride?

Most first-time visitors explore the Spruce Lake Protected Area, which offers over 150 km of buff trails. Classic rides include a pedal through spectacular Eldorado Basin and over Windy Pass, descending to camp at Spruce Lake. Fit riders can tackle a long tour leading from Spruce Lake up Tyaughton Creek to Deer Pass. After a fun descent from Deer Pass, enjoy a high-speed rip down Gun Creek passing Trigger and Hummingbird Lakes on your way back to Spruce Lake. For those with less time, a pedal from the Jewell Creek trailhead up Gun Creek to Spruce Lake and back is also enjoyable.

Self-guided riding is most popular, however you will need to be experienced and self-sufficient as this is true wilderness: there are no service shops nearby. Be prepared with lots of food, water, proper clothing for the weather, a map and a well-tuned mountain bike. There are a number of opportunities for guided trips ranging from half-day jaunts to multi-day expeditions through the Tyax resort. There’s also the option of being dropped by floatplane at a remote wilderness lake and riding back to base camp.

Getting There:

There are a number of ways to access the Chilcotins, and the Tyax Resort web site contains complete details (www.tyax.com). Typically, folks make the scenic six-hour, 250 km drive from Vancouver to Tyaughton Lake via the Sea to Sky Highway 99, heading north past Whistler and Pemberton. It is also possible to fly from Whistler to Tyax Resort though Tyax Air .

Accommodation:

Plenty of free basic camping is available on Forest Service Rec sites in the area. There is also the Gun Creek Campground (Carpenter Lake Reservoir), maintained by BC Hydro on Highway 40. For those looking for a roof over their head, popular options are Tyax Resort (around $180/night) and the Morrow Chalets (around $150/night).

It’s also popular to ride in and camp at Spruce Lake, a great base from which you can stage many rides, but this means carrying backcountry camping gear on the ride in and out. Some charter Tyax Air to fly in their food and camp gear, then ride to Spruce Lake via the popular Eldorado Basin and Windy Pass (about 40 km). One can then spend several days riding based from Spruce Lake before having your camp flown back out to Tyax.

Tyax Resort
www.tyax.com
877.918.8929

Morrow Chalets
www.morrowchalets.com
250.238.2462

Tyax Air Services
www.tyaxair.com
888.892.9288