BIKING IN WHISTLER ...
More than downhill
There’s a lot more to biking in Whistler than the worldfamous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Beyond the bike park’s boundaries lies an abundance of biking experiences for all levels and abilities.
Starting out
One of Whistler’s greatest assets is the Valley Trail system, a 40-kilometre paved multi-use (non-motorized) thoroughfare that connects all of Whistler’s neighbourhoods. This is an ideal resource for families wishing to explore the valley or bikers hoping to access the singletrack around Whistler, thus reducing the need to drive anywhere.
For riders looking to find their pedals, behind the Day Parking Lots is a bike park with a jump track, pump track, and beginner and intermediate skills areas that has been recently upgraded with a host of progressive and safe features. Also next to the skills areas is a bike-friendly outdoor skatepark.
Whistler valley contains over 200 kilometres of mountain bike specific, double and singletrack trails of varying difficulty. The best place to start is Lost Lake, just five minutes from the village centre. The trails are suitable for beginner and intermediate riders and provide a great introduction to cross-country riding in Whistler. Riders who wish to explore Whistler’s singletrack owe it to themselves to start at Lost Lake to get a feeling for the type of terrain, features, and style of riding in Whistler. The trails loop around a small lake, which throughout the warmer midsummer months is great for a cooling swim. There’s also a refreshment kiosk located near the beach. At the entrance to the park, you’ll find the Cross Country Connection hut, with bike rentals, maps, guided tours and skills training, as well as The Connection Café. whistler. ca/ sites/ default/ files/ related/ visitorrecmap_hiking_and_biking.pdf
Exploring
There are enough trails in Whistler to keep riders entertained for a lifetime. If you are looking to get your wheels onto dirt and take in the spectacular natural environment then don’t overlook the Cheakamus Lake Trail network. Use the Valley Trail to ride south to Cheakamus Crossing (south of Whistler approximately 8 kilometres) and ride east on the Riverside trails, which follow beside the stunning Cheakamus River. At the suspension bridge (Don’t look down!) follow the trail on the north side of the river then continue to climb on a logging road until you get to the Cheakamus Lake car park. (You can cheat and drive to this point if squeezed for time.) Here the trail cruises through magnificent old-growth forest on well-maintained, easy to moderate singletrack. Eventually the trail comes to a dead end, so take the opportunity to stretch out on the lake’s edge and admire the view. Bring your own lunch or try your luck with a spot of fishing. (Licences are required.)
On the return leg, cross the suspension bridge and climb up to Loggers Lake for some rope swing action and far warmer water. Hidden in a volcanic hollow, the lake feels like an escape pod. Trail maps are available at all local bike shops. Pack plenty of water and supplies because this mini-adventure can take anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. whistler.ca/sites/default/files/related/whistler_ interpretive_forest_map.pdf
Challenge
Riders looking to challenge themselves a little more will be rewarded on the RainbowSproatt Flank Trail, a sub-alpine traverse that spans the length of the valley’s Westside. Though not technically challenging, it has numerous strenuous climbs (the average elevation is 1,000 metres, but it does go as high as 1,400 metres and drops to 600 metres in places) and provides access to many of Whistler’s most revered trails like Billy Epic, Cheap Thrills and Rockwork Orange. Beware: the trails that link from the Flank Trail are all extremely steep, technical descents. Riders wishing to ride them should be geared up and prepared to negotiate some of the most challenging trails in the valley.
Riders looking to put some miles under their tires are often drawn to Comfortably Numb, an IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) ‘Epic Rides’ designated trail. The 24-kilometre point-to-point singletrack trail might not seem like much, but it takes a lot longer to complete than most people bargain for. Once you are on the trail, there are only two ways out: forwards or backwards. The trail is best ridden from north to south, so it requires a good road ride to get there first, but finishes in the Lost Lake trail network just minutes from town. Because the trail is rough and rooty, not one metre of gain is easily achieved. It winds through magnificent old growth forest and crosses several stunning gorges that will have you marvelling at the madness of the trail’s creator, Chris Markle. It takes between 3 to 7 hours to complete, and despite being relatively short it feels like twice the distance. Lots of water, food, and emergency supplies for medical and bicycle repairs are a must-have for this ride. Cell coverage is almost non-existent once you are on the trail.
Guidance
As there are a bewildering amount of trails, it pays to hire a local guide to save you time and take you to the absolute best. Bear Back Biking operate a catered lodge for bikers throughout the summer and also offer private guiding. Their experienced, qualified guides know the trails like the back of their hand. Whistler Bike Guide has a selection of tours to choose from or you can hire a guide by the hour. If you fancy combining a couple of quintessential Canadian pastimes – canoeing and mountain biking – then Whistler Eco Tours offer a number of pedal and paddle combinations, which are sure to take you to some of Whistler’s hidden natural wonders.
Whether you are using a guide, have been to Whistler before or are feeling adventurous, then it’s highly recommended to purchase a copy of the fantastic guidebook, Whistler Mountain Biking: A Guide to Trail Rides in the Whistler Valley by Brian Finestone and Kevin Hodder. It is small enough to fit in your pocket, but full of maps and detailed information about almost every trail in the valley. If you are a little more tech-savvy then the Whistler Trails app by TrailMapps.com might be just the ticket.
On the road
Whistler doesn’t have too many roads but what it does have provides fantastic road cycling. In recent years more events have centred on Whistler’s road cycling culture, such as RBC GranFondo Whistler (September 6, 2014) and IRONMAN® Canada (July 27th, 2014). For recreational riders looking to spin their legs, the best roads to do so are the long climbing road to the Callaghan Valley; relatively quiet Alta Lake Road; and the mellow but scenic Pemberton Meadows. A couple of side notes: Helmets are mandatory on all roadways in Whistler and insect repellent is a must!