Is British Columbia in Canada the best spot for mountain biking? Let's find out!

article by Ondrej Sumavsky (Czech biker who used to live and ride in BC, Canada)

Have you been to Saalbach? And what about Davos? Don’t tell me that Switzerland can’t match Canada in terms of biking possibilities. These are the things that I keep on hearing when I am raving about riding in southwest Canada. Most guys won’t believe me until they try it themselves. Once they do, they understand what we are talking about. Canada is a place where mountain biker’s heart starts beating full speed. Riding local trails will get under your skin and won’t let you go that easily.

Thousands of bikers who visited the area of Sea to Sky highway will agree. In British Columbia you will come across an international community and mixture of dozens of cultures, languages and habits, where everybody goes to bed and wakes up with one single goal in mind...exploring the mountains.

North Shore
North Shore is a legendary area in Northern Vancouver. Hundreds of kilometres of biking trails are spread on 3 mountains while local MTB association makes sure, that all the routes are in top-notch state. North Shore is a playground for all mountain biking generations. Classic „after-work“ ride can look something like this. Folks arrive from work, throw their bikes in the back of their pick ups and drive to the trail head. From there it’s always hard to expect how many runs await you, because after each lap, you will just feel like riding some more. Roots, stones, bridges and berms make you want to buy a little cottage in the neighborhood, hang out there and never come back to your homeland. Friendly community of local bikers is just one more reason to stay little longer. 

Squamish
Squamish is a worthwhile stop between Vancouver and Whistler. We recommend to stay at least 2 days. Famous trails such as Half Nelson will give you a rough idea why Squamish became well-known. Even world’s most read mountain bike magazine PinkBike.com is based right here. Every time local editors test something, it happens on these trails. It comes by no surprise, that the brand „Tested in Canada“ originates here. 

Pemberton
After couple of days in Squamish, you will inevitably head north towards Whistler. Around here, I have to recommend Pemberton and surrounding trails. This is the place where locals migrate in order to find some peace, that is becoming hard to get in Whistler. Pemberton is renowned for its breathtaking views end never ending descents navigating through dense forests over long and fun-to-ride stones. Guys from local shops are happy to show you some new trails, especially if you support them with buying a bike snack or a new tube. Don’t tell anyone, but there is a high chance you will have the trails just for yourself.

Whistler
So you can complete your perfect biking trip in British Columbia you can’t really miss Whistler. We know, it might be bit too famous already, but countless trails all the way from Cross Country to Downhill makes this little town ideal base for any biking enthusiasts. Plus, Whistler bikepark is probably the best park on the planet. New for 2016, there is one more lift starting in Creek Side. Little village, known for great enduro trails, is now connected to the rest of lift network. 1600 vertical metres of alpine terrain, rocks, forests and meadows are here waiting to be tackled. Think twice before you come over. Once here, there is a big chance of getting addicted and there is now way back from that :)

...and the answer for initial question about best spot for biking...we are sorry, but you need to come over to answer it yourself :) It might be quite pleasant research though.