Whistler Day Tour
Whistler and its environs boast hundreds of single-track trails for all ages and levels of ability and is fast becoming the benchmark on which other areas are being measured. The lifts service all the DH courses and there is even a free jet wash at the end! - Downhillers do not to have to do ANY uphill at all whereas the XC crowd can pedal uphill to their hearts content.
There are several pretenders to the "Best Biking on the Planet" crown, but the number and variety of rides in this area leave most other contenders in the dust. Ski lift-serviced downhill runs, cross country trails, all-mountain and family tours all exist in spectacular scenery.
the bikepark
The park area is constantly evolving & setting the bar in the realms of freeride mountain biking. With the arrival of the new Garbanzo chair, there are more trails than ever. The driving forces behind the new MBX style trails are long time park manager Tom "Pro" Prochazka and trail-builder extraordinaire, Dave Kelly. With their team of builders, the pair have developed what is the world's best mountain bike park-period.
There are over 200km of lift-serviced gravity fed, adrenaline fuelled descending trails - something for every level of rider.
Trails range from Green graded flowing singletrack to Double Black graded steep technical downhill runs. There are also three skills areas aimed at different ability levels, in these our fully qualified guides can help you hone your technique before hitting the trails. Once you’ve mastered your skills you can put them into practice with the bi-weekly Phat Wednesday downhill races or the annual Crankworx freeride mountainbike festival.
The emphasis recently has been to build intermediate Blue graded trails, so that everybody can enjoy the Bikepark. You can now venture up into the upper Garbanzo zone no matter what your level of ability is, the views of the Whistler valley below are stunning.
Over the last 10 years Gravity Logic and their team of builders have developed what is the world's best mountain bike park-period.
Whistler Singletrack
The cross country riding in Whistler Valley is simply unparalleled. You can simply pop out for an hour or two and ride anything from super smooth flowing singletrack, technical North Shore style stunts, charge or cruise around the myriad of trail in Lost Lake, or earn a variety of long descents after putting in the grunt work and climbing the trails on any of the surrounding mountains.
If you fancy something more gentle & of XC/Singletrack orientation, you can cruise through the coastal forest and valley trails. Intermediates can enjoy tight and twisty epic singletrack - advanced riders can tackle steep rock faces, gnarly, root strewn lines, 12ft drop offs and more. You can also make a day of it by riding such epics as Comfortably Numb, the Soo valley loop or by adding any number of shorter rides together.
For the more hardcore or motivated uphill guys, there are a number of races throughout the summer that you can participate in. The Test of Metal, Gear Jammer, Cheakeamus Challenge, Soo Valley Rumble, West side Wheel-Up and not to forget the WORCA weekly Loonie race series every Thursday night (including post race food and beer! )
Valley Trails: Singletrack & Freeride
There is a strong mix of both super steep technical and flowing single track trails wherever you ride in the valley, suitable for both epic XC riding and downhill orientated freeriding.
The map below illustrates some (the un-marked local trails are hidden gems!) of the trails which spread outwards from our central riders lodge. The majority of these trails can be reached within a 15 minute pedalling radius.
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Heading further away from the Whistler hub opens your door to yet more epic riding areas. South of the Valley takes you to the spectacular Brandywine falls network; North finds you on the Soo Valley Cougar mountain range providing more endless trails.
Trail Networks
The following is a brief summary of the main valley riding sections:
Village Story
Whistler Village, the hub of the Valley Trail network, is at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, adjoins Lost Lake Park and is a block away from Cut Yer Bars. Do you need any more reasons to stay close to home? How about a gazillion restaurants, bike shops, coffee shops and patios? It’s the best place for visiting mountain bikers to begin with in the valley. Everything from family rides through old school technical to advanced lift-serviced downhill and freeriding, all within shouting distance of “town centre.” These rides are a great place to stretch out after a long trip, shake down the equipment within walking distance to a bike shop, and get a feeling for where you fit in to the local biking hierarchy.
South Side Story
Trails to the south of the Village are defined by the watershed of the Cheakamus River up to the head water of Cheakamus Lake. The trails are a diverse mix of technical climbs, gravity defying descents (one with rope assistance!) down the back of the kyber pass, smooth forest singletrack through the Interpretive forest, fast choppy gravel based chutes through tree canopy, long wrist burning technical descents and gentle cruises down to the beautiful Brandywine waterfall. Another mention in this area goes to 'Train Wreck' - a trail built solely around a myriad of derailed carriages (have a look in our gallery for an explanation).
North Side Story
Trails to the North of village have hugely grown in numbers of the past 5 years. This development has nutured an area rich in fantastic technical riding which incorporates a good number of natural terrain features and epic rides.
The riding area known as 'the backyard' incorporates rocks, steeps and technical switchback climbing. On 'No Girly Man' you will be treated to wonderful technical rock riding along with spectacular views from the switchbacks as you descend down to Highway 99. 'White Knuckles' - as the name may suggest is not for the meek, with very steep rocky sections that have put many a local in the clinic. 'Kill Me Thrill Me' is a signature trail for all that is Whistler. It showcases some of the worlds best technical XC trail building and is great place to spend a few hours.
Taking the Soo Valley loop up over Cougar makes for a good non-technical 'get the legs working' ride. If you are lucky you may even see a moose in the marsh.
West Side Story
Soft loamy trails and cool green forests typify this type of riding that you will find on the tremendous selection of trails on the west side of the valley. Trails such as Bob's Rebob, Bart's Dark, A River Runs Through It, Emerald Forest, Whip Me Snip Me and Mel’s Dilemma are legendary in Whistler because of the type of riding experience they provide for intermediate and expert riders.
You can spend a couple of days exploring these trails, as well as discovering some other gems that we haven’t disclosed in this guide. You will find shady climbs through second growth forests with a thick green carpet of moss for atmosphere. Also to be discovered are wonderful technical challenges and stunning views of the valley from the upper trails of the fabled West Side.
Whistler signature trail 'A River Runs Through It' offers a myriad of built up fairground-esq stunts for all; which extends as far as a chain driven drawbridge! You can play on this trail for hours and we often ride it as an end of day'er.
Riding the Flank trail sections provides another great opportunity to enjoy the vistas over Whistler Valley. The four sections cover the whole west side of the valley and cover everything from the Callaghan to Cougar Mountain.
Rating the Trails:
Green Circle – Beginner:
The circle is used to symbolize these trails which are suited for the beginner and the intermediate by offering gentle terrain where confidence and conditioning can be built up.
Blue Square – Intermediate:
The square is used to identify the trails that make up the majority of terrain in the area. More obstacles and steeper grades make these a natural progression for riders as they learn the skills needed to ride them.
Black Diamond – Expert:
The diamond is used to identify these trails that test your physical conditioning, bike handling skills and courage. If you are unfamiliar with these trails make sure you take a look before rolling in.
