Tuesday, 12 January 2010

British Columbia - The Best of Canada Mountain Biking

Canada mountain biking has turned into a popular activity these days, mainly because of the great terrain that some parts of this country have for mountain biking.

One of these parts is British Columbia. You will see in almost every part of this area an excitement for Canada mountain biking, a treasure trove of learning about it, and some of the best trails that the country has to offer.

Every terrain for Canada mountain biking has wonderful scenery, not the least of which is British Columbia. There are actually parts of this province where the trails are great for mountain biking three-quarters of each year.

The Otway Nordic Center Trails is located in the northern side of British Columbia. Fans of Canada mountain biking can enjoy trails like flat riding and steep vertical runs like the Descent of Doom. Summertime mountain bikers usually use the cross-country winter ski trails. Some trails in Cariboo are the 99 Mile Hill Ski Trails and the Lower Lake Ski Trails.

The routes for Canada mountain biking are now found in areas that used to be inaccessible. Some of the old logging routes in and around Quesnel are now turned into biking trails.

Ask around Williams Lake and they will lead you to the Fox Loop which is one of the more difficult trails.

Canada mountain biking is especially nice in the Rockies of British Columbia. There is a particularly beautiful trail in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and the Purcells that you might want to check out.

Cranbrook is the Rockies' major city and has wonderful opportunities for Canada mountain biking. You can go to the fairly average Isidore Canyon Trail to the slightly moderate Forestry Hill Bypass Trail and even to the difficult Big Hill.

Golden is another area that you would want to visit. It is a scenic mountain town that has great alpine Canada mountain biking terrains. Some of the other trails in British Columbia include the West Bench Lower Road as well as the Canyon Creek Loop and the Powerline Descent, both of which are for the more skillful bikers.


But despite all these wonderful Canada mountain biking trails, Rossland is still BC's mountain biking capital. Each year this area gets 300-inches of snowfall which, once they melt, reveal forested single tracks and empty mining roads that are great for mountain biking. Summertime is the time for the Rubberhead Classic Mountain Bike Festival. This happens in July and is really the most exciting Canada mountain biking activity every year.

The Sunshine Coast is home to plenty of remote trails that give you an amazing view of the British Columbia sceneries. An example of a trail here is the 10-mile Lyon Lake Loop. You will enjoy the picturesque scenes of Vancouver Island, the Georgia Strait, the Coast Mountains, and the Texada Island. Canada mountain biking is also a great way to see a couple of the really old forests in BC.

Vancouver Island is a great place to include in your Canada mountain biking itinerary. This part is really diverse and rich in natural views such as vistas, lakes, and waterfalls. Novices beware though; this trail is for the more advanced riders.

A great attraction to check out in Vancouver Island is the Hartland Mountain Bike Park a bit away from the West Saanich Road in Victoria. The trails here can be average to challenging and you will definitely have to get used to the wet weather. For beginners to Canada mountain biking, you should try the 55-kilometer Galloping Goose Trail in the middle of Victoria and Sooke.

If a day trip is all you have planned for your Canada mountain biking adventure, you can choose from trails that are 11km to 13km one way. Some trails are the Galloping Goose Trail, and the Six Mile Road going into Thetis Lake Regional Park. You can use the Atkins Avenue as an alternative to reach Mill Hill Regional Park.

One weekend of Canada mountain biking can be spent on a day trip on the Goose, staying overnight at the Sooke area and a detour to the East Sooke Regional Park before going back. A one-way trip here is about 40km long. You will get to try each landscape - rocky slopes, cool watery areas, and rich vegetation.

After an exhausting day of Canada mountain biking, you can rest at any of the comfortable and inexpensive lodgings in the area. There are plenty of tourist guidebooks that you can refer to so you get the most out of your Canada mountain biking adventure.

British Columbia is really becoming popular so remember to reserve the bike and the accommodations that you need for Canada mountain biking or else you might have to settle for hiking instead.

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