Looking at heading to Whistler in 2025 from aus, just after some do’s and dont’s, how long we should spend at Whistler, best time to go and also where else we could find another awesome bike park to visit while we are over there.
How long are you here for? Obviously whistler is kind of the crown jewel, but down the road in squamish is where it's at. I've skipped whistler days to do more pedal laps in squamish. After that, the Northshore, specifically try to get into some Seymore laps. Past that you have excellent riding for about 1000km east from Chilliwack to Calgary. When I drive to Van, it's nearly Impossible to stop at all the places I want to even just for quickies, it would take days.
As someone who prioritizes big rides, I love rides like Lord of the Squirrels in Whistler, but 7 Summits in Rossland (about 7-hour drive East of Vancouver) holds a special place in my heart. The rest of the riding around Rossland (and nearby Nelson, or Christina Lake) is fantastic as well, given that the fires aren't too bad.
The thing about riding in B.C. is you're always just an hour's drive from yet another sweet riding spot (like Whistler to Squamish or Pemberton, Squamish to North Van, North Van to Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities to Maple Ridge........)
In terms of timing, I'd recommend September after Labour Day for Whistler Bike Park and the Sea To Sky area in general. Fewer people, better dirt. September in BC is quite amazing as far as mountain biking goes.
For other bike parks, Sun Peaks and Silver Star may make you question why you even bothered going to Whistler (and they are also considerably cheaper and have better dirtbag camping options). Spring/Fall is definitely a better time for them to avoid the heat/fires/dust.
Yeah was looking at maybe 2-3 weeks over there. Was thinking about maybe coming during crankworx but didn’t know if it was worth it with how busy it would be.
Terrace, it's like squamish but less squamishiy, I live in Smithers and we have some great trails as well. A bit out of the way but that's kinda why it's nice.
If your going with the main thing being to watch crank works than do it, but the few weeks before and after are when the bike park is the most blown out and the worst riding of the year. Silver Star and big white have really good trails, kicking horse is good if you like steep, there are more but getting a vehicle and doing some road trips is the way to go if you can.
Golden - Revy - Silver Star - Big White - Sun Peaks - Whistler.
Do that in the month of September and pray we have some late summer moisture and you will get near empty lifts and hero dirt with trail crews having done their post summer maintenance.
Fernie should be for sure on your list as well. It's just a fantastic little town with some of the best riding I've ever done. Revelstoke and Nelson also have some amazing riding.
The best thing about BC is that every place seems to have their own style. I've biked a lot of places in BC and all of them have been memorable for some reason or another. I'd advocate exploring a bunch of places instead of trying to tick off every rad line in a particular location.
I second Sun peaks. Actual dirt. Legit downhill trails. Super fun jump trails and flow turn tracks. Wayyyyyy less people. Camp in the parking lot, bathe in the bike wash or tiny creek. Apparently the golfing is very good as well. I have no desire to return to Whistler any time soon, and the only thing I miss from that area is how beautiful it is.
Background: I live in Seattle area and make at least a couple trips to BC for riding every year.
Of note, I've heard great things about Silver Star, Panorama, and Golden as well.
Need a bit more info on what you lIke to ride. Some riders are keen just to do bike parks, whereas other want to do big pedal missions. Weather wise the best time to tour most of BC would be mid-late September to get the best chance of moisture on the trails. If you're looking to ride outside of bike parks then its a good time for having trails cleared of windfall/deadfall and snow free in the alpine.
The other good window is mid-late May or early June for both park and outside park, but you risk trails not being snow free or cleared of deadfall yet.
July and August are getting pretty hot and dusty with trails getting pretty dry by then. The river and lake swimming will be perfect though.
There's no really wrong time to visit; it depends on your priorities.
if you only have 2-3 weeks then I'd stick to the Whistler/Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast/Fraser Valley. More than enough riding to fill that time. Sun Peaks and Silver Star are awesome but you're going to lose a couple days travelling to get there and back. For bike parks you'd have whistler, coast gravity and gravity logic is building the new park at grouse mountain to open next spring but obviously that is unknown what it will be like.
if you only have 2-3 weeks then I'd stick to the Whistler/Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast/Fraser Valley. More than enough riding to fill that time. Sun Peaks...
if you only have 2-3 weeks then I'd stick to the Whistler/Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast/Fraser Valley. More than enough riding to fill that time. Sun Peaks and Silver Star are awesome but you're going to lose a couple days travelling to get there and back. For bike parks you'd have whistler, coast gravity and gravity logic is building the new park at grouse mountain to open next spring but obviously that is unknown what it will be like.
It's a 4hr drive to Sunpeaks or Silverstar...both those parks are arguably better than Whistler depending on who you ask.
7hr drive to Revelstoke bike park, 9hr to Kicking Horse. Both worth visiting.
How long are you here for? Obviously whistler is kind of the crown jewel, but down the road in squamish is where it's at. I've skipped whistler days to do more pedal laps in squamish. After that, the Northshore, specifically try to get into some Seymore laps. Past that you have excellent riding for about 1000km east from Chilliwack to Calgary. When I drive to Van, it's nearly Impossible to stop at all the places I want to even just for quickies, it would take days.
As someone who prioritizes big rides, I love rides like Lord of the Squirrels in Whistler, but 7 Summits in Rossland (about 7-hour drive East of Vancouver) holds a special place in my heart. The rest of the riding around Rossland (and nearby Nelson, or Christina Lake) is fantastic as well, given that the fires aren't too bad.
The thing about riding in B.C. is you're always just an hour's drive from yet another sweet riding spot (like Whistler to Squamish or Pemberton, Squamish to North Van, North Van to Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities to Maple Ridge........)
In terms of timing, I'd recommend September after Labour Day for Whistler Bike Park and the Sea To Sky area in general. Fewer people, better dirt. September in BC is quite amazing as far as mountain biking goes.
For other bike parks, Sun Peaks and Silver Star may make you question why you even bothered going to Whistler (and they are also considerably cheaper and have better dirtbag camping options). Spring/Fall is definitely a better time for them to avoid the heat/fires/dust.
Yeah was looking at maybe 2-3 weeks over there. Was thinking about maybe coming during crankworx but didn’t know if it was worth it with how busy it would be.
Terrace, it's like squamish but less squamishiy, I live in Smithers and we have some great trails as well. A bit out of the way but that's kinda why it's nice.
If your going with the main thing being to watch crank works than do it, but the few weeks before and after are when the bike park is the most blown out and the worst riding of the year. Silver Star and big white have really good trails, kicking horse is good if you like steep, there are more but getting a vehicle and doing some road trips is the way to go if you can.
Get a campervan/rv and do a full road trip.
Rent in Calgary.
Golden - Revy - Silver Star - Big White - Sun Peaks - Whistler.
Do that in the month of September and pray we have some late summer moisture and you will get near empty lifts and hero dirt with trail crews having done their post summer maintenance.
Fernie should be for sure on your list as well. It's just a fantastic little town with some of the best riding I've ever done. Revelstoke and Nelson also have some amazing riding.
The best thing about BC is that every place seems to have their own style. I've biked a lot of places in BC and all of them have been memorable for some reason or another. I'd advocate exploring a bunch of places instead of trying to tick off every rad line in a particular location.
I second Sun peaks. Actual dirt. Legit downhill trails. Super fun jump trails and flow turn tracks. Wayyyyyy less people. Camp in the parking lot, bathe in the bike wash or tiny creek. Apparently the golfing is very good as well. I have no desire to return to Whistler any time soon, and the only thing I miss from that area is how beautiful it is.
Background: I live in Seattle area and make at least a couple trips to BC for riding every year.
Of note, I've heard great things about Silver Star, Panorama, and Golden as well.
Need a bit more info on what you lIke to ride. Some riders are keen just to do bike parks, whereas other want to do big pedal missions. Weather wise the best time to tour most of BC would be mid-late September to get the best chance of moisture on the trails. If you're looking to ride outside of bike parks then its a good time for having trails cleared of windfall/deadfall and snow free in the alpine.
The other good window is mid-late May or early June for both park and outside park, but you risk trails not being snow free or cleared of deadfall yet.
July and August are getting pretty hot and dusty with trails getting pretty dry by then. The river and lake swimming will be perfect though.
There's no really wrong time to visit; it depends on your priorities.
Coast gravity park
Thanks for all the info guys. We don’t have any bike parks where I’m located so heading to as many of those as I can when over there.
I’ve done a bunch of trips to BC. DM me and I’d be happy to map out the awesome bits for you.
if you only have 2-3 weeks then I'd stick to the Whistler/Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast/Fraser Valley. More than enough riding to fill that time. Sun Peaks and Silver Star are awesome but you're going to lose a couple days travelling to get there and back. For bike parks you'd have whistler, coast gravity and gravity logic is building the new park at grouse mountain to open next spring but obviously that is unknown what it will be like.
It's a 4hr drive to Sunpeaks or Silverstar...both those parks are arguably better than Whistler depending on who you ask.
7hr drive to Revelstoke bike park, 9hr to Kicking Horse. Both worth visiting.
(edit: all distances from YVR Airport)
If you like big jumps the bike ranch in Kamloops is awesome, they have a shuttle service out there as well.
Post a reply to: Where else to visit in Canada besides whistler