3 Spring Destinations to Jump-Start Your Mountain Bike Season
Ski season is winding down, and the forest floor is still covered in a patchwork of mud and snow. In most of Eastern Canada, mountain biking is still weeks away. Yes, it’s shoulder season, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to hit the trails. Here are three Canadian destinations that usually open early where you can jump-start your summer riding.
Rockwood Park in Saint John, New Brunswick
The bustling, historic port town of Saint John sits on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy where the Saint John River meets the Atlantic. It’s also home to some outstanding mountain biking. And with low-lying hills and the ocean moderating the coastal climate, the area’s bike trails open relatively early. In fact, as of this writing, riding season has already begun.
At 2,200 acres, Rockwood Park is one of Canada’s largest urban parks and has a long history as a mountain biking hub. Today, about 50 kilometres of trails draw mountain bikers of all levels. The trail system, which was sustainably developed in conjunction with the city, includes everything from winding, old-school cross-country trails to enduro trails with slabs, wooden features, and gap jumps.
The trails crisscross a landscape of ponds, lakes, and small rocky hills with granite outcrops. Among the highlights is the MacKay Skyway, a favourite among enduro riders. The trail climbs a rocky ridge through a sparse evergreen forest, offering grippy slickrock and sweeping views over the city and ocean, before plunging into steep slabs, fast berms, and a long, thrilling jump line. At the other end of the difficulty spectrum, Millennium Falcon is aptly named for the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs: it’s a short, fast trail where beginners and pros alike can make the jump to hyperspace through a series of smooth, swooping berms.
After working up an appetite, head to the one of the many restaurants and pubs nearby in uptown Saint John. Or you can take your post-ride gathering to one of the establishments offering local fare and microbrews in the historic downtown or the waterfront.
Montebello Vélo de Montagne in Montebello, Quebec
For Quebecers whose legs are itching to ride after a long winter, there’s no need to leave the province. Thanks to a low, rolling topography that tops out at just over 100 metres, Montebello Vélo de Montagne was the first mountain bike centre to open in Quebec this year. This trail network spreads out over an area north of the mighty Ottawa River, just an hour from Montreal and 45 minutes from Canada’s capital. This site is an OG mountain bike destination that harkens back to the days when 26-inch wheels were the norm and before anyone had heard of dropper posts or disc brakes (and “OG” takes on a whole new dimension when you realize that the trails run across the former seigneurial lands of Louis-Joseph Papineau, leader of the 1837 Rebellion!). In those early days of the sport, it hosted major races, including the 1988 national championship. The site fell into disuse in 2005 but has lately been resurrected by local mountain bike enthusiasts.
Montebello Vélo de Montagne’s lush hills now boast 25 kilometres of singletrack and counting (the goal is 60 km). Their network blends old racecourse trails with modern machine-built flow trails. Riders experience punchy climbs, slabs, drops, funky rock formations, a cave, venerable pines, and panoramic river views (on the aptly named Panoramique).
A series of family-friendly green trails loop from Le Château Montebello. The flagship trail is Mastodonte, a roller coaster of a jumpline with flowy berms. One Trailforks user beams that it “feels like you're riding zero gravity the entire way down.” Patriote is another notable downhill flow trail that rolls through open meadows and shrubby woods. Those looking for a technical challenge will enjoy carcajou (wolverine), a rocky ribbon through the forest that’s as rowdy, fast, and fierce as its animal namesake.
If you fancy a post-ride microbrew, the terrace of the Les Brasseurs de Montebello awaits. Accommodations are available at Château Montebello, the world’s largest log cabin, or at nearby campgrounds.
Squamish, British Columbia
Squamish, British Columbia, is nestled in the Coast Mountains where the Squamish River runs into the Howe Sound. The grandiose setting and vast trail network make it one of Canada’s premier mountain bike destinations. Thanks to its temperate coastal climate, the trails can be ridden year-round. That said, the surrounding rainforest begins to dry out in April, with the best conditions typically running from June through September.
The riding zones here are so sprawling that it’s hard to pin down exact numbers, but there are more than 300 trails and hundreds of kilometres of singletrack. The trails span open subalpine zones to dark, forested mountainsides, and a lush valley floor, where moss, ferns, and epiphytes grow on every surface, turning rides into a kaleidoscopic flurry of glowing greens.
Iconic expert lines feature huge, steep granite slabs and rolls, some with sublime views over the sound. It’s the stuff of dreams for pro-level adrenaline junkies, though I’ll admit that just watching the GoPro footage makes me queasy. There are plenty of other types of technical, janky trails; blue-rated trails here are often the same challenge as blacks elsewhere. But it’s not all gnar and granite; there are many smooth, loamy trails and options for cross-country riders, kids, and beginners.
The small town also has a serious food and beer culture. It’s home to three microbreweries and plenty of other establishments with outdoor seating, where you can soak in the mountains after the latest epic ride.
