• LIST OF MOUNTAIN BIKE COMPANIES
  Improve your technical skills, learn about local trails, or go on a guided excursion.
• See this page for solo day trips, getaways and family excursions

Mountain Bike Trails Galore

for fabulous riding adventures

The Sunshine Coast is riddled with remote logging roads and trails that make for fantastic mountain biking. The view is always worth the effort it takes to get up those hills!

A word of caution - many forest service roads are in daily use. Respect the Active Logging signs - they mean fully-loaded logging trucks may come barrelling down these narrow roads at high speeds any day of the week. Bikers must yield way to trucks or risk being flattened!

You should contact the Ministry of Forests (604-885-5174) before you go. Be familiar with your chosen route and tell someone your route plan and estimated return time. Carry proper equipment and know how to use it - including a helmet!

Practice low-impact cycling. Trail erosion is minimized when proper off-road equipment and techniques are used. Feather your brakes on steep descents. Be aware of seasonal trail conditions and avoid very wet & muddy areas. Do not create new trails around puddles or obstacles - ride through or carry your bike. Obey fire restrictions. Pack out your garbage!

Below are maps and trail information for several great Sunshine Coast biking routes.

LYON LAKE LOOP

Length: 17 km

Rating: advanced

Time: 2.5 hours

Access - Take Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 13 km. Turn right at Trout Lake Road, which becomes the Halfmoon Bay Forest Service Road. Proceed up the main branch for 16 km. Take the left fork 500 m past the power lines and proceed to the next fork. This fork is the start and finish of the loop (see map).

 

Route - Trail is best ridden clockwise. Take the left fork of the road and follow the markers on the main line for approx. 5.1 km. Great views here of Pender Harbour & Sakinaw Lake. This portion is steep and gravelly - approach with caution. Follow the right fork along the Caren Main, proceed 1.5 km, take a right fork. A further 2 km through old growth forest, take another right fork. Watch the markers here - this is a confusing part of the trail. Two km further, there's an old skid road to the right. Follow it for 200 m and go left down a very technical, steep, rough, overgrown skid trail approx. 500 m to a logging road in poor condition. Follow the logging road right, through challenging terrain and uphill. The road gradually improves over the final 6 km section and terminates at the original fork.
Points of Interest - Beautiful panoramic views of Georgia Strait, Vancouver Island, Texada Island, Jervis Inlet, Narrows Inlet, Salmon Inlet, Sechelt Inlet and the Coast Mountains. The trail is located in some of the oldest forests in Canada.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of yellow paint.

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CARLSON LAKE LOOP

Length: 21 km

Rating: intermediate to advanced

Time: 2.5 hours

Access - Follow Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 13 km. Turn right at Trout Lake Road, which becomes the Halfmoon Bay Forest Service Road (HBFSR). Proceed up the main branch for 6 km.

 

Route - Trail is marked clockwise. Most of the route is on old, overgrown logging roads in poor condition. Trail starts at 490 m elevation. Proceed up the main branch for 6 km to an intersection. Turn right & continue for 2 km through an area overgrown with brush, turn right again. At this point you should be under the power lines. Proceed for 600 m and turn right just after a 100 m descent and before a stream/ditch crossing. (If you keep straight for 1 km, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view.) Follow a skid trail for 200 m and turn left at the logging road. Proceed along the road and through the overgrown area. Follow what appears to be the main road over washed-out areas. Watch for the markers - confusing intersections in this area. At a point 7 km from the power lines, you will pass a lake on the left. Continue along the road over a bridge (caution - it's in poor repair). It's downhill from here for 2.5 km to the end of the loop.
Points of Interest - Panoramic views of Carlson Lake & Sechelt Inlet.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of fluorescent-orange paint.

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HOMESITE CREEK LOOP

Length: 8 km

Rating: intermediate to advanced

Time: 1 hour

Access - Follow Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 17 km. Turn right at Homesite Creek Forest Service Road (HCFSR), 0.5 km past Homesite Creek.

 

Route - Ride the trail counter-clockwise. Follow the forest service road 200 m past the power lines and turn left. Climb steadily for 3.5 km on an eroded, overgrown logging road. Turn left at the cutblock onto the relatively new logging road. Follow it for 100 m, turn left again. Follow this road for 700 m along the power lines and into the forest. Turn left on the old logging road. (If you re-emerge beneath the power lines, you've gone too far.) There's a 5 km downhill stretch here that ends at Highway 101, 1.3 km west of the HCFSR. Finish the loop by taking a left along the highway.
Points of Interest - Great downhill and power line riding. Do it more than once!
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of blue paint.

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HALFMOON CREEK LOOP

Length: 8.5 km

Rating: easy to intermediate

Time: 40 minutes

Access - Follow Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 16 km (2.5 km west of Redrooffs Road junction) to an old logging road just before Homesite Creek. Turn right and park.

 

Route - Route may be ridden in either direction - it is marked clockwise. Follow the logging road clockwise to the power lines and turn right. Follow the power line trail for 1.7 km to a junction just before the sorting yard. Take a left and follow the logging road 1 km to the Halfmoon Bay Forest Service Road, turn right. Proceed 2.1 km, turn right on the last road before the highway. After 0.5 km, you'll tie back into the highway. Turn right along the highway and ride 2.5 km to the start/finish of the loop.
Points of Interest - This loop offers a variety of trail conditions including logging road, power line and highway. There's a nice wooded picnic area at Halfmoon Creek.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of orange paint.

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REDROOFFS LOOP

Length: 15 km

Rating: easy

Time: 1 hour

Access - Follow Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 6 km to the Redrooffs Road junction. Turn left and follow the signs to Sargeant Bay Provincial Park. Stay on the marked bike routes - biking is not permitted on some trails in this park. Route - Route may be ridden in either direction - it is marked clockwise. From the parking lot, head out of the park and follow Redrooffs Road 7.5 km west. Turn right at the FAB Logging workshed (there's a fire hydrant in front). Turn right again just before entering private property and follow the trial for 1 km. This section of the route has many cross ditches. Watch for a trail that veers off at a 45 degree angle, turn right. Follow this trail for 1.75 km. At this point, a trail to the right leads to Connor Park & Northwood Road. Choose this route, or stay on the main trail (straight) and turn right 250 m into an opening. Keep to the right until you reach Northwood Road and turn left. Rejoin the trail at the foot of the road and continue on the trail through Sargeant Bay Provincial Park to Redrooffs Road.
Points of Interest - The Sargeant Bay Society has built trails through the park for hikers only. Please respect the Society's wishes and give way to hikers and equestrians.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of blue paint.

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TROUT LAKE LOOP

Length: 15 km

Rating: intermediate

Time: 1.5 hours

Access - Follow Highway 101 northwest out of Sechelt for 10 km. Park at the Trout Lake parking lot. Route - Route is marked clockwise. From the parking lot, head along the highway for 200 m northwest and turn right. Follow this logging road for 2.2 km to its junction with the Halfmoon Bay Forest Service Road. Turn right and follow the road 1.6 km to a fork, turn right. Follow the right fork for 2 km where you will leave the main road. Veer right and stay on this road for 7 km. This section goes past a small pond and under the power lines and returns to the highway. Turn right and follow the highway back to Trout Lake.
Points of Interest - Trout Lake is a residential water supply - please use care not to pollute it. There are many panoramic views on this route. Side trips to Crowston and Wormy Lakes are possible.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of yellow paint.

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ANGUS CREEK LOOP

Length: 22 km

Rating: intermediate

Time: 1.5 hours

Access - From Sechelt, head north to East Porpoise Bay Road, turn right. This becomes Sechelt Inlet Road. (If you're driving, follow Sechelt Inlet Road for 4.5 km to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park and park your vehicle.) From the park, head 3 km back towards Sechelt and turn left (east) onto the Sechelt-Crucil Forest Service Road (the Sechelt landfill road).

 

Route - Route is marked counter-clockwise. Proceed 4 km up the Sechelt-Crucil Road past the landfill to a major junction. Parts of this initial section are very steep. Keep left at the intersection and follow the main line over level terrain for 7.5 km. Descend to the Gray Creek crossing and follow the main line back to the highway. Turn left on the highway and ride over two large hills back and past Porpoise Bay Park to the start/finish of the loop.
Points of Interest - Fantastic, panoramic views of Sechelt Inlet, Mount Richardson, the Caren Range Plateau and the town of Sechelt are visible from the level section preceding Gray Creek. Great power line riding in this area too.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of orange paint.

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ROBERTS CREEK LOOP

Length: 30 km

Rating: intermediate to advanced

Time: 2 hours

Access - From Gibsons, follow Highway 101 northwest for 10 km to Roberts Creek. Turn right on the Roberts Creek Forest Service Road (RCFSR), 500 m before Cliff Gilker Park. Drive to the power lines (1 km) and park.

 

Route - Route is marked counter-clockwise with considerable elevation gain (800 m). Begin at the highway and ride 4.5 km up the RCFSR. There's an intersection here, stay on the main road. (The road to the right leads to a viewpoint 1 km distant.) Four km further, there's another intersection after a short, steep descent - keep left. The right fork is the beginning of the Dakota Creek Loop (see below) and leads to Port Mellon. Follow the main road (Sechelt - Dakota Branch 01) for 13 km to Field Road. Take Field Road to the Highway, turn left and follow it back to the RCFSR.
Points of Interest - This loop provides some great views of the Tetrahedron Range and the Strait of Georgia. It also offers access to or is adjacent to the Mount Elphinstone, Dakota Creek and Brodie Trails Loops.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of orange paint.

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CLACK CREEK LOOP

Length: 12.3 km

Rating: intermediate

Time: 45 minutes

Access - From Gibsons, follow Highway 101 northwest for 12 km to Roberts Creek. Turn right up Roberts Creek Road, which becomes Lockyer Road. Follow Lockyer for 2 km to the corner of Grauman Road. Park near this junction. Route - Route is marked counter-clockwise. Begin the loop by heading east along Grauman Road. After 500 m an old skid road on the left leads through the bushes. Riders may choose this route, although it is overgrown and steep in places. Less intrepid riders can follow Grauman Road for 1.8 km to a junction. Turn left here onto Clack Creek Forest Service Road. A shortcut is marked just before this corner. Follow the road north then west for 5 km. The forest service road ends, and an old skid trail (and the fun) begin. Follow the skid trail for an exhilarating 2 km downhill where you will intersect the East Wilson Forest Service Road. Turn left and follow the road for 2 km back to the start.
Points of Interest - Great downhill. Examples of new forestry (shelterwood) along the route. The Brodie Trails Loop follows this route in places.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of yellow paint.

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MOUNT ELPHINSTONE LOOP

Length: 42 km

Rating: advanced

Time: 3 hours

Access - A significant portion of this route follows Highway 101 and can be accessed at any point between Port Mellon and Roberts Creek. For ferry passengers, you can leave your vehicle on the mainland and head out on your bike from the Langdale ferry terminal.

 

Route - Route is marked in both directions. Be prepared for some off-the-bike climbs - this is a steep one. Starting at the ferry terminal, turn right onto the Port Mellon Highway and follow it for 9 km to the Dakota Creek Forest Service Road. Turn left. The first 6.5 km are steep. After 4.2 km, turn left on the road marked 2011. After 2.1 more km, keep right at the fork marked 2011. Continue on the main road for 3 km until you get to another fork. The right fork (straight) leads to Field Road (see Roberts Creek Loop). Follow the left fork up a steep hill that veers right. Then it's downhill all the way back to the highway at Roberts Creek. Then turn left towards Gibsons and follow the signs back to the ferry.
Points of Interest - The climb from Dakota Creek offers spectacular views of Howe Sound and the islands. Mount Elphinstone and the Tetrahedron Range are visible from some points.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of red paint.

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BRODIE TRAILS LOOP

Length: 7.5 km

Rating: intermediate to advanced

Time: 40 minutes

Access - From Gibsons, follow Highway 101 northwest for 10 km to Roberts Creek. Turn right on the Roberts Creek Forest Service Road (RCFSR), 500 m before Cliff Gilker Park. Drive to the power lines (1 km) and park.

 

Route - Route is marked clockwise. Begin the loop by heading west under the power lines, turn right into the bush after 450 m. Cross Roberts Creek and proceed 800 m, then turn right again. Continue on this climb for 1.4 km, then turn right onto a logging road. Follow the logging road to a junction and turn left on the main line. Follow this for 500 m, turn right into the bush. Keep to the right on this downhill section and return to the power lines. Turn right, follow the power lines back to the start.
Points of Interest - This trail is the course for the Brodie Test of Metal '93 mountain bike race. Numerous trails surround the route- explore & enjoy.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of orange paint with the letter B.

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DAKOTA CREEK LOOP

Length: 11 km

Rating: intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Access - From Gibsons, follow Highway 101 northwest for 10 km to Roberts Creek. Turn right on the Roberts Creek Forest Service Road (RCFSR), 500 m before Cliff Gilker Park. Drive up the RCFSR for 4.5 km to an intersection. Stay on the main road. Four km further is another intersection following a short, steep descent. Park near this intersection.

 

Route - Route is marked counter-clockwise. Begin the loop at the intersection of the RCFSR and the Dakota Creek Forest Service Road. From the intersection follow the Dakota Main northeast (right) for 5 km. At the T-junction, go left and left again at the second fork. Trail follows the gas line access at this point. Follow this access road to the junction and again turn left. Two km further is another intersection. The right fork leads to Field Road (see Roberts Creek Loop). Go left to return to the beginning of the loop.
Points of Interest - Panoramic views of the Tetrahedron Range, Howe Sound and Dakota Creek.
Watch for the trail markers: Small white mountain biking symbol on a brown background or a double band of yellow paint.

 

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PLEASE NOTE: Bigpacific is working hard on printable on-line tour guides for several areas on the Sunshine Coast. Check back here soon for an update.

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