Trips

Ultimate Enduro Adventure: 30km of Pure Alpine Enduro in Canada

In short: South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park, in British Columbia, is one of the best places for backcountry enduro in Canada. In July 2025 we rode a 30 km alpine route there, with more than 1,400 m of climbing, a hike-a-bike to the ridge and nearly five hours in grizzly bear country, about a 6-hour drive from Squamish. Our advice: skip the double black ridge line and take the single black down the valley (North Cinnabar), and avoid long stops on hot days because of the mosquitoes.

The Chilcotins in BC are one of the best spots to practice enduro MTB in Canada. Our journey started in July 2025, when we finally committed to riding one of the most iconic backcountry destinations: South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park.

The Chilcotins had been on the list for years. Not because of hype, not because of bike park features, but because of what they represent: real alpine MTB in Canada, remote terrain and proper big-mountain enduro.

The Approach: From Squamish to the Chilcotins High Country

We left Squamish the day before, knowing this wasn't a quick after-work lap. The drive itself felt like part of the expedition: around 6 hours of driving through the beautiful Sea to Sky corridor and beyond.

Heading north along the Sea to Sky and then inland, the landscape gradually starts shifting dramatically. At first, glaciated peaks dominate the horizon; then turquoise lakes and dry interior mountains take over.

We passed the unreal blues of Joffre Lakes and, from there, continued through the rugged terrain surrounding Lillooet, where eventually the coastal rainforest gives way to a more arid, dramatic landscape.

The further you go, the more you feel it: you're leaving convenience behind. Fuel stops become scarce. Cell service fades. The mountains grow wider, emptier. Remote MTB in Canada is no joke.

Exactly what you want for true alpine riding.

Camp Setup in the Chilcotins: Into the Wild

By late afternoon we found a quiet spot to set up camp. No luxury. No facilities. Just open sky and mountain silence.

• Bikes checked.
• Gear laid out.
• Water filtered.
• Bear spray within reach.

That last detail matters out here.

The Chilcotins are proper wilderness. This isn't a groomed trail network next to town; it's bear country. Grizzly bear country, not the "friendly" black bears you can see around Squamish and Whistler. You prepare accordingly.

As the sun dropped behind the peaks, the temperature cooled quickly. The sky exploded with stars. No artificial light. No traffic. Just wind moving across the alpine slopes. You sleep differently in places like this: lighter, aware, slightly charged with anticipation.

Ride Morning in the Chilcotins: The Ritual

Alarms went off early. Crisp air. Thin alpine light creeping over the ridgelines.

Coffee first. Always.

Then a solid breakfast, the kind that needs to carry you through 1,400+ meters of climbing and nearly five hours of remote riding. Oats, eggs, whatever we had that would translate into calories for a long enduro day.

Bags packed carefully:

• Tools
• Extra layers
• Food
• Water
• Bear spray
• First aid kit

Nothing gets forgotten in the Chilcotins. There's no quick bailout.

By the time we clipped in, the sun had started warming the valley floor, but the peaks still held that early-morning stillness.

And just like that, the adventure began.

This is what defines real MTB holidays in Canada: not just the riding, but the commitment. The travel. The preparation. The immersion into terrain that demands something from you before it gives anything back.

And the Chilcotins were ready to test that.

The Climb in the Chilcotins: Long, Mellow… Until It Isn't

The day started with a steady, sustained climb. Classic Chilcotins terrain: forest and open alpine slopes, endless views and gradual gradients that let you settle into a rhythm.

For most of the ascent, the pedaling is surprisingly manageable. It's not brutally steep. It's just long. Very long.

The final section, however, demands respect. The gradient kicks up, the surface loosens, and pedaling gives way to hike-a-bike. Shouldering the bike becomes mandatory. At altitude, under the sun, that last push reminds you that this isn't a bike park lap: this is a true backcountry enduro adventure.

Then, suddenly, the ridgeline appears.

MTB in Canada Highlight: Ridge Riding in the Chilcotins

From the top, the Chilcotins open up in every direction. Jagged peaks. Rolling alpine plateaus. Nothing but space.

We chose the double black option along the ridge, instead of the single black that drops through the valley floor.

In theory, the double black sounds more appealing. More technical. More "earned".

In practice? We wouldn't recommend it.

In our experience, the additional effort and exposure didn't translate into significantly better riding. The trail has lots of water damage, is too steep and isn't really flowy. It demands an extra point of focus after several hours in the saddle. For this reason, it simply wasn't worth the extra effort compared to the valley line of North Cinnabar. Sometimes the easier line is the better experience.

That said, once the descent truly begins, it's magic.

The Descent: Endless, Flowing Alpine Enduro in the Chilcotins

This is why you come for MTB holidays in Canada.

The descent is long. Really long. Flowing singletrack cutting across open alpine slopes. High-speed sections mixed with natural technical features. Fast corners. Hero dirt in places. Exposure in others.

It's sustained enough that your hands start to burn. Your legs feel it. Ultimately, you won't be disappointed. Every berm, every small gap leaves you with a smile on your face as soon as you start reading the trail and letting the bike flow.

This is proper Canadian enduro: natural and raw!

The Mosquito Factor in the Chilcotins

A critical detail: timing matters.

We stopped at a hut midway to eat. Big mistake on a hot day. Within minutes, mosquitoes appeared in biblical numbers. Once you stop moving in the alpine on a warm day, they find you instantly. After 40 minutes surrounded by thousands of mosquitoes, everything calmed down at around 1,500 m.

If you're planning alpine riding in the Chilcotins:

• Avoid peak heat if possible
• Bring proper repellent
• Minimize long static stops
• Keep moving

It's manageable, yet it can absolutely impact your experience.

And when you finally roll back to the trailhead after 30 kilometers and nearly five hours in the alpine, you realize something:

This is why MTB in Canada sits at the top of the global mountain biking map. The sense of being in the absolute middle of nowhere, the silence and the fact that grizzly bears can be around are no joke. Your riding must be careful, risk management is key and every move should be carefully analyzed.

If you're building your next alpine riding adventure and want to experience real backcountry enduro terrain, the Chilcotins deserve a place on your list.

Just maybe… take the single black next time.

Watch the Full MTB in Canada South Chilcotins Video

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Chilcotins and how do you get there from Squamish?

South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park is in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. From Squamish we drove around 6 hours north along the Sea to Sky corridor and then inland, past Joffre Lakes and Lillooet. The further you go, the scarcer the fuel stops and the weaker the cell service.

How hard is the South Chilcotins enduro ride?

Our route was 30 km long, with more than 1,400 m of climbing and nearly five hours of riding (Strava recorded 30.28 km, 4 h 35 min and 1,455 m of elevation gain). Most of the climb is long but manageable; the final section to the ridge is a steep hike-a-bike. It's remote terrain with no quick bailout.

Is the double black ridge line in the Chilcotins worth it?

In our experience, no. The double black along the ridge has lots of water damage, is too steep and isn't very flowy, so it wasn't worth the extra effort and exposure after several hours in the saddle. Next time we'd take the single black down the valley, North Cinnabar.

What should I carry for a ride in the Chilcotins?

We packed tools, extra layers, food, water, bear spray and a first aid kit, because there's no quick bailout. The Chilcotins are grizzly bear country, so keep bear spray within reach, and bring proper repellent for the mosquitoes.

How do you deal with mosquitoes in the Chilcotins?

On hot days, mosquitoes find you within minutes as soon as you stop moving in the alpine: we spent 40 minutes surrounded by thousands of them during a lunch stop at a hut, until things calmed down at around 1,500 m. Avoid peak heat if possible, bring proper repellent, minimize long static stops and keep moving.

Plan Your Next Backcountry Enduro Adventure

If you'd like to ride in Canada, write to us and tell us what you're looking for. And if remote, big-mountain enduro is your thing, take a look at the guided trips on our Enduro site.