Mountain Biking & Cycling

The Comox Valley boasts some of the best and most plentiful biking trails in British Columbia with enough variety to suit any rider. If you are a mountain biker in search of single track here's what writer Andrew Findlay has said about his introduction to mountain biking in the Comox Valley.

"All the features that make Valley mountain biking truly cool were found on my inaugural ride: a stiff climb with the promise of a downhill, rusty basalt outcrops set among stands of arbutus, lush second growth forests crowded with sword ferns and clear rushing streams. Add in the skill of trail builders who are able to interpret this landscape into an almost boundless mountain bike playground and you have the essence of local riding, the Valley is as close to mountain bike nirvana as you may ever get."
April 2000, New Voice

Stop by one of our local bike shops where you will find information on suitable trails for the type of riding you want to do. Contact our Visitor Info Centre for information or pick up one of the locally produced maps that feature information on the vast array of single-track and trail riding available throughout the Comox Valley.

The range of terrain in the Comox Valley truly is from 'mountaintop to ocean-side' and varies from steep and gnarly to smooth and easy. Here are just a few suggestions. Drive to Mount Washington Alpine Resort, about 20 minutes from the exit off the Inland Island Highway 19, where you can take your bike on the chair lift to the top during the summer season and ride the Monster Mile Downhill. Mount Washington has expert to intermediate terrain.

In the Valley bottom, enjoy the bike friendly nature trails in the Comox Valley's Regional and Provincial Park system. Riverside trail systems near Nymph Falls offer a great technical ride along the Puntledge River.

In Comox, the Northeast Woods, accessed from Pritchard and Guthrie Roads, offers moderate terrain not far from pubs and restaurants.

In Seal Bay Park, located to the north of Comox and Courtenay, bike riding is permitted on the landward side of Bates Road. When you've finished exploring there, park and lock your bike and walk down the footpaths to the beach at Seal Bay where you can see across the Strait of Georgia to Powell River and the Sunshine Coast.

The Village of Cumberland is quickly gaining a reputation as a premier mountain biking destination with a diverse selection of trails built and maintained by the local biking community. Cumberland also hosts several races and special events for mountain biking enthusiasts and local restaurants and accommodations offer power snacks, bike washes and secure storage to add the your experience!

A cycle tour of Denman and Hornby Islands is a unique way to experience our Northern Gulf Islands. Take the ferry from Buckley Bay to Denman Island and catch a connecting ferry to Hornby Island where there are options for cycle touring and mountain biking. Schedule a stop at one of the tempting bakeries on these islands or plan to tour during the various special events that occur throughout the summer season.

BMX fans, be sure to visit the new state of the art BMX race track located in the Village of Cumberland on Dunsmuir Avenue next to the Village Park. The track is open daily to the public except during official races.

If cycle touring is more your style you will find many roads suitable for cycling that connect regional parks and small communities throughout the Comox Valley. The Comox Valley Visitor Info Centre at 2040 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay (1-888-357-4471) can recommend some scenic routes and provide maps for a great cycle tour through the Valley communities and outlying communities.