The Perfect Pemberton Bike Trails for any Rider
Photo: Gracie Brison
The Sea to Sky area is known for its epic mountain bike adventures just outside your doorstep. Just a quick 33KM from the Whistler Bike Park lies the peaceful town of Pemberton. Pemberton is packed with unbelievable trails unlike anything in the Sea to Sky.
The Pemberton Valley typically stays drier throughout the bike season than Whistler and Squamish. With the constant spring showers, Pemby is the perfect location to avoid the massive mud puddles and slippery dirt. However, Pemberton turns into dusty tech trails in the summer months, so pack your dry lube and riding glasses.
The Pemberton area has several unique trails that are great for any level of rider. Follow along to find the routes that are best for you and make a bike adventure to remember.
Trails for Beginner Riders:
Learning a new sport can be highly intimating, especially when you don’t know the way. So if you’re brand new to mountain biking or just looking for an evening pedal, it’s best to start on the green paths and work your way up. The majority of the green trail in Pemberton surrounds the One Mile Lake area. There are some great trails to dip your toes into the biking world and easy exercise. Here is a list of a few great beginner routes to get your bike career started:
- Sea to Sky Trail (Mellow gravel path that connects the entire Sea to Sky)
- Piece of Cake
- One Mile Lake
- Mackenzie Basin Loop
- Friendship trail
Once you’ve conquered all these trails, it’s time to progress to more intermediate/advanced routes.
Progression for Intermediate to Advanced Riders:
As a new rider, it’s essential to challenge yourself on new terrain, but balancing between challenging and within your limits can be tricky. Lucky for you, Pemberton has a large variety of blue intermediate/advanced trails, all riding distance from the Pemberton Valley Lodge. Therefore, it’s important to do your research before heading out on your ride and download Trailforks onto your phone before setting off. Trailforks is excellent for trail details, route finding, and navigation. In addition, other riders can post photos of the trail's features so that you can study the trail before riding. Here are a few of the top blue trails in Pemberton; study up, and take them for a spin.
- Radio Tower
- Max Pains->Back Pains
- Happy Trail (Challenging Climbing Trail)
- Dark Forest -> Waterfall
- Jim Jam
- Rudy’s
Once you feel confident about these fun blues, it’s time to spice it up. There are a few black trails in the area that are rated black due to a particular feature. Generally, there are ride-arounds. Navigating your way through the manageable black trails can take a bit of research but lucky for you, we’ve mapped it out.
Photo: Irie Smith
For the Experts or Basically Pro:
For all you basically pro riders and experts, oh goodness, do we have the trails for you. Pemberton is known for its steep, dusty shoots and janky rock gardens. So, we warn you that the following trails are not for a tentative rider. There are very technical sections that require serious concentration, but if you’re up for the challenge, these trails are guaranteed to get the heart rate up.
Now that you’ve got the best of the Pemberton trails, it’s time to start checking them off. Regardless if you’re just starting or an expert rider, there’s the perfect trail for everyone. Spice it up or keep it chill; the adventures are endless. Pemberton is the ideal location to ride during the spring and fall rainy season. So pack your bags and grab your bikes; the trails are waiting for you just outside your door.
Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2022
