Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies

Dean Reeds is a freelance journalist in St Catharines.

Instead of just listing popular trails, the authors of this book have
put together more than 200 rides, ranging from easy pedals for novices
to rides that will challenge the most advanced cyclists. The result is
the perfect resource for planning an exploration of Canada’s Rocky
Mountain countryside.

The guide covers an area from the international boundary in the south
to the area surrounding McBride in the north. This is real
mountain-biking country; the lowest elevation is 730 metres, and many
routes have elevation gains of from 500 to 1500 metres. The book
includes a good cross-section of mountain rides and covers the wide-open
expanses of the North Eastern Slopes; the remote Fraser Valley; the
touristy Banff National Park area; the Kootenays with their moderate
climate; and the southern Rockies, with their 10 cyclable passes across
the Great Divide. There’s a good deal of variation within each region,
and the authors don’t try to play Trail God—there are lots of
options and hints for almost every ride.

Well-written, thoroughly researched, and easy to use, Backcountry
Biking is an excellent sampling of the vast variety of mountain-biking
opportunities in British Columbia. If you plan to explore the wilderness
of the Rockies by bike, get this guide.