Mountain Biking on Quadra Island

The quiet roads of Quadra Island and adjacent Discovery Islands are ideal for a complete bike tour or just a quick afternoon burn. There aren't many hills on the southern part of the Quadra and cycling is a great way to get around to the shops or to take in a day of visiting the island studios and galleries.

If something more adventurous is your thing then check out the island's growing network of purpose built single-track and multi-use trails. Quadra Island's history of logging has left a legacy of old roads and rail beds that together with more recent trail building and route development has resulted in a maze of off-road riding. Quadra Island is fast becoming a superb mountain biking destination.

There are trails with a range of difficulties from the Community Centre trail cruisers to the Morte Lake cross-country classic. For a real work out try the technical single-track challenges of the Stramberg Lake loop ride. Most of the big descents are found on or around Mt Seymour with four trails dropping around 400m (1200ft). Back Seat Driver is a local favourite.

Mountain biking is often a year round activity on Quadra Island. Some winters can bring enough snow to cover the trails for just a few weeks. Otherwise the trails are open for riding all year.

Nearby Snowden Forest in Campbell River has hundreds of kilometres of trails. Together the region is a veritable cross-country mountain biking mecca.