Best alpine riding in WA/BC?

I unexpectedly have the next 3 weeks off and I'm hoping to do some riding in the northwest. I am based in Seattle for the summer and hoping to get some alpine riding (and skiing) in. I am not the most skilled rider and have no business touching double blacks in the northwest. Prefer pedaling and not interested in bike parks. I've spent a lot of time on the Olympic Peninsula and more interested in new places.

Ape Canyon/Plains of Abraham and the other trails further north near St Helens are high on the list, and can be combined with skiing on Adams nearby. Definitely want to take a trip up to Whistler, Lord of the Squirrels looks awesome but its closed right now, is it expected to open at all next month? Alpine Capone near Squamish looks amazing but the upper part is probably under a lot of snow right now? Beyond those trails I have nothing else on my list, would love some suggestions! Open to traveling anywhere within ~8hrs of Seattle, maybe further. Vancouver Island looks super interesting but I know almost nothing about it, and it looks like most of the bike trails are lower elevation.

Reve:

Frisby Ridge https://www.trailforks.com/trails/frisby-ridge/ This trail is under an enforced wildlife closure every year until July 15
shuttle: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ma...reek-downhill/
Pedal: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ke...tandard-basin/

Golden: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/schacher/
If you are feeling "sporty" look up T4 to town ride

Lake louise: Moraine lake highline and Ross lake

banff and canmore dont have alpine, but LOTS of good riding.

K country? Cox/jumping pound ridge And big/little Elbow Not "rad" rides but SUPER pretty that gets to alpine.

Rossland has 7 summits that is a cool kinda apline location, but I think a Meh ride.


I'm in banff and have done most of this stuff if you need beta

I came across this website last summer, I think it's the same guy that used to do the Trans Cascadia multi-day race? Anyways, they have a lot of super cool looking alpine rides so it might be a good source of info - that said, I have no idea if you can loop them, what condition they're in, etc.

https://www.transcascadiaexcursions....ain-bike-trips

ask lee lau: Its a lazy asian hipster that thinks he knows everything about everything. Get on his fax list

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Originally Posted by mntlion

Reve:

Frisby Ridge https://www.trailforks.com/trails/frisby-ridge/ This trail is under an enforced wildlife closure every year until July 15
shuttle: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ma...reek-downhill/
Pedal: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ke...tandard-basin/

Golden: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/schacher/
If you are feeling "sporty" look up T4 to town ride

Lake louise: Moraine lake highline and Ross lake

banff and canmore dont have alpine, but LOTS of good riding.

K country? Cox/jumping pound ridge And big/little Elbow Not "rad" rides but SUPER pretty that gets to alpine.

Rossland has 7 summits that is a cool kinda apline location, but I think a Meh ride.


I'm in banff and have done most of this stuff if you need beta

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Great list, and agreed with your take on all of those. I think a lot of that is still under snow though. I've been eyeing the t4 ride because I'm there for a day next week, but it's looking snowy still. It's just a *little* early for alpine stuff.

Tons of awesome lower stuff that's in prime shape in all of those areas though.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

Great list, and agreed with your take on all of those. I think a lot of that is still under snow though. I've been eyeing the t4 ride because I'm there for a day next week, but it's looking snowy still. It's just a *little* early for alpine stuff.

Tons of awesome lower stuff that's in prime shape in all of those areas though.

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Really appreciate all the suggestions! I will probably spend some time skiing and riding around Mt Adams and Mt Hood and come up to Canada mid-July. Would it be reasonable to expect the alpine to be ridable by then?

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Originally Posted by Benneke10

Really appreciate all the suggestions! I will probably spend some time skiing and riding around Mt Adams and Mt Hood and come up to Canada mid-July. Would it be reasonable to expect the alpine to be ridable by then?

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Probably(?) Usually yes, but kinda depends on the weather. Just looking at assorted webcams, there's still a decent amount of snow up high. But a week or two of warm weather could turns things around pretty quickly.

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Originally Posted by Benneke10

Really appreciate all the suggestions! I will probably spend some time skiing and riding around Mt Adams and Mt Hood and come up to Canada mid-July. Would it be reasonable to expect the alpine to be ridable by then?

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Depends how big the snow year was - I've heard a bunch of comments about different areas in BC not being open yet. WA may be open sooner since many rides are not as high elevation. I did a big BC-WA road trip summer 2022 and the alpine stuff in BC was just opening early to mid August. Lord of the Squirrels opened Aug 6 but still had some big snow drifts. Revelstoke trails were just opening a few days after that (heat wave came through). IIRC Top of the World at Whistler was still not open.

Agree on the list mtnlion posted. I'd also add Chilcotins as a suggestion as long as you don't mind some steeeep hike a bike. You will be pushing at some point. But it is some of the best alpine riding I've done. Many days riding available there can be done without shuttle.

Pics from my 3 days riding last year here, see page 2: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ght=chilcotins
Did a week long bike pack with 406 and others. TR here, though links are broken: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ighlight=lorna

Lee has a bunch of Chilcotins TR's as well if you search.


The other spot in BC not mentioned is Sol Mountain Resort. It's a bit lesser known, but they are building out an alpine MTB trail network that is really cool. Lots of pics here: https://www.trailforks.com/region/sol-mountain/photos/


Down in WA I rode a bunch of stuff that was great:

Boundary Trail from FR26: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/bo...y-pass/photos/ Amazing, saw elk, goats, ate berries all day with great views of Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake. Out and back.

Goat Mtn loop had lush forest, awesome descents and alpine riding: https://www.trailforks.com/route/goat-mountain-epic/ Don't try to include Tumwater unless confirmed that it's been logged out.

Angel's Staircase ride was cool https://www.trailforks.com/region/an...o-peak/photos/

Nason Ridge - did the full ridge including West section not included in this route. https://www.trailforks.com/route/nas...outes_featured West section was my favorite though, super raw and untrafficked but someone had cut out all the logs so it was fully rideable if you could spot the lines. Riding by braille. The rest of the route was variable with the middle being in poor shape. The final descent was moto trail and in good shape, good thing as it got dark on my with 8 miles to go.

4th of July to Icicle Ridge - didn't like this as much due to deadfall and loose conditions, but final descent was great

Not a ride, but if you're in the Leavenworth area a day hike in the Enchantments is a must. The full 22mi traverse is a huge day but sooo worth it.

Also did a couple rides in the Entiat Mtns on the south side of Lake Chelan. Pyramid Peak https://www.trailforks.com/trails/py...l-1441/photos/ and Lake Creek trails. Some trails in the area listed massive amounts of deadfall so I'd confirm conditions before dropping in or climbing up to anything.


Did a bunch of rides in the Dark Divide area (between Mt St Helens and Goat Rocks Wilderness). Much of this is moto trail and it can be hit or miss:

Strawberry Ridge, Juniper Ridge/Tongue Mtn, Yozoo/Hamilton Buttes, Craggy Peak/Wright Meadow. Juniper had the most alpine content but also the shittiest trail to get to it with deep trenched out moto ruts filled with 10" silt and basketball sized rocks in places. Ditto for Tongue Mtn. Some fo these along with Entiat Mtns are included on the site Toast posted. Hopefully if commercial tours are being run on these trails now they're in better shape. Or at least, the operator would know conditions.



Stuff I didn't get to that looks killer:

County Line trail all the way to Kachess Ridge https://www.trailforks.com/route/tra...outes_featured. Tons of high alpine views. Some of these are moto trails or steep hiking trails so quality for biking may be hit or miss.

Crystal Mtn to Northway loop https://www.trailforks.com/trails/cr...ountain-trail/

No idea what "alpine" riding is but Fernie is riding great right now. Lots of climbing and pedaling if that's your gig.

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Originally Posted by waxman

No idea what "alpine" riding is but Fernie is riding great right now. Lots of climbing and pedaling if that's your gig.

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WHAT? FAR (fernie ALPINE resort) is not ALL alpine???

Just here to say that ape caves to plains of Abraham is an all time awesome ride. In the same zone Lewis River is an unbeatable XC ride. And Yacolt state forest is a sweet freeride zone.


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Also if you are willing to drive a BIT more north, Valemont is amazing. Its in my top 5 riding places for N america.

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Originally Posted by mntlion

WHAT? FAR (fernie ALPINE resort) is not ALL alpine???

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Just up the hill, crow's nest feels a bit more alpine-y and is pretty damn fun.

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Damn, some good nuggets in this thread. Noted!


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Great alpine riding here in Rossland on the 7 Summits trail, and lots of relatively obscure gems (Kettle Crest, Hall Mountain, Mt Abercrombie) in the Colville National Forest just South of here. However temps have averaged 5 degrees below normal for the past couple of months, and there’s still lots of snow above 2000m, so it could be weeks until the 7 Summits is snow free.

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Originally Posted by kootenayskier

Great alpine riding here in Rossland on the 7 Summits trail, and lots of relatively obscure gems (Kettle Crest, Hall Mountain, Mt Abercrombie) in the Colville National Forest just South of here. However temps have averaged 5 degrees below normal for the past couple of months, and there’s still lots of snow above 2000m, so it could be weeks until the 7 Summits is snow free.

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While mtn lion suggests 7 summits is a meh ride, I'm a meh rider and have thoroughly enjoyed it the coupla times I did it.

Sol mt lodge trails i'd say are the best. A bit of a drive but not bad and well worth it. Each tine we've done it as a day trip from revy. Every group ive taken has called it their best ride. Be prepared to take lots of pics , then say youre going to put your phone away, only to crest another hill or corner and quickly reach for your camera/phone again. That has been the theme. The small lake above the lodge is stocked with mt begbie beer as well. I like to knock off the alpine loops and have that beer and a dip before descending down past the cabin to the trucks, with a quick stop to drop some coin in the trailside donation box at the cabin. Amazing handbuilt rock work bridges and trail sculting theyve done. Sooo much work. Probably the funnest climbing you could ever do on a bike. Tech flow extrordinaire.
Keystone standard basin is and was the standard for alpine trails after being called the best trail in the world in Bike mag 25+ yrs ago and i still favour that one , if it wasnt for sol being developed.
If you're in the area the frisby ridge full pull is an amazing day . Leave a truck at boulder mt sledders parking and shuttle up the group to frisby ridge parking. Frisby ridge is a 35? Km out and back across the sub alpine ridge, with a lake dip at the half way. We usually do the ridge with half lids and no pads. When wedescend back to the frisby ridge parking we switch to full face and some pads and continue descending ufc(upper frisby connector) to ultimate frisby dh and that pops out in the valley at the boulder sled parking and your retreaval truck. Leave some cold ones in that truck for the retrieval pops

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Originally Posted by mntlion

WHAT? FAR (fernie ALPINE resort) is not ALL alpine???

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So "alpine" just means mountains? Like enduro means mountain biking?

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Originally Posted by waxman

So "alpine" just means mountains? Like enduro means mountain biking?

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Where in squamish is "alpine capone"? I have done lord of the squirrels a couple of times (super worth it if it's open by the time you get there) and am headed back up there at the end of July. Would love to check out some new alpine rides, but my internet searching didn't turn anything up. Is it an off the grid thing or go by a different name? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Spencer123

Where in squamish is "alpine capone"? I have done lord of the squirrels a couple of times (super worth it if it's open by the time you get there) and am headed back up there at the end of July. Would love to check out some new alpine rides, but my internet searching didn't turn anything up. Is it an off the grid thing or go by a different name? Thanks!

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https://www.strava.com/activities/10009923222

https://www.strava.com/activities/9996275837

Definitely do Ape Canyon/Plains of Abraham. I like it as out and back starting at south end. Do during midweek to avoid crowds of hikers.
Other ideas:
Up shady pass road>devils backbone>four mile ridge>lake creek
Up devils gulch>out beehive rd> tronson ridge>red hill is a good long loop
Up devils gulch>down upper mission>down lower devils is fun
Coal Creek>Thompson Ridge
Esmeralda basin>Boulder-De Roux
Suntop>Skookum flats (do midweek to avoid crowds on skookum)
Teely Creek>Osborne Mtn Trail
Strawberry Ridge (and goat mtn loop nearby)
Echo Ridge is easy, fast fun (less/not alpine?)
No. 2 Canyon (fun, not really alpine)

Except for angel’s staircase none of the rides suggested are in the alpine.


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if you do Frisby, do it end of day so you don't have to dodge people on the way back, can be a real flow killer.

Mystic/Squirrels is currently open until LESS, lower Squirrels is open. Not sure on timing for alpine.

In South Chilcotin, Jewel Bridge access is closed, concrete crossing is there but bridge deck burnt. the two bridges on Gun Creek trail upstream of Jewel bridge are apparenlty "end of life" and closed, haven't heard if that's fire damage as well, but essentially Gun Creek trail closed between Gun Meadows and Jewel. Rumour significant deadfall upstream of Jewel anyway, likely clear to Gun Creek road from Jewel though, but that's not really useful for most.

My traveling is pretty much done, thanks everyone for the recs. I was only on the road for about a week because I got sick early in the month and I mildly injured myself riding the other day, but it was awesome! I spent most of my time in the Sea to Sky area, rode some famous stuff in Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton, and also got on some more adventurous rides that combined with hikes to seek out the illusive "alpine" riding.

I rode Seton Ridge off the Duffy Lake Rd which was amazing except for the ~40 logs I had to cross. Hurt my back lugging the heavy bike over all the deadfall unfortunately :( wish I had a saw with me. Hiked past the end of the trail to Ostinato Peak. This would be a world class trail if it was cleared, the pitch and dirt is amazing. A lot of the climb is too steep to ride even on E but just right on the down.

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I hiked Sugarloaf outside Pemberton and was able to ride as far as the first hut, not a long ride but it was the most scenic and fun ~2 miles of downhill I have ever done. Loamy dirt and just the right amount of tech.

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I attempted to do a ride near off the Duffy Lake Rd using "roads" marked on maps and strava heatmaps and had to bail because the road I was on eventually disappeared into bush. The heat map must have been from winter users, lesson learned to be more careful.

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I also used the bike to approach the upper trailhead for Brandywine near Whistler, which was way faster than driving and the best half day hike I have ever done, plus I got to do a nice run of shoe skiing.

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You certainly scored a bunch of very nice views. Well done

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LOTS is closed for grizzlies, what else compares in Whistler? Heading up for a few days and planning a mix of park and pedaling

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Originally Posted by carlh

LOTS is closed for grizzlies, what else compares in Whistler? Heading up for a few days and planning a mix of park and pedaling

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can still do Sproatt alpine, just have to hang a left at the top of mystic instead of right and head out on With a Twist, Pot of Gold, and the Ninja Lakes loop. Come back down first part of Mystic and then head out on LESS/Lower Squirrels. North or south of Whistler there are some alpiney options, but they're way harder than LOTS with tougher logistics.

It doesn't compare directly for the of size of the loop, but if you are up here now with the fresh rain doing rudys, rusty trombone, and overnight sensation in Pemberton is over a 3000 foot day and has absolutely incredible, get off your bike around each corner at times alpine views.

North Flank Lookout has great alpine views and Howler is an excellent descent, tougher than LOTS but easier than a lot of the other single black trails in the area (I still dabbed several times)

My friend is looking at rainbows end or gargamel, how gnar are these? I can ride most any tech trail near Seattle but don’t like big air or big exposure.

Gargamel (and Zanarchy) are probably one of, or the hardest combos on the map. Very technical and consequential. Rainbow's End is less gnar, but harder to get to, either HAB up 19 Mile hiking trail, or HAB up RE.

Also, once on Zanarchy & Gargamel you're kind of committed. They're not big air/big exposure. More like steeps interspersed with rocks and slabs and jank. Some love it. Some don't. Then when you're done you still have Emerald trails to exit

Maybe try Upper to Lower Howler first?

Thanks for the input, leaning not gargamel. Planning top of the world this afternoon.

Damn flying whales is pretty awesome but definitely caught me by surprise how sustained it was. Felt like long sustained sections of easier Alice lake double black. Maybe it felt worse because it feels remote as well riding solo, but either way a very cool spot.

yeah the AC/FW loop is pretty awesome, had a great early morning lap there couple weekends back but the bugs were savage in the alpine.

On The Rocks-LOTS et al is back open, for those interested.

How does alpine capone compare to flying whales in difficulty?

mmm, maybe less intense overall, but with sections equally steep and technical.