Slabs and Berms: The Best MTB Trails in Squamish

Squamish is the beating heart of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, one of the best mountain biking regions on Earth. Situated along the highway between Vancouver and Whistler, this vibrant community is home to hands-down some of the best singletrack in the world. In fact, if you compare the caliber of the human-powered trail riding (i.e., trails outside of a bike park) in Squamish to that of Whistler, well… most riders will agree that Squamish's trails are even better than Whistler's. You might be shocked to hear it, but it's true!

Several critical factors have propelled Squamish to its position as one of the top mountain bike destinations in the world. They include: an expansive network with hundreds of kilometers of trails, diverse singletrack spanning all technical difficulties from beginner to expert, high-quality industry-leading trail building, ease of access to that trail system, and mountain bike-friendly infrastructure throughout the community.

Of course, none of these factors would exist without the combination of talented trail builders and local trail advocates. ExploreSquamish.com explains it well: "cultivated over years of sustainable trail development by a vibrant culture of local mountain bikers and trail builders, Squamish is home of some of Canada's best mountain biking trails," they write. "There are trails here for all ages and abilities that are easily accessible for those who live life on two wheels. Technical singletrack, long rock slabs, fast, loamy descents, jump trails, climb trails and pump tracks, Squamish is a mountain biker's paradise."

As you search for a ride in this vast sea of singletrack, it helps to first identify what type of ride experience you're looking for. Are you in search of the challenging, exposed granite slabs that first helped make Squamish famous? Steep tech trails filled with roots? Or Squamish's world-renowned flow trails filled with berms and jumps? Once you've decided which flavor of ride you're looking for, then you can narrow your search down to a route that will suit you the best. If you're looking for slabs, Alice Lake Provincial Park will be your likely destination. If you're looking for flow trails, the greatest density is found in the Diamond Head trail system. If you're looking for steeps, head towards the higher mountainsides above any of the respective networks.

That said, these are just rules of thumb. Squamish's trail system is so interesting because you can find challenging tech trails crossing the easy, flowy trails in Diamond Head. You can find flow trails and jump lines in Alice Lake Provincial Park in addition to the slabs. Almost any corner of the Squamish trail system that you head to will yield a ride that is suited to your ability level and desires. And that, my friends, is truly a rare thing!