By far I have two favourite place to bike:

1. Shuniah Mines
     (and connecting areas Cascades, Trowbridge, Centennial, etc)

Shuniah Mines has some of the best single track and challanging trails in town. There is usually low traffic throughout and some people have built all sorts of ramps and crazy biking structures out there. Combine the trails there with some of the larger trails throughout Centennial park you can have a very satisfying ride. There are dozens of trails throughout Shuniah Mines and probably more that I haven't discovered yet. At some point, hopefully this summer, I'm going to bring my GPS out there and start mapping some of the routes.

Shuniah Mines is located between the Cascades and Trowbridge between the hydro lines and the highway. There are two easy ways to get there. You can drive south on highway 11-17 from the Hodder intersection and between two rock cuts there is a dirt road that goes to a radio tower. Park your vehicle and start biking. Alternatively you can drive to the bluffs and take the trail north, cross the highway and you are there. Even better, you can bike there from Cascades, Trowbridge and Centennial.

The white lines above and below the Shuniah Mines text are hydro lines and can be a great landmark to keep you oriented when biking through the maze of trails.

2. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Although there is not much single track at the Sleeping Giant park, the trails are quite long and the scenery is spectacular. Combine a bike ride with a hike up the chimney or head of the giant for a full day of rewarding exercise.

A) Mountain Biking - Sawyer Bay - Tee Harbour Loop

1. Start at the information office at the entrance to the Lake Marie Louise Campground. You can purchase a parking pass in the office.
2. Following the camp ground road, stay to the left until you hit Sawbill Lake Trail. There is a one way road sign across the entrance of the trail. This is an old logging road and will intersect with the Sawyer Bay Trail about midway. It is mostly downhill and a nice ride.
3. Optional: Turn right and head to Sawyer Bay for a snack. This will add about 7km to your trip and you will have to head back after visiting Sawyer Bay. This trail is very hilly and lots of loose rocks.
4. Head from the Sawyer Bay trail to the Kabeyun Trail, turn right and follow until you hit Tee Harbour.
5. Have lunch at Tee Harbour and head back on the Kabeyun Trail the way you came all the way to the main parking lot.
6. Turn left on the road at the Parking lot and follow it back up to the Campground where you originally parked. This is a good cool-down.

This route is just over 30kms of riding and the scenery is fantastic.
(It can be completed in about 1-3 hours depending on your pace)

B) Top of the Giant Trails

1. Start from the main parking lot (just before Silver Islet) and start biking down the Kabeyun Trail.
2. If you like, you can take a quick break at Tee Harbour before starting your climb.
3. Continue on the Kabeyun Trail and turn right at the first trail intersection after Tee Harbour heading North towards Sawyer Bay.
4. In this area you should stash your bikes in the bush and continue on foot. If you are paranoid, you can lock your bike to a tree - but most people out at the park are honest avid outdoorsmen.
5. Within one kilometer you will be able to take a left onto the Top of the Giant trail. This trail replaces the old chimney trail which has never been very safe and uses switchbacks to easily get you to the top without the threat of falling rocks or loosing your step.
6. Follow the blue trail across the top of the giant to get to the massive cliffs and a view of the city.
7. Follow the same way back!

This route is about 17 kms biking and 6km of hiking.
(8.5 biking there, 1 up, 2 across, and 1 down, 8.5 back)
Takes about 4-6 hours depending on how many breaks you take.

Open marshes at the start of the Top of the Giant Trail

View of Tee Harbour from the Top of the Giant Trail

The cliffs at the knees of the Sleeping Giant