+ 2
McGillivray Lake and Snowshoe XC Trail
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
4.37 mi
486 ft
A scenic trip and a fun ride down!
McGillivray Lake can be reached by car, but this is a much nicer way of getting there, and allows you to get a bit of exercise, see some great forests, and ride a fun little trail.
The 4x4 track which you ride up to reach McGillivray Lake is easy to locate if you ride up Valley Drive, at the eastern end of Sun peaks village. The track is obvious and easy to follow so you can get on with enjoying the ambience of the forest without needing to pay route finding much attention. The ascent track can also be hiked as an out-and-back trail if you want to take things a little slower.
It's optional to detour to McGillivray Lake itself as you can actually access Snowshoe (the descent trail) before you reach the lake, but the detour is well worth making; the lake is stunning and it's only 5 minutes away from the top of Snowshoe.
When you're ready to descend there's a little sign designating the start of Snowshoe, so locate this and then get riding! The trail itself is undulating and narrow, and it crosses a few little wooden bridges as well, which keeps things nicely varied. It doesn't really involve any technical riding and undulates all the way, so only ride this trail if you enjoy a journey as much as the technical riding itself.
A couple of other factors to take into account before doing this trail are that it's densely forested (and therefore slow to dry) and that the mosquitos can be pretty bad! Take bug spray and keep moving to get maximum enjoyment out this trip! Written by Charlie Boscoe
McGillivray Lake can be reached by car, but this is a much nicer way of getting there, and allows you to get a bit of exercise, see some great forests, and ride a fun little trail.
The 4x4 track which you ride up to reach McGillivray Lake is easy to locate if you ride up Valley Drive, at the eastern end of Sun peaks village. The track is obvious and easy to follow so you can get on with enjoying the ambience of the forest without needing to pay route finding much attention. The ascent track can also be hiked as an out-and-back trail if you want to take things a little slower.
It's optional to detour to McGillivray Lake itself as you can actually access Snowshoe (the descent trail) before you reach the lake, but the detour is well worth making; the lake is stunning and it's only 5 minutes away from the top of Snowshoe.
When you're ready to descend there's a little sign designating the start of Snowshoe, so locate this and then get riding! The trail itself is undulating and narrow, and it crosses a few little wooden bridges as well, which keeps things nicely varied. It doesn't really involve any technical riding and undulates all the way, so only ride this trail if you enjoy a journey as much as the technical riding itself.
A couple of other factors to take into account before doing this trail are that it's densely forested (and therefore slow to dry) and that the mosquitos can be pretty bad! Take bug spray and keep moving to get maximum enjoyment out this trip! Written by Charlie Boscoe
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGillvray Lake Climb | 1.83 mi | 305 ft | 2.8% |
| Mcgillivray Lake up to signpost | 1.46 mi | 289 ft | 3.7% |
| Brain Puzzle DH | 0.35 mi | -30 ft | -1.7% |
| Blue Snowshoe trail down to Engarde | 1.18 mi | -171 ft | -1.4% |
| Blue Grouse Single track | 0.90 mi | -95 ft | -1.0% |
| Snowshoe to Engarde | 1.09 mi | -164 ft | -1.7% |