Banff, Alberta
Here’s the hidden gem on this list. Everybody knows about Whistler and the North Shore, but the mountain biking deep inland, around Banff and Canmore, is equally worthy. More kilometers of pristine singletrack than you thought possible await in the most dramatic scenery on the continent. On most routes, you’re more likely to see elk, moose, or grizzly bears than another human being. The Montane Traverse and Canmore Nordic Center (winter home of the Canadian National XC Ski Team) can be ridden right from the town of Canmore. Lake Minnewanka (closed to bikes during berry season) in Banff National Park is beyond stunning, and some consider the Jumping Pound Ridge/Cox Hill route to be the best singletrack in Canada. -skibum
[see_also id=”48993″][/see_also]