McBike Northwest Trails

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(Smithers • Bulkley Valley area)

DUTHIE TRAILHEAD

Duthie Access Trail and Bug Block Road (10 minutes)
The trail proceeds up from the trailhead until it intersects the Bug Block Road at Junction R. This gives access to the upper Bug Block Road, the Bluff Trails and the Bottom Trail, and links into several points on the Goat Trail.

(click on the map below for a larger image)

CRONIN PASS (1 Day trip)
Spend the day biking Cronin Pass

Lunch included
4-5 people
$100 per person
contact Smithers McBike to book a day

NORTHWEST TRAILS ($5 at Smithers McBike)
A guide to Mountain Biking in the Bulkley Valley Area, 2nd edition

Feature Trail: Silver King - Hyland Pass
(click on the map below for a larger image)

Silver King - Hyland Pass Distance Log

km

0.0 Parking Lot

1.4 Sunny Point

3.4 Danny Moore Creek (footbridge)

8.3 Entrance to Silver King Basin

9.2 Joe L'Orsa Cabin

9.5 Bridge across Driftwood Creek

9.6 Start of switchbacks up Hyland Pass

11.3 Hyland Pass

Essentials: The Silver King-Hyland Pass route is a popular trail for hiking as well as mountain biking. To get there travel east from Smithers over the Bulkley River and turn left on Old Babine Lake Road and follow it to the intersection with the Telkwa High Road. Turn left. Travel about two kilometres along the High Road to Driftwood Road and turn right. After four kilometres you'll reach Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park and the Driftwood fossil beds. The Driftwood Parking Lot, the best place to park on the Driftwood Road, is a further 7.2 kilometres north along the road. The parking area also has a picnic area and a toilet facility. A gate prohibits motorized traffic beyond this point. Sunny Point is 1.4 kilometres from the gate. After crossing the Sunny Point foot bridge, turn right and follow the Silver King Basin Trail. Refer to the mileage log from Sunny Point.

Notes: The Silver King Basin Trail is a good steady climb on a mountain bike (average five per cent grade) and there are some muddy and rocky sections. After about 6.9 kilometres you'll be in the basin, where the scenery is spectacular. The Joe L'Orsa Cabin, a public BC Parks cabin, is located in the basin and receives a fair amount of use in both winter and summer. This cabin was rebuilt in 1999 and there is a $5 fee for overnight use of the cabin. From the cabin, follow the road to the back of the basin past some old mining structures and cross Driftwood Creek for the last time. From here, take the pack trail which switchbacks up the slope into Hyland Pass. Only the most skilled and experienced rider would ride this trail, the rest of us will be walking. From Hyland Pass, bikers can access the Cronin Trail and ride past the Cronin mine site out to Babine Lake Road. The Cronin Road joins Babine Lake Road about 34 kilometres from Highway 16, so either plan on a long day to get back to town, or arrange to have someone pick you up on Babine Lake Road. This ride works equally well starting from the Cronin side.

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