Vancouver & North Shore

Beta: Park at the main Fromme lot at the top of Mountain Highway in North Van — fills by 10am on weekends, overflow is street parking down near the Dempsey-Braemar lot. Climb the gated Mountain Highway fire road ~3-4 km to the Expresso entrance between switchbacks 5 and 6 (signed, on the left, just past Pipeline). Expresso is a golden-ribbon flow trail built by Digger — bermed corners top to bottom with optional tables, roll-downs, and one big smooth rock ride. Intermediate-friendly but carries speed; ride the lower section too — continuous flow all the way down.

Season: Rideable most of the year on Mount Fromme (District of North Vancouver, NSMBA-maintained). Coastal climate means snow cover is typically only a few weeks at this elevation, but the trail has dirt sections that turn to mush after heavy rain — NSMBA recommends avoiding Expresso during and immediately after wet spells. February-October is the most popular window; winter rides work between storm cycles.

Shuttle: Fromme is pedal-up only. No shuttle, no lift, no exceptions. Climb via Fromme Fire Road or Crinkum Crankum.

Beta: Same Fromme parking as Expresso — lot at the top of Mountain Highway, arrive before 10am or park down the hill and pedal up. Pipeline's entrance is on the left after the 5th switchback, a bit lower than Expresso. Expect classic North Shore tech: ladders, skinnies, a big teeter-totter, and steep rocky/rooty chunder — a moderate-to-hard intro to NS style but not a beginner run. Trail dumps onto Baden-Powell which takes you back to the gated fire road. Walk the teeter the first lap to scope line and commitment.

Season: Open year-round on Mount Fromme (District of North Vancouver, NSMBA-maintained). Rock-armored steep terrain drains better than the dirt-based trails nearby, making Pipeline one of the more wet-weather-friendly Fromme options during the October-April rainy season. Occasional snow days in mid-winter are the only true closure.

Shuttle: Fromme — pedal-up only.

Beta: Park at the main Fromme lot at the top of Mountain Highway. Climb the gated fire road about 1.25 km from the parking area to the signed Bobsled trailhead (lower on the mountain than Pipeline/Expresso). Bobsled is one-way (no uphill, no hikers) — ~900m of continuous bermed corners and wooden wall-rides, the flowiest trail on Fromme with just enough tech to keep you honest. Perfect after-work lap or warm-up — most riders do 2-3 laps before heading higher. Great in the wet; the berms shed water well.

Season: Rideable most of the year, but this machine-built flow trail on Fromme's lower slopes is the first to get posted as wet-weather-closed after heavy Pacific storms — the berms and dirt surface don't hold up under saturation. Best May-October when consistent dry spells let the trail firm up. Check Trailforks for real-time status, especially November-March.

Shuttle: Fromme — pedal-up only.

Beta: Same Fromme lot at the top of Mountain Highway — park early or plan on street parking. Climb Mountain Highway past the 5th switchback and turn left onto Ladies Only for a 900m descent. Classic NS tech trail with mandatory wood features — world's first teeter-totter on a bike trail, an uphill skinny over a fallen tree, and steep rough terrain throughout. Not a beginner trail, so warm up first on Bobsled, Griffen, or King of the Shore to get a feel for NS features before committing. Exits onto Baden Powell.

Season: Rock-and-wood heavy double-black on mid-Fromme; rideable essentially year-round because the trail surface handles wet conditions better than the flow trails. February through October is the most popular window, and rider reports confirm wet/tacky conditions are common even in peak winter months. Snow closures at this elevation are usually just a few days per winter.

Shuttle: Fromme — pedal-up only.

Beta: Park at the Northlands Golf Course lot — turn left off Mount Seymour Rd for 'Northlands,' lot is immediate right (~30 cars + street parking on Ann Macdonald Way). For a quick lap, access at the Good Sir Martin crossing; for the full trail, climb Severed D (Dickie entrance) to the top. Downhill only for bikes, do not pedal up — fast flowy singletrack with berms, small jumps, and two signature wood features: the Buck Huck ramp and Buck Shot gap jump. Don't ride it wet; often the first Seymour trail to open after rain.

Season: Rideable much of the year but best May-October on Mount Seymour (BC Parks, NSMBA-maintained). John Deere is a dirt-surfaced trail that NSMBA and local shops recommend avoiding during and after heavy rain. Seymour's higher elevation also means snow cover Dec-March more consistently than Fromme; the park gatehouse is closed May-October for full park access.

Shuttle: Endless Biking runs guided shuttle laps on Seymour. You can also pedal up Good Sir Martin to the top.

Beta: Park at the Old Buck / Bridle Path lot at the base of Seymour — standard Seymour access. Climb via Good Sir Martin or CBC to reach Baden Powell, then access Boogieman past Team Pangor (keep left at the junction). Double-black with mandatory A-frames, skinnies, granite TTFs, steep drops, and a long 10-ft-high suspended bridge — the bridge is walkable and many riders opt out. Recently rebuilt via NSMBA TAP to modernize with rollers, doubles, and a rollercoaster G-out finish. Scope every feature before committing.

Season: Double-black-diamond steep trail on Mount Seymour (BC Parks, NSMBA-managed). Rideable year-round in most years given the rocky technical surface, but snow coverage on Seymour's upper slopes can shut access December-March depending on storm cycles. February is actually one of the most popular months per ride logs, suggesting locals chase it when lower trails are too muddy.

Shuttle: Shuttle via Endless Biking saves the long climb up Good Sir Martin. Big vertical — nearly 1,000m.