Yes, so come prepared to do so with a suitably sized backpack – reflective of the length of your trip and gear requirements.

All of our mountain bike tours are backcountry cross-country/all mountain style.

There is a real mixture of the following:

• Rolling terrain made up of some ups and downs, combined with some flatter sections of trail

• Intermittent short technical up hills that require a good base level of fitness (Level 2 to 3), and a burst of effort to ride

• short to long (30+minute) technical descents that require strong intermediate to advanced biking handling skills and good concentration.

• short (30 to 45 minutes) to long (2 hours plus) up hills to access the alpine, which can involve some continuous sections of hike a bike. See tab titled “Will I be expected to hike a bike” for a breakdown of trails you will need to walk your bike, and the associated typical time commitments.

• Some short sections of trail that can be a little off camber and/or slightly exposed. Such as the Gun Creek trail on a few occasions when travelling between Trigger Lake and Old Cowboy Camp, and again on the lower sections of Gun Creek Trail when it runs parallel to the creek itself at times.
  
  Ultimately what you will experience and encounter will depend on your trip and the routes you and/or your guide(s) choose. There are generally multiple route options available to be considered. Reflective of factors such as rider expectations and experience, fitness and skill level, weather and wildlife.

We strongly recommend you bring a dual-suspension (fork at the front and shock in the rear) mountain bike designed for cross-country/all mountain trails that has hydraulic disk breaks, not V-Brakes. Downhill style bikes and fat bikes are not recommended.

Your bike should be well maintained and ideally recently serviced. The working condition of the brakes (including the amount of brake pads remaining), the shifting of gears, state of the tires, bolt tightness, cable housings, and derailleur alignment should all be good.

If your bike is considered inappropriate (or unsafe) for your tour and the riding in the region, please be aware that you will be instructed to use and pay for a rental bike as an alternative.

Yes. You must have a good amount of experience mountain biking and be a strong intermediate rider at minimum (see our self rating scale here).

Riders must be comfortable with changing gears, braking, mounting and dismounting their bike in uneven terrain.

Riders should have the ability to pedal and/or walk with their bike uphill for short to long periods of time, depending on routes travelled, and they must be comfortable descending moderate to technical downhill sections.

If you unsure whether you have the experience, skills and/or fitness required please contact us direct to discuss prior to booking an adventure. We are experts at pairing people up with the appropriate trip, so that you have fun and remain safe.

You will need only the usual biking essentials that you typically wear. But please note some recommendations below regarding your helmet, bike shorts, biking shoes and body armor so that you come best prepared:

• Full faced helmet is not recommended

• Durable and comfortable mountain bike shorts. Lycra shorts are not practical for a wilderness experience. Our guides wear the Glidepath short from 7Mesh.

• Mountain bike specific shoes. Low cut, cross country style mountain bike shoes are not recommended. Bring shoes that provide a good amount of ankle support, and that have a solid sole, for any sections of hike a bike. Check the condition of any shoes before you arrive-is the sole securely attached for example.

• Body armor is not recommended. However, if you feel more confident wearing it you are welcome to pack it. You will be responsible for carrying it at all times.

A difficult question to answer as all of us have different hydration requirements. Most days there will be ample opportunities to stop and refill water bottles and/or hydration bladders from streams and creeks in the area.

It is recommended that you come prepared with a suitable water filtration system if you feel that you need one. Your guide/s will not be carrying one for guests to use.

If you are staying in our backcountry camps there is also the opportunity to fill bottles and/or bladders with filtered water provided.

As per current BC Parks mandate, electric bikes are not permitted within either the South Chilcotin or Big Creek Provincial Parks. Please refer to the BC Parks website for further details.

Electric bikes can be ridden outside the park boundaries, on trails around our base of operations and in sections of the surrounding valley for example. Where motorized use is permitted. Thank you

The plane can carry up to 5 riders with bikes and small backpacks, up to a weight limit of 1000lbs to 1100lbs depending on the location you are flying into the mountains from.

• If there are more than 5 riders in your group that is absolutely fine, additional flight/s would just need to be scheduled.

• Groups of 4 or less total (guide included) will need to remove the front wheel only from the bikes.

• Groups of 5 total (guide included) will need to remove both wheels, so please come with the knowledge and tools to do so.

• If you are unable to remove your wheels, you may not be able to board the flight with your bike.

Understand that to get into the alpine there typically will be some hike a bike required. A good base level of fitness (Level 2 to 3) is required, along with a readiness to commit to the adventure.

You’ll experience some hike-a-bike particularly if you travel the trails/routes below.

• Lorna Pass: 45 minutes to 1 hour of hike a bike (option on our 4- or 3-day tours)

• Elbow Pass: 45 minutes to 1 hours of hike a bike (option on our 4- or 3-day tours)

• Little Graveyard Pass: 30 to 45 minutes of hike a bike (option on our 4 + days tour)

• Manson Creek Col: 1 hour to 90 minutes of hike a bike (option on our 4 + days tour)

• Deer Pass: 90 minutes to 2 hours of hike a bike (option on our 4- or 3-day tours)

• Windy Pass: 1 hour to 90 minutes of hike a bike (option on our 4, 3- or 2-days tours)

• Camels Pass: 30 to 45 minutes of hike a bike (option on our 4, 3, or 2-day tours, or our single day non flight start tour)

• Eldorado Pass: 30 minutes to 1 hour of hike a bike (option on our 4, 3- or 2-days tours)

• Cabin Pass: 30 to 45 minutes of hike a bike (option on our 4, 3- or 2-days tours)

But do not be intimidated by these numbers. A good level of fitness and attitude will help you reach the passes, and the rewards (views, the descent etc.) are ultimately worth it. 1 foot in front of the other, onwards and upwards.

• Given the potential for sections of hike a bike, low cut, lightweight cross country style mountain bike shoes may not be the best footwear option.

We recommended bringing shoes that provide a good amount of ankle support, and that have a solid sole, for any sections of hike a bike. Check the condition of shoes before you arrive.

This will largely depend on your planned trip, and the routes you and/or your guide(s) chose. There typically are multiple route options available to be considered. Factors such as rider expectations and experience, fitness and skill level, weather and wildlife will be taken into consideration.

Generally, however you can expect to travel on average from 12-20 miles / 20-30 km per day. Be prepared to be on the trails for anywhere between 4 to 7 hours – but this is not all time spent riding. There is plenty of stop-start, and opportunities to snack and break to enjoy the surroundings.

The terrain of the South Chilcotin Mountains varies from dense treed bush-land, open grasslands to steep rocky mountain passes. Most of the 200+ kilometers of trails were originally created by horses and/or First Nations travelling on foot for the purpose of trading or hunting.

The trails are considered backcountry and remote in nature. You can expect to see the usual hazards (rocks and rocks), along with some perhaps less encountered – such as holes from marmots and creek crossings.

Depending on weather and usage, some sections of the trails may be muddy. But passable.

You will ride out of the mountains on the final day of any trip, back to the valley and our base of operations on Tyaughton Lake.

There are 2 different route options.

Option 1 (typically the faster route back to the valley) is returning to the valley via gun meadows and gun creek trail. This route involves roughly 300m to 400m of climbing over approximately 24kms.

Option 2 is returning to the valley via windy pass, high trail and molly dog typically. This route involves roughly 1100m of climbing, with some significant high a bike on windy pass, over approximately 26kms.

Tyax Adventures operations are located on the border between the Chilcotin Mountains and the Coast Mountains. The temperature is substantially cooler in the early morning and evening, so make sure you bring warm layers for when the sun goes down. In the higher alpine areas, please be prepared for snow in the summer. The middle of the day is a great time to swim in Tyaughton Lake (our base location) or Spruce Lake.

Average temperatures are:

JUN: 77F / 25C high JUL: 82F / 28C high AUG: 86F / 30C high

41F / 5C low 46F / 8C low 50F / 10C low

• A cozy bed with mattress, sleeping bag and pillow in a double occupancy canvas walled tent (bring your own sleeping bag liner and pillow case).

In every camp, except Eldorado, we have 5 double occupancy canvas tents.

• 3 meals a day. A hot dinner and a hot breakfast are prepared by your camp host, and you make your own lunch for the trails from supplies provided.

Sturdy hiking footwear is mandatory, we recommend something with ankle support and a thick sole. Running shoes are not recommended. A light long sleeve layer to keep bugs off on hot days along with a hat and sunscreen are also strongly recommended. For Backcountry multi-day tours we recommend bringing a pair of light long pants to protect against brush along some sections of trail.

Sturdy trail running shoes, waterproof if possible. Your shoes will need to be capable of tackling muddy trails, rocky alpine terrain and at times steep mountain passes in the Chilcotins . A light long sleeve layer to keep bugs off on hot days along with a hat and sunscreen are also strongly recommended. For Backcountry mulit-day tours we recommend bringing a pair of light long pants to protect against brush along some sections of trail.

• A camp host to set up and maintain camp.

• A cozy bed in a dual occupancy canvas walled tent (2 people per tent typically)

• Three meals a day when in the mountains. Includes a hot breakfast and dinner prepared by the host, and self prepared and packed lunches for on the trails. A packed lunch prepared by Tyax Adventures is also included on your first day.

• Filtered water to fill your hydration packs and bottles.

• Sleeping bags, sleeping pad/mattresses, and pillows.

• Fleece jackets to help keep you warm in the evenings.

• Crocs footwear to wear while in and around camp.

• Outdoor hot showers with soap.

• An outdoor pit toilet that is basic in nature but fully stocked

• If ordered and paid for in advance – beer, wine and/or cider. Alcohol must be pre-ordered at least 30 days in advance and will be waiting for you at your desired camp location.

• The opportunity to dry out wet clothes and/or shoes, with a wood fired stove (this means you can travel even lighter!)

• At Spruce Camp only, take advantage of our 3 fishing boats to head out onto the lake for some of the best fishing in the park. A fishing licence is mandatory.

• At Eldorado Cabin, take advantage of our wood fired sauna to help relax tired trail muscles.

Our Backcountry Accommodations are recommended for Experienced Backcountry Travelers only, we recommend booking a Guided Adventure if you’re unfamiliar with Backcountry Travel. An experienced backcountry traveler is comfortable route finding, orienteering and is prepared for wildlife encounters and first aid emergencies.

Your luggage must weigh less than 25 lbs. You will only need your personal gear, Tyax Adventures will provide all camping gear.

There are outdoor showers at Spruce Lake Camp, Bear Paw Camp & Eldorado Cabin/Camp. We will have biodegradable soap available for use. There are outhouses at the Spruce Lake Camp, Bear Paw Camp and the Eldorado Cabin/Camp.

We do not have secure storage for your belongings at Tyax Adventures base however many people leave extra gear in their cars. We can store small bags if absolutely necessary however Tyax Adventures are not responsible for these items.

Your host will prepare all of your meals, including delicious and healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners. If you have any special dietary needs, please notify Tyax Adventures when you book your trip so that we can make the necessary allowances.

You are required to bring your own sleeping bag liner and pillow case, however the huts and camps will have sleeping shelters so no tents or cooking gear are required. The campsite is also equipped with bear-proof food containers.

Alcohol is allowed in camps and you are allowed to carry your own. Tyax Adventures does not serve alcohol however we do offer beer and wine to be pre-ordered and ready waiting for you in camp. You will need to pre-book this at least 7 days in advance. Please remember that our backcountry accommodations may be shared with other guests, please be respectful and responsible when imbibing.

Set on the shores of Tyaughton Lake, Tyax Adventures is located approximately five hours by car north of Vancouver and 1.5 hours west of Lillooet. We are nestled in British Columbia’s newest provincial park, a 72,000-hectare area boasting some of the best backcountry hiking, horseback riding and biking in BC.

Visit our Location page to find out how to get here!

Guests can either fly into Tyaughton Lake by floatplane, or drive (via the Hurley or Lillooet).

View our location page or view the following linkd for more information:

• .View driving directions here.

• View floatplane charters here.