Atlin silver area Hiking and Biking
What's locally referred to as 'Atlin Silver' or 'Ruffner', is the plateau accesed via Mcdonald lake/Ruffner mine road, past the bridge.
The silver mine area is a grand playground for mountainbiking. Many trails start or are accessed from here. There is easy access and different level rides. You can access this area by taking the turn off the highway 10km north of Atlin. the gravel road is called ‘ruffner mine’ and you’ll se the sign for the Mc Donald lake campground. For the Silver mine area trails there are 2 starting points: 1. Parking area by the 4th of July creek bridge 2 Parking area on the bottom of the switchbacks If you’re keen on doing multiple trails and would like to spend one or more nights out, you can camp at the McDonald lake campground. The trails start at the bottom of the switchback road and go from there. If you are hiking or Just want to do Marmot lake or Gravity, you can drive your 4x4 to the top of the switchbacks and spend the day riding on the plateau.
Please note that there is usually a snowdrift across the switchbacks that blocks the road to vehicles until late June. But you can carry your bicycle across.
For families, for easy riding or for a fun camping trip, you can also ride the entire forestry road from the bridge at 4th of july creek to gladys lake (40KM one way) There are a couple of creeks to cross along the way but those are all fun and no risk.
Trails that start or are accessed from the trailhead at the bottom of the switchback galore: Switchback galore 6.89 km Marmot lake 3.25km Gravity 4.51 km Lake Express 4.81 km Mountain Superhero short 44.54 km Mountain SuperHero 82.38
The silver mine area is a grand playground for mountainbiking. Many trails start or are accessed from here. There is easy access and different level rides. You can access this area by taking the turn off the highway 10km north of Atlin. the gravel road is called ‘ruffner mine’ and you’ll se the sign for the Mc Donald lake campground. For the Silver mine area trails there are 2 starting points: 1. Parking area by the 4th of July creek bridge 2 Parking area on the bottom of the switchbacks If you’re keen on doing multiple trails and would like to spend one or more nights out, you can camp at the McDonald lake campground. The trails start at the bottom of the switchback road and go from there. If you are hiking or Just want to do Marmot lake or Gravity, you can drive your 4x4 to the top of the switchbacks and spend the day riding on the plateau.
Please note that there is usually a snowdrift across the switchbacks that blocks the road to vehicles until late June. But you can carry your bicycle across.
For families, for easy riding or for a fun camping trip, you can also ride the entire forestry road from the bridge at 4th of july creek to gladys lake (40KM one way) There are a couple of creeks to cross along the way but those are all fun and no risk.
Trails that start or are accessed from the trailhead at the bottom of the switchback galore: Switchback galore 6.89 km Marmot lake 3.25km Gravity 4.51 km Lake Express 4.81 km Mountain Superhero short 44.54 km Mountain SuperHero 82.38
Routes on McDonald lake road / Atlin Silver
GLADYS LAKE ROAD
Style: Return trip
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 46 km one way
The Gladys lake road is the continuation of McDonald lake road, it continues on for 40km to Gladys lake. This is a great easy (family) ride. Relatively flat, with beautiful scenery. The road goes on top of Eskers and follows 4th ofJuly creek. There are a couple of minor creek crossings. Great for family bikepacking, or a day trip with friends.
Once at Gladys lake, you could spend the some time exploring the mining roads at Davenport creek, that take you up in the alpine and give a great view over Gladys lake.
Style: Return trip
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 46 km one way
The Gladys lake road is the continuation of McDonald lake road, it continues on for 40km to Gladys lake. This is a great easy (family) ride. Relatively flat, with beautiful scenery. The road goes on top of Eskers and follows 4th ofJuly creek. There are a couple of minor creek crossings. Great for family bikepacking, or a day trip with friends.
Once at Gladys lake, you could spend the some time exploring the mining roads at Davenport creek, that take you up in the alpine and give a great view over Gladys lake.
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SWITCHBACK GALORE
Starting point: Ruffner mine forestry road, bottom of switchbacks or parking lot by 4th of July bridge on McDonald/Ruffner mine road.
Style: Loop
Diffitulty: Moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Length: 6.89 km
Elevation gain: 670m
Elevation loss:670m
About: Switchback galore takes you from the bottom of the valley to the top of the silver mine area, some nice uphill on the switchbacks and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous Vistas once on top. The switchback galore is a start to access many other trails, and on it’s own is a fun ride. It is recommended to go up on the South side and come down the north switchback. the ride down will take you past historical mining shafts and tracks.
Starting point: Ruffner mine forestry road, bottom of switchbacks or parking lot by 4th of July bridge on McDonald/Ruffner mine road.
Style: Loop
Diffitulty: Moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Length: 6.89 km
Elevation gain: 670m
Elevation loss:670m
About: Switchback galore takes you from the bottom of the valley to the top of the silver mine area, some nice uphill on the switchbacks and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous Vistas once on top. The switchback galore is a start to access many other trails, and on it’s own is a fun ride. It is recommended to go up on the South side and come down the north switchback. the ride down will take you past historical mining shafts and tracks.
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GRAVITY
Starting point: from top of switchback galore
Style: Loop
Difficulty: moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Length: 4.81 km
Elevation gain: 138m
Elevation loss: 492m
About: Where the Lake express and marmot lake go down to cross the creek, keep left and stay on your side of the valley. You’ll go up to abandoned gold rush mine sites and cabins as well as a mine shaft..
Starting point: from top of switchback galore
Style: Loop
Difficulty: moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Length: 4.81 km
Elevation gain: 138m
Elevation loss: 492m
About: Where the Lake express and marmot lake go down to cross the creek, keep left and stay on your side of the valley. You’ll go up to abandoned gold rush mine sites and cabins as well as a mine shaft..
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MARMOT LAKE
Starting point: Top of Switchback Galore (make it shorter by driving to the top of the switchbacks and starting on the plateau, recommended if you are hiking).
Length: 3.25 km
Difficulty - moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Style: Return trip
Elevation gain: 284m
Time: 3+ hours
About: Go up the switchbacks and keep right. you need to cross the creek to where lake express and marmot lake separate, there will be a tall standing rock in the direction you need to go. You’ll go up a rocky ridge, be surrounded by many marmots (you can hear their whistle from afar) and end at a beautiful little lake.
Starting point: Top of Switchback Galore (make it shorter by driving to the top of the switchbacks and starting on the plateau, recommended if you are hiking).
Length: 3.25 km
Difficulty - moderate - some steep and rocky sections
Style: Return trip
Elevation gain: 284m
Time: 3+ hours
About: Go up the switchbacks and keep right. you need to cross the creek to where lake express and marmot lake separate, there will be a tall standing rock in the direction you need to go. You’ll go up a rocky ridge, be surrounded by many marmots (you can hear their whistle from afar) and end at a beautiful little lake.
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LAKE EXPRESS
Starting point: From bottom of switchback galore
Style: Loop
Difficulty - moderate - some steep sections
Length: 4.8 km from top of switchbacks, 9.3 km from Main road to Main road.
Ascent: 335 m
Time: 3+ hours
About: continue and hang right to Cross the creek on top of Swhitchback galore, after crossing the creek take second right, just before the tall standing rock. This trail does have one steeper section of 100M but overall is a very nice ride down with some historical sights along the way. it brings you back to the main forestry road from where you can return to wherever you parked your vehicle.
Starting point: From bottom of switchback galore
Style: Loop
Difficulty - moderate - some steep sections
Length: 4.8 km from top of switchbacks, 9.3 km from Main road to Main road.
Ascent: 335 m
Time: 3+ hours
About: continue and hang right to Cross the creek on top of Swhitchback galore, after crossing the creek take second right, just before the tall standing rock. This trail does have one steeper section of 100M but overall is a very nice ride down with some historical sights along the way. it brings you back to the main forestry road from where you can return to wherever you parked your vehicle.
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SWITCHBACK GALORE TO ATLIN SILVER PASS
Style: Return trip
Length 16km from Mc Donald lake campsite
Ascent: 385m
Time 5+hours
This GPX file of the route starts off at the McDonald lake campsite, but you can combine it with any of the other routes up on Atlin silver. (Switchback galore, Gravity, etc.)
Style: Return trip
Length 16km from Mc Donald lake campsite
Ascent: 385m
Time 5+hours
This GPX file of the route starts off at the McDonald lake campsite, but you can combine it with any of the other routes up on Atlin silver. (Switchback galore, Gravity, etc.)
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MC DONALD LAKE ROAD TO SURPRISE LAKE ROAD EPIC LOOP
If you're looking for an epic day trip, this is one of the epic loops to do Around Atlin.
This info and route was submitted by Joel Macht, he did the loop in July 2021
Difficulty: Difficult - steep sections, and includes portaging your bicycle
Length: 75 km
Time: 7+ hours
Ascent 1400 m
Style: Loop
Notes:
We rode out to MacDonald Lake and up the switchbacks then up the hanging valley towards Mt. Leonard/Surprise Pass. Spectacular!!! We hiked our bikes over the pass and connected down to the Boulder/Ruby Creek Rd. loop. The climbing was of course quite steep, but the road condition was good enough that we were able to ride almost all of it to within about 1-1.5km (well... maybe 2km ;)) from the pass itself. There was some difficult scrambling with our bikes in sections towards the top. Once we got over the pass proper at about 1800m, it was a hike-a-bike for about 2km down to the Boulder/Ruby creek rd loop. We navigated this faster than I expected: it was downhill and became a little grassy near the bottom which made footing much easier. We continued clockwise, down the Ruby Creek Road and after about 2 or 3km the road surface improved significantly and we were flying! It really was an "epic" ride in every sense. Amazing scenery. Wildlife. Challenging climbing. Fast, sinuous descents. Stunning wildflowers. Ended up totalling around 75km with about 1400m of elevation gain from town.
If you're looking for an epic day trip, this is one of the epic loops to do Around Atlin.
This info and route was submitted by Joel Macht, he did the loop in July 2021
Difficulty: Difficult - steep sections, and includes portaging your bicycle
Length: 75 km
Time: 7+ hours
Ascent 1400 m
Style: Loop
Notes:
We rode out to MacDonald Lake and up the switchbacks then up the hanging valley towards Mt. Leonard/Surprise Pass. Spectacular!!! We hiked our bikes over the pass and connected down to the Boulder/Ruby Creek Rd. loop. The climbing was of course quite steep, but the road condition was good enough that we were able to ride almost all of it to within about 1-1.5km (well... maybe 2km ;)) from the pass itself. There was some difficult scrambling with our bikes in sections towards the top. Once we got over the pass proper at about 1800m, it was a hike-a-bike for about 2km down to the Boulder/Ruby creek rd loop. We navigated this faster than I expected: it was downhill and became a little grassy near the bottom which made footing much easier. We continued clockwise, down the Ruby Creek Road and after about 2 or 3km the road surface improved significantly and we were flying! It really was an "epic" ride in every sense. Amazing scenery. Wildlife. Challenging climbing. Fast, sinuous descents. Stunning wildflowers. Ended up totalling around 75km with about 1400m of elevation gain from town.
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