Surrounded by the Monashee Mountains, Christina Lake delivers some awesome mountain biking terrain. Ride easy or jack up the adrenaline. Trails run the gamut from level creek side pedals to full-on downhills. Cycle across a 152m/500ft railway trestle, longest on the former Canadian Pacific Railway line, ride into dark tunnels, make a side trip to hidden Cascade Falls or tackle the backcountry single tracks. Many area trails are also good for hiking and horseback riding.
Check out the Christina Lake community website for info on 13 local trails. The site provides a description, specs, directions to trailheads and an overview map.
Trans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail runs through the region on the rail bed of the Columbia & Western Railway (a former CPR subsidiary). This line once connected the Kootenay Rockies with Midway where it joined with the Kettle Valley Railway. An excellent daytrip is the downhill ride from Paulson Bridge 22km/13.7mi north of Christina Lake town.
Shuttle service is available from Wild Ways Adventure Sports in Christina Lake.
Points of interest near town include a scenic trestle spanning Cascade Gorge, Cascade Falls (via a short side trail) and the longest trestle on the CPR (152m/500ft).
Badger Trail
Rated intermediate, this 2.3km/1.4mi singletrack trail delivers some steep and rocky sections. The trailhead is on the east side of Christina Lake, north of the town centre near the Texas Creek Campground. Carry bikes up the rocky sections from McRae Road, stop to take in the lake and mountain views, then point downhill.
Christina Crest Trail
It takes stamina for this 20km/12.4mi full day ride. Prepare for a 550m/1800ft ascent to the summit of Mt Saint Thomas, but it's worth the effort riding through the wilderness to alpine meadows. Rated moderate to difficult.
Spooner Trail
Spooner Trail is only 3km/1.9mi long, but the ride is pure downhill thrill with a fall of 427m/1400ft. Definitely an expert run. Nice views of Christina Lake.
Dewdney Trail
History buffs take a ride along the route that served as the region's main thoroughfare from 1865 until the highway was built in the 1920s. The Boundary Forest District maintains a 15.3km/9.5mi section, but the trail continues another 24km/ to Sheep Creek near Rossland. Rated easy to moderate.
Stop by the Christina Lake Visitor Centre, located in the fire hall on Swanson Road, or visit the community website for information on mountain biking trails.
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