The Kootenay Rockies region is home to some of the best and most diverse terrain in British Columbia. From epic all day rides suited for hardtails, to extreme downhill trails that beg for maximum suspension, there are countless adventures for all riding disciplines.
Looking for an ideal ride? Almost every town in the region offers a variety of single-track. Rossland, the “Mountain Biking Capital of Canada,” features the world-renowned Seven Summits Trail.
Nelson is a freeriding haven, Golden boasts more than 50 trails and Fernie, Invermere/Radium and Revelstoke offer endless kilometres of cross-country rides, with something for big bikes enthusiast as well.
Don’t feel like climbing? Put your bike on one of the three bike parks in the Kootenay Rockies.
Rossland
Rossland has declared itself the “Mountain Biking Capital of Canada”. With 170km/106mi of some of the best mountain biking trails in the world, it is hard to dispute this title. Trails range from wide, gently sloping rail trails to terrifyingly tight-and-twisty single-track.
Rossland is home of the Seven Summits Trail. Arguably the best and most famous trail in the province, this 30km/19mi high-elevation route provides stunning scenery as bikers climb and descend seven peaks. The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) has granted the Seven Summits "Epic Trail” status and it was named "Trail of the Year" by US Bike magazine.
Nelson
Home to some of BC’s best freeriding, Nelson is featured in numerous extreme biking movies, but the mountain bike trails here are diverse enough to keep all levels of rider happy.
There are five main trail systems in Nelson: Mountain Station, an extreme trail system with big stunts and gnarly downhills; North Shore, a shuttle mountain with epic downhills; Svoboda Road Trails in West Arm Provincial Park, with grinding uphills and flowy single-track; Blewett/Giveout Creek, characterized by steeps, roots, stunts, and rocky sections; and Baldface Drainage, known for its epic descents.
Golden
Golden boasts more than 50 mountain bike trails spread out over three areas. Freeriders head to Mount 7 where gnarly, steep descents and stunts test their brakes. Novice and intermediate riders will appreciate the scenic loops of fast and flowy single-track of Dawn Mountain and the Moonraker Trails system.
Fernie
Shuttle options are available for the downhill crowd, but the majority of riders in Fernie earn their descents. A cross-country haven with rolling single-track, there are more than 50 mountain bike trails spread around town; the majority are found around the Ridgemount trail system.
Invermere/Radium
The Cross River Canyon/Nipika Mountain Resort trail system features over 100km/62mi of trails for all riders that wind through Douglas fir forests, spruce and pine groves and around lakes and streams.
Revelstoke
A paradise for beginner and intermediate riders who enjoy high-altitude climbs, riding through alpine meadows with mountain views before descending on kilometres of single-track. The majority of Revelstoke trails are found on Mount Macpherson.
Bike Parks
The Kootenay Rockies region boasts three bike parks. Each offers a mix of green cruising runs, intermediate single-track and advanced free-riding trails.
The Kicking Horse Bike Park boasts 1,128m/3,700ft of heart-pounding vertical – one of the longest lift-accessed descents in North America.
Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Park, open Thursday to Sunday, features 100km/62mi of varied terrain over 37 runs.
Panorama Mountain Village Bike Park, renowned for its natural features on single-track trails, offers 17 trails.
Events
Mountain bike culture is celebrated through dozens of races and events throughout the Kootenay Rockies.
The TransRockies Challenge (August) is a week-long race featuring 250 teams from around the world racing (or just trying to finish) a 600km/373mi course that features 12,000m/40,000ft of climbing.
Panorama Mountain Village hosts the National Cycling Championships, the top Canadian mountain bike race featuring Canada’s best downhill racers.
Practical Points
- Bike helmets are mandatory in BC.
- Obey all trail signs and respect trail closures.
- Many communities and all bike parks in the region offer bike and equipment rentals.
- Full-face helmets are mandatory at some bike parks. All parks recommend full-face helmets and armour.