Mountain bike enthusiasts flock to the Thompson Okanagan for the incredible diversity of the landscape. Riders can take winding single track through sagebrush-covered desert or blaze a high-speed downhill trail down the slopes of Sun Peaks Resort – named one of BIKE magazine's top-five bike parks in North America. Biking in the Okanagan offers easy-to-access terrain for both leisure riders and adventurers seeking a unique BC mountain bike experience.
Thompson Okanagan Bike Areas:
Kamloops
Kettle Valley Rail Trail
Silver Star Bike Park
Sun Peaks Bike Park
Mountain Biking Parks in the Thompson Okanagan
The Okanagan is home to several resort-style bike parks. Riders can enjoy up to 2,000 vertical feet of lift-accessed trails, bike-in bike-out luxury accommodation, guided tours, and skill camps. Complete gear and bike rentals are also available: bikers can choose a high-end downhill, freeride, or cross country bike from some from some of the biggest names in the industry: Santa Cruz, Kona, Rocky Mountain, Giant and Norco are some of the brands available.
Advanced Biking Trails
Riding in the Okanagan gives hardcore mountain bikers reason to rejoice: The Kamloops Bike Ranch offers 26 hectares of gullies, bluffs, and trials area. The mountain resorts of Silver Star and Sun Peaks and Apex all have high-speed chairs that will allow plenty of time to hit the famous wall rides, sculpted berms, stunts, jumps, ladders and hand-crafted trails of classic downhill, freeride and single track.
Mountain Biking for the Family
Mountain biking through the sunny Okanagan offers a perfect opportunity for a family biking holiday. There are many well-marked trail networks that are ideal for riders looking for a less strenuous trail; the more adventure-minded can explore the popular Kettle Valley Rail Trail, a gently-graded bike path built over an abandoned railway line.
Highlighted Okanagan Trails
Kamloops
Kamloops has been a mountain biking hotspot for a long time. Located in the heart of the Okanagan, it offers diverse terrain, unusual natural sights and some of the sunniest weather in BC. Anyone wanting to hone their skills before hitting the trails should visit Kamloops Bike Ranch. The 26ha (64ac) ranch currently features a jump/stunt park and a children's skill development area. More facilities are in the works.
Kamloops is accessible from four major highways and is approximately 3.5 hours from Vancouver by car. Biking season runs from May through October and trail maps are available from local bike shops.
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Kettle Valley Rail Trail
The 455km (283mi) Kettle Valley Rail Trail is the longest of five routes that make up an extensive corridor of multi-use, recreational trails called the Spirit of 2010 Trail. The Kettle Valley section follows an abandoned railway line beginning near the city of Grand Forks and ending close by the town of Brodie. Old rail trestles are the defining feature of the trail, which passes through provincial parks, recreation spots and protected areas. The variable terrain ranges from near-desert and ponderosa to pine, fir and spruce forest to sub-alpine meadow.
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail begins at Midway, a 40-minute drive west from Grand Forks via Highway 3. There are access points along the trail in the towns of Tulameen, Coalmont, Princeton, Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls and Osoyoos.
>Spirit of 2010 website
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Silver Star Bike Park
Silver Star is one of the Okanagan's outstanding mountain-biking destinations. Open for biking since 1991, the park has hosted many world-class races for over the years. It offers superlative runs for riders of all abilities, from gnarly single-track hurtling thrill seekers straight down the mountain to easy, cross-country routes through scenic sub-alpine forest, ideal for families. Silver Star offers freeride mountain-bike camps for advanced and expert riders, and is located in the Okanagan, 22 km (14 mi) northeast of Vernon. Nearby Kelowna International Airport offers daily non-stops from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle.
Note: Riders in the park must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Helmets are mandatory while in the park; body armour is recommended. Rentals and repairs are available at the mountain
>Silver Star Bike Park
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Sun Peaks Bike Park
BIKE magazine named Sun Peaks One of the "Five Best Mountain Bike Parks in North America," in 2002 and no wonder: this biking paradise offers 609 m (2,000 ft) of gravity-defying vertical plus an impressive 40 km (24.9 mi) of terrain. The park's 26 runs vary from gentle, flowing tracks suitable for novice riders to wickedly tight, free-ride trails and steeps that challenge balance and nerves. Instruction and skill camps are extensive, choices vary from women-only clinics to guided tours and free-ride camps.
Sun Peaks Resort is a 45-minute drive northeast from Kamloops or a 4.5-hour drive from Vancouver. Nearby Kamloops Airport and Kelowna International Airport offer daily non-stops from Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle.
Note: Riders in the park must be a minimum of 12 years of age. Helmets are mandatory while in the park; face guard and body armour are recommended. Rentals and repairs are available at the mountain.
>Sun Peaks Resort Bike Park
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Had a Great BC Biking Experience?
We want to know about it! Let other visitors in on the secrets of your favourite trails, BC biking experiences, or off-the-beaten path hidden gems. Write a short blog about it and share your stories! Find out more about Cycling in the Thompson Okanagan!