Note: This article was originally published in 2014.
Revelstoke is more than just an outdoorsy mountain town with great beer and food—this is a place for legendary big mountain adventure. With lush, loamy forest trails, lift accessed riding, and backcountry epics, the town has fast become a must-do mountain biking trip in southeastern BC. Spring and early summer are prime for tackling the lower-elevation inland rainforest trails. Then, as the winter snowpack melts with the summer heat (and riders wait for the go-ahead with bated breath), backcountry alpine trails begin to open.
But, with more than 120 kilometres of singletrack to choose from, where does one even begin? Here are a few trail recommendations from local riders.
This is the ultimate, “Too Much Fun” trail of Revelstoke—the kind of trail that lets you ride like your best self. But mostly, it is just the most good, clean fun you can have. Flowy single track through alpine meadows, with staggering views of the Columbia River Valley, Mt. Begbie and the surrounding peaks, Frisby Ridge is an alpine playground.
It’s at a higher elevation than other trails, and the town awaits the coveted opening of the trail (usually around July 15), with a collective excitement that lends itself to shouted conversations across streets, “Buddy! Heard you were up Frisby? How’s she looking?” “Sweet, bud! Bit of snow up high, but she’s good to go!” This is the work of the Revelstoke Town Criers.
Keystone is a knockout trail. It gets you right up in the mountains, with incredible views and wide open meadows. The recommended route is to the cabin and back (it sounds vague, but you’ll know the cabin when you hit it). Further on from there, for adventurous types, is a huge hike and bike, no trail, adventure ride out to Standard Peak. Be forewarned: it’s a huge day. Like, a relationship-ending huge day.
The Upper and Lower Mount Macpherson trails, split by Highway 23S, compliment one other with a quick hop and a jump over the road. In Upper Mac, you’ll find massive trees and flowy trails, and jumping into Lower Mac, you’ll rip along the banks of the Columbia River. Keep your eyes peeled for a view across the valley of snow-capped peaks of Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Trails range from green to black, but are on the Revelstoke sliding scale (read: they are all still quite challenging). To summarize: single track, rooty in spots, smooth in others, blazing through the carnage of cut blocks, teetering over hollowed-out tree bridged creeks, whipping along the Columbia River and heart pounding back up into the mountains. Good berms are abundant, too. This is a great place for a fitness date, if you’re into that sort of thing.
If you’re looking for a, “THAT WAS AWESOME” kind of response at the bottom of a trail, Martha Creek is your go-to. 1,560 metres of vertical descent, flowing through tall trees, blooming alpine wildflowers; you, ripping around naturally formed berms and bouncing through steep, technical sections. For several consecutive years, just because Revelstoke is like that, there was an enduro race on this trail, starting at the bottom of the logging road that accesses the trail head. Aptly named the Martha Creek Meltdown, the payoff of the gruelling ascent makes it all worth it.
Boulder Mountain is tucked into the southwest corner of Revelstoke, and its trails look down over the Columbia River Valley and this picturesque little town. Its lower elevation allows it to open earlier in the season, the biggest hazards then being windfall and slick dirt – nope, that’s a lie. The biggest hazard being that it is SWEET and you will go FAST and then you risk the chance of being what referred to by locals as a, “Tumbelina.” Boulder is best for downhill biking with a shuttle, but if you don’t have your own truck or friend with a truck (or a friend of a friend), there is always Wandering Wheels, a local business offering guided tours and a shuttle service in a big comfy white truck (to show off mud/dirt-levels).
When Revelstoke Mountain Resort opened its first lift-accessed mountain bike trail in 2019, it was rumoured to be the one of the longest flow trails ever built. Access the crown jewel, Fifty Six Twenty Trail (named for its total vertical descent in feet), by taking the gondola part-way, with an additional seven-kilometre pedal to the trailhead. With comparatively minimal work, the pay-off is an exhilarating 15-kilometre downhill that offers incredible views of the alpine and valley below—plus serious bragging rights.
The resort now has a growing lift-accessed trail network, ranging from fast and technical to flowy and fun. The resort’s first black trail (think: double black) called Pipe Wrench is now, “officially” opened, though it was built as as an unsanctioned trail a few years ago.
There are plenty of adventure-friendly accommodation providers in Revelstoke, offering secure bike storage and all the comforts of home. Stay along the Columbia River between town and the resort at Powder Pillow Bed and Breakfast, or book accommodation within walking distance of downtown at Swiss Chalet Motel. For a high-octane adventure getaway, escape to the Glacier House Resort, which is the perfect hub for dirt biking, ATV, paddling, biking, and more.
What’s a bike ride without après? The quirky Village Idiot Bar and Grill and Mt. Begbie Brewing make for a great after-ride pint. You can also sample hand-crafted cocktails at the Monashee Spirits Distillery or enjoy a sunny patio session at the Rockford Bar and Grill.
Featured Image: Riding the loam in Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Photo: Ian Houghton
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Having just moved from the wilderness of Revelstoke to the bright lights of Vancouver, Katie is a tourist in her own town. She spends her mornings getting her butt kicked in a spin studio, her days in an office doing corporate communications, her evenings performing stand-up comedy around the city and her weekends adventuring outside (and eating all of the brunch and drinking all of the coffee). She goes everywhere on a bright purple bike, and her most proud "I fit in here" purchase is a fashion backpack.
