There really is no place quite like it in British Columbia. A mountain bike mecca of sage-covered hills, pine forest, hoodoos, and perfect dirt. While the summer heat begins to vanish, fall is still one of the best times to explore the trails. Read on to discover some of the top places to ride this fall.
Kamloops Bike Ranch
Kamloops Bike Ranch
If you like fast, flowy freeride trails, then the Kamloops Bike Ranch is the place for you. This 26-acre park is one of the largest and most technically advanced municipal bike parks in Canada. Ride gullied trails lined with pine trees and down singletrack surrounded by grassland. If stunts are your thing, there is a jump park and BMX track on site. The best part? No hustle up. Locally owned Mostly Mental Shuttles offers trips to the top of the park.
Kenna Cartwright Park
This is a great place to start if you are new to Kamloops, or new to riding. Kenna Cartwright is the largest municipal park in BC, with 40 km (25 mi) of trails. Take in panoramic views of Kamloops Lake, the North and South Thompson River, and virtually all of downtown Kamloops. Most of the trails in this park are easy going cross-country rides, perfect for beginners. Travelling with your pup? This is one of the few places you can bring them along for off-leash riding.
Harper Mountain
Just a short drive from downtown Kamloops sits Harper Mountain. In winter this mountain serves as a local favourite for skiing and snowboarding, which makes it a great destination for bikes when the snow melts. Here you’ll find a downhill mountain bike playground with seven marked trails to test your skills. Choose to take the climbing trail to the top or collect your friends and run shuttle laps all day.
Pineview Valley Trails
Over 50 km (31 mi) of forested singletrack trails exist in the Pineview Valley Trail network and they were all created with care. Built and maintained by volunteers and the local Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre (KPCC), this is a special place to ride. There are cross-country and all mountain trails here perfect for all abilities. The east side is open year-round while the west side has a seasonal cattle grazing closure until July 1 each year.
Brews, Bites & Bikes
Beers & Bikes Red Beard Cafe
Biking and beer go together for many two-wheeled lovers. The good news is that Kamloops has its fair share of great craft breweries to combine the two. Be sure to pop into Red Collar Brewing Co., The Noble Pig, Iron Road Brewing, Bright Eye Brewing, Alchemy Brewing Company, or Red Beard Cafe for a local pint post-ride.
