Trip ideas
2 Wheels, 3 Unforgettable Days Mountain Biking
Vernon is a two-wheeled paradise. Choose from popular paths along our turquoise shorelines or test your mettle on epic mountain singletrack waiting to be conquered. Here are a few of our recommendations for building your next mountain bike escape.
Day 1
Start your day off with a hearty breakfast to fuel up before hitting the trails. We recommend a tasty bite at Triumph Coffee where you also can grab a wrap or sandwich to take with you to the trailhead for lunch.
Warm up with some nice blue and green laps at Ellison Provincial Park. Get the crew together and head to Eastside Road. Warm up your legs with a pedal up Blister Sisters or Typical Situation. If you are looking for shorter laps, there are plenty to choose from at Ellison, a couple of our favourites are Homerun and RPM.
For a longer afternoon ride, connect from Ellison and head into the Predator Ridge trail network to descend down Granite or Mantle. Predator Ridge is expanding their popular trail system so keep an eye out for updates. On a hot day, a swim in the lake is much needed after riding bikes. Ride down the Nature Trail to the campground where there is a quiet cove to enjoy a swim, or drive 10 minutes back towards Vernon to take a dip in Okanagan Lake at Hurlburt Park.
For bike rentals or gear needs, swing in the Predator Ridge Bike Shop.
To celebrate an awesome first day, there are some great après spots along the way back to Vernon. Savour pizza on the patio at Pallino's, swing by Predator Ridge and enjoy a beer at the Outlook Cabin on the golf course next to the bike trails, or check out 1516 Pub and Grill right on Okanagan Lake.
Day 2
Kick off day 2 with a fuel-up stop at Eatology. It's the perfect spot for a leisurely breakfast that is sure to fill you up.
Take this day to soak up the area's unrivaled singletrack. The largest concentration of singletrack is located within Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. The Lookout trail is the must-ride loop for the most spectacular views of Kalamalka Lake. Park at Cosens Bay and try some of the popular loops including Gingerly, No Boats, and Black Powder. For a scenic snack stop, head down Freaky Creeky towards Cosens Bay beach where the turquoise water awaits. Cougar Canyon parking area is just a few kilometres beyond the Cosens Bay parking area with even more access to the 'Kal Park' trail network. Start with a pedal up Stone Free and ride the newest trails, Be Kind and Flovid, along with classics like Twisted Sisters and Twista. Advanced riders will love the technical double black trails like Big Ed, Fraidy Cat, and 36. And, if you're really feeling crazy, you can ride it ALL on the Killer King Route.
If you need gear or rentals in the area for day 2, Skyride has everything to get you set up.
And to round it out, toast to another unforgettable day on the trails with après at Marten Brewing Co or grab cider and pizza at Cambium Cider Co.
Day 3
After fueling up in town, head up the road to SilverStar Bike Park for a full day on the trails. SilverStar makes it easy to choose your own adventure with a variety of day ticket options. Choose the Full Day for endless thrills smashing 870+ berms on more than 69 km of downhill trails. The Enduro Ticket gives you a couple lift-accessed downhill runs and then you can spend the rest of the day exploring the 70km network of cross country trails. And finally, if you choose the XC Day ticket you can pedal and experience the IMBA epic Beowulf.
Need rentals for day 3? SilverStar has a rental shop on site to set you up for a day of hard-charging fun.
Round out your day with another great line up of après. Grab a cold beer and hot food at The Red Antler, Bulldog Grand Cafe, or Black Pine Social.
Where to stay
We know your bike is precious cargo when travelling and Vernon offers a variety of accommodation options with secure bike storage. Predator Ridge, Best Western Premier Route 97, Prestige Hotel and Outback Lakeside Vacation Homes are a few of our favourite options.
