Advanced Epic Trails

The words epic, challenging, knee buckling, and exhilarating, best describe these advanced bike trails. Bring water and your camera, you'll be glad you brought both.

Honest Ed

For some, this route is their weekend ride, for others, this is a once a year ride stopping at the top to take in the view from the old paragliding launch before descending a technical downhill, taking you through many microclimates. Most riders will require the 3-5 hours to complete the 30.2km loop.

Beowulf

A SilverStar XC Epic, named after the poem about a legendary dragon-slaying Scandinavian warrior. Borrowing its name from the poem is a true fit for the trail, capturing the undertaking of building it from beginning to end. The 35km loop takes riders along ridgelines, through cedar rainforests and grassy meadows as it winds its way from the village and back again.

Killer King

Conquer the Killer King route for big views with big climbs. Challenge yourself on 54km of single track and 1800m elevation. It is "blue" for individual trail difficulty but "black" for overall effort required. Get a sneak peak at the adventure in the video below.

Here for more than two days? Check out the biking page for more great rides around Vernon.

Remember your Trail Etiquette

1. Ride Open Trails: Respect trail and road closures — ask a land manager for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Do not trespass on private land. Obtain permits or other authorization as required.

2. Leave No Trace: Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you and the environment around you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don’t cut switchbacks. Don’t ride around standing water which results in widening the trail. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in. Consider improving the trail experience for those that follow by picking up and removing any litter.

3. Control Your Bicycle: Inattention for even a moment could put yourself and others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits.

4. Bicyclists traveling downhill yield to all users headed uphill.

5. In general, strive to make each pass a safe, controlled and courteous one.

6. Hikers, and animals have right of way.

7. Plan Ahead - take water, tools, know your route.

Trails are colour coded like ski trails with green trails being the easiest, and double black being the hardest. While there are trail standards set up by IMBA that determine the trail colour, some areas are slightly different.