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For those who love a good trail ride, we've got some challenging and rewarding XC trails for you to try out.
Ellison Park Granite Ride
This is a 12.9km ride with 376m of climbing.
Ellison Connector Trail that connects Predator Ridge to Ellison Provincial Park. A must-ride for getting to know the area.
Climb up to view Okanagan lake from the yoga platform before riding the rocky granite trails and techy descents. The Granite Trail is a great place to catch the sun before it goes down.
In the summer, finish off your ride with a swim in Okanagan Lake. There's a nature trail that leads down to the campground and the beach. There are many variations through the Ellison network to get you to the top, so have fun exploring this area.
Kal Park Stone Free, Twisted Sisters Circuit
This is a 16 km loop with 757m of climbing.
Don’t let the name fool you, Stone free has many rocks to roll over giving your head and body a workout on the 565m climb up to a fun downhill starting out with some sharp techy corners and loose DH to rock roll overs. Start your route at the Cosen's Bay parking lot and follow the Trailforks route.
You can continue down Black Powder and Cosen's Bay Express right down to the lake for a dip in Kalamalka Lake or for some added challenge take Freaky Creaky down to the beach. You’ll warm back up again as climb through the grasslands back to where you started.
Silver Star XC Circuit
This is a 10.9 km ride with 282m of climbing.
Take Cross Mountain to the dedicated climb trail, Silver Shack to make your way to the top of the mountain before you descend down Snake Pit. This trail is a great way to see the whole mountain on a XC ride. Still have energy to burn? Head out and back on the beginning portion of Beowulf to the Alder Point lookout.
Remember your Trail Etiquette
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bicyclists traveling downhill yield to all users headed uphill.
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In general, strive to make each pass a safe, controlled and courteous one.
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Hikers, and animals have right of way.
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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.
Want to Improve your Bike Handling Skills?
There are a number of outfits in Vernon offering bike skills training:
Visiting Vernon and have questions? We're happy to help, feel free to email us.