B.C.’s Kootenay Region: Canada’s mountain biking capital

So you only have a weekend to spend in B.C. and you want to experience riding so amazing and so breathtaking that it will be the icing on your cake of adventure this year. You want a scene with singletrack that won’t set your nails on edge, but that winds through flower-laden fields, over high-mountain streams and offers 360-degree vistas. This is one of the most epic beautiful weekends of riding possible, and it’s within the physical and technical range of almost any XC rider. For the sake of a two-day trip, we’ll focus on the trails Keystone Standard Basin outside Revelstoke and the Seven Summits trail outside of Rossland, but those with more time can easily fill a day with more great riding in the Slocan Valley or Nelson.

Details

The Kootenay region is located in the Southeast corner of British Columbia between 4 successive parallel mountain ranges. The most westerly are the Monashees, followed by the Selkirks defined on their western flank by Arrow Lake and Slocan Lake and on their eastern slope Kootenay Lake. Farther East are the Purcell’s and then the Rockies. The Gold Rush and the craze for natural resources have carved a deep culture here in the Kootenays. Many trails and roads here were defined by the prospectors and geographical surveyors who pioneered these routes in their search for rich natural resources. Revelstoke is a quintessential mountain town with a population of 7,500 and is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream location. Rossland, tucked high in the Monashee Mountains in the West Kootneys, has a population of 3,500 and roots deep in the Gold Rush. The small town received an IMBA Epic Trail award for the Seven Summits trail, and has now declared itself the mountain biking capital of Canada.

Getting there

All good road trips start with some driving, but throw in a ferry boat, high alpine trails and panoramic vistas and you have one of those weekends that you will crow about for years to come. The drive from Vancouver to Revelstoke is about six and a half hours through some of the most scenic country in B.C. and from Calgary to Revelstoke, it’ll take about five hours. Heading from there to Rossland will add another five hours, including the time to cross Upper Arrow Lake via ferry. The straight trip home to either Vancouver or Calgary from Rossland will be about eight hours, but maybe the most scenic eight hours of driving you’ll ever experience.

The Riding

Keystone Standard Basin is located 50 km up Hwy 23 north of Revelstoke. The trail itself is 18 km long and runs in an out-and-back fashion. The trail ends at a small cabin on a lake and is a wonderful destination for lunch. The Keystone trail offers rolling smooth terrain with some rock. If this is your first trip to the alpine, you will be rewarded as the area is not too physically stressful, but is stunningly beautiful. It will take between two and four hours to ride, depending on the fitness level and the number of times you stop to shoot photos. Nearby Mount MacPherson offers another large local area to be explored.

The Seven Summits trailhead and parking lot is located 21 km above Rossland at the Nancy Greene Summit on HWY 3B. The trail runs north to south heading towards the U.S. border and is about 30 km long. It traverses a ridge that passes within 30 minutes of seven major peaks. The trail finishes on Cascade Road off of HWY 22, just under 14 km from downtown Rossland. Shuttles can be arranged at www.adrenalinebc.com. This trip is not an arduous climb, but coupled with the elevation, a larger pack and a full day under the brilliant blue of alpine riding, the Seven Summits is an epic ride, so plan accordingly. This one will take between three and seven hours to complete depending on the pace and fitness level. For more trails in the area, see the Kootenay Columbia Trail Society at www.kcts.ca.

Where to Eat

While in Rossland, breakfast at the Sunshine Cafe is a must. Later in the day, check out the Idgies Restaurant, Misty Mountain Pizza or the Flying Steam Shovel Hotel and Pub. There are more options in Revelstoke But three good choices, all on MacKenzie Ave., are Bad Paul’s Roadhouse & Grill, The Village Idiot and Manning’s Restaurant.

Where to Stay

To keep costs down, camping in either location is a good choice. About 30 minutes away from Rossland is Champion Lakes Provincial Park in Fruitvale. In Revelstoke, you can camp at the Canyon Hot Springs resort, about 35 km outside of town, or Martha Creek Provincial Park, about 20 km away. For something a bit nicer, check out Rossland’s Hostel at www.mshostel.com or the Flying Steam Shovel mentioned above. There are plenty of hotel options in Revelstoke such as the Frontier Motel and the Canyon Motor Inn.

Andreas Hestler is a former World Cup racer who represented Canada at the 1996 Olympics. These days, he spends his time exploring the world on his bike for Rocky Mountain Bikes, coaching with Performance Cycling Camps and marketing for BC Bike Race.