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Okanagan for all abilities

July 29, 2015, 1:15 p.m.
Posts: 1026
Joined: June 26, 2012

We are heading to the Okanagan this weekend, camping near Kelowna. Our group includes people with varying levels of abilities, and I am looking for suggestions for loops that would be fun for everyone (i.e. doable and fun for intermediates, not boring for more advanced riders).

We'll for sure be checking out Smith Creek. We've been there before and it's a blast.

I've also heard Kal Park near Vernon could be good. Stages 2, 3 and 4 from the BC Enduro Series look good:
http://www.trailforks.com/route/bces-vernon-d1--stage-2-429/
http://www.trailforks.com/route/bces-vernon-d1--stage-3-430/
http://www.trailforks.com/route/bces-vernon-d1--stage-4-426/

Any other loops or trails we should check out? And where do you park?

I've heard from locals that Rose Valley is really nice, but is it appropriate for everyone? What is a good loop there?

Anything else in the area we should check out?

July 29, 2015, 2:09 p.m.
Posts: 481
Joined: May 8, 2010

Heard a lot of good things about Rose Valley when I was up there last week. Didn't have my MTB though….

The guys at Sovereign in West Kelowna can point you in the right direction.

July 29, 2015, 9:58 p.m.
Posts: 323
Joined: June 23, 2011

Rose Valley was interesting, the MTB Trails are STEEP!

Apparently Kal Park can get pretty blown out this time of year. The climbing trail is nice though.

Check out some trip reports from some riding we did there this year.

http://www.leelau.net/sharonandlee/tag/okanagan2015/

http://mtbtrails.ca/ Author of Locals' Guide to North Shore Rides and Locals' Guide to Fraser Valley Rides.

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July 29, 2015, 10:39 p.m.
Posts: 20
Joined: April 23, 2008

Hmmm, I would definitely not suggest stage 2 from the Vernon enduro in kal park for intermediate riders. It's got quite a few steep chutes which I couldn't imagine would be fun to walk down. All the other trails around there we super fun.

July 30, 2015, 9:17 a.m.
Posts: 1026
Joined: June 26, 2012

Thanks, some good info so far. It sounds like Rose Valley is out, as is Kal Park BCES stage 2.

July 30, 2015, 9:36 a.m.
Posts: 190
Joined: Oct. 10, 2012

Myra-Bellevue park (Aka: Crawford) should be on your list. Maps are readily available at any LBS (and the area is very well marked). A nice easy double track climbing road and a great variety of trails to descend, from beginner to expert. Fairly well treed so there's some shady spots for taking breaks in the heat.

You can even shuttle it from the KVR for good 1-2 hours (depending on skill and speed) of descending.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info about anything around Kelowna.

I ride bikes, when I can.

July 30, 2015, 11:42 a.m.
Posts: 1774
Joined: July 11, 2014

Spent a day in Kal Park last August in a mixed group including newbs. We rode the climb trail and some of the blues that led down to the lake, sorry I can't remember names but it was fun singletrack with some rock sections but nothing scary, might be worth a chat at the bike shop on the drive out (name also escapes me), very helpful guys and coffee there.

July 30, 2015, 11:51 a.m.
Posts: 1026
Joined: June 26, 2012

Myra-Bellevue park (Aka: Crawford) should be on your list. Maps are readily available at any LBS (and the area is very well marked). A nice easy double track climbing road and a great variety of trails to descend, from beginner to expert. Fairly well treed so there's some shady spots for taking breaks in the heat.

You can even shuttle it from the KVR for good 1-2 hours (depending on skill and speed) of descending.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info about anything around Kelowna.

Good suggestion. I checked out Crawford in the spring, but I was looking for challenge. We rode Vapour and Hillbilly.

What are some more intermediate options that are fun?

July 30, 2015, 12:43 p.m.
Posts: 190
Joined: Oct. 10, 2012

Connector is the first one that comes to mind. Intermediate trail that's still fun for advanced riders, starts about 2/3 of the way up so it's a decent length. I'll pull out my map and refresh my memory of other good ones later and post back again. I'm terrible at remembering trail names..

I'm likely gonna shuttle vapour on Sunday morning, you're welcome to join if you want to get away from the group for a bit (or bring the group if you think they can handle some more advanced riding)..

I ride bikes, when I can.

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