A Guide to the Best Mountain Biking in Golden, Kimberly, and Fernie, British Columbia

The secret is slipping out that the "Powder Highway" famous for winter pursuits is an equally impressive biking destination when the snow melts. Each stop offers a variety of downhill and cross-country trails that showcase the area's distinct ecosystems, views, and unique landscape. Mountain culture thrives in Golden, Kimberley, and Fernie, British Columbia, and you’ll feel right at home or, more likely, that you’ve found home. You can pedal to après joints stocked with local craft beer; friendly resident bikers build and respect trail etiquette; trails aren't overrun; and the gear shops you will not only outfit you, they’ll also point you in the right direction based on your trail preference. The Powder Highway’s charm is authentic and consistent all year round.

Golden, British Columbia

Or should it be called the Golden Triangle? Three main zones connect in the heart of Golden, meaning you can always pedal to and from town...if you have the cardio fitness that is. We won’t judge you for driving to the trailhead, just FYI.

The Mountain Shadow and Moonraker Trails are connected via the CBT Mainline Trail linking all of Golden’s Westside biking options. Moonraker specializes in fast and flowy trails, but not without a few roots and techy sections that are typical of true Rockies biking terrain. Dip into the Mountain Shadows trails for another bout of classic singletrack that welcomes a variety of skill levels. Milk the full array through 120 kilometers of trails; a proper sampler of what Golden has to offer!

Mount Seven isn’t for the faint of heart. Cross-country lovers can conquer this iconic mountain with a 14-kilometer up that offers the reward of choosing between 14 trails of decent. Or, for those who live for the down, set up a shuttle system with your pals and lap the downhill goods. This place is no joke: It hosted Red Bull’s Psychosis race for 10 years, it was considered one of the steepest and longest downhill races in the world – buckle up!

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is the king of the downhill. Seriously, with 10 kilometers of downhill waiting after each gondola lap, you’ll happily embrace a nice long lunch break at the highest restaurant in North America, Eagle’s Eye. There are family-friendly cross-country trails at the bottom and beginner downhill trails to be tackled, so everyone can get in on the action. We simply can’t mention Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and not mention the aesthetic and exhilarating the alpine trails, rock slaps and wood features and steeps - surely what makes this biking destination the most unique.

Kimberley, British Columbia

There are well over 100 kilometers of bike trails surround Kimberley. That makes Kimberley Alpine Resort is the most ideal bike-in, bike-out location for the whole crew, including family, dogs, and pros.

Lois Creek Trails offer a strong selection of beginner and intermediate routes. Doubletrack and singletrack coat the area and weave past rock outcroppings, creeks, and through mature forest. Locals love Tea Spot for its view of Mount Fisher.

Bootleg Mountain is newly developed and ripe for the shuttling! So far seven trails officially exist mostly on the more advanced side, but the project is growing to accommodate a more diverse ability level soon.

Kimberley Nature Park and Kimberley Nordic Club lie side by side and have interconnected trails that create a seemingly endless list of possibilities. Scree, rock rolls, roots and loam – big open views and tight techy stuff – there are so many trails here you’ll actually never have to leave.

North Star Rails keeps it family friendly with a paved bike path for the whole family to cruise. Twenty-five kilometers links the nearby city of Cranbrook to Kimberley via an old railway that has been paved. The jaunt will supply you with the lay of the town and showcase access to the Kimberley Nature Park trail network, Bootlegger Mountain Trails, and even the Cranbrook Trails further south.

Fernie, British Columbia

With the number of trails in Fernie, we’d be impressed if you didn’t stumble upon something you’d like to bike in Fernie. But let us decode the regions so you have a grip on which way to roll from town.

Fernie Alpine Resort boasts 38 trails and two bike serve lifts. Tails vary from beginner to expert, and terrain variances include wooden features, loamy singletrack, and bike park freeride flow.

Mount Fernie Provincial Park can be biked to and from town. Sherwoody and Gorby are both sub zones of the park.  Of the 64 runs available, 26 runs are beginner, making this an ideal warm-up location with room to grow into 21 more intermediate and eventually 17 expert trails.

Morrissey Ridge, Castle Mountain and Ridgemount trails line the east side of town, and the trails push all the way up the Coal Creek Valley to Al Matador and beyond into the Matheson Creek. Shuttle options exist in a few sneaky spots that are yours for discovering once you’re acquainted with the area.

Mount Proctor’s smaller collection of trails is a notable destination with many intermediate trails that crisscross the creeks and falls making for a scenic ride.

Don’t forget the dirt jumps downtown!