Sun Peaks is a Biking Nirvana for All

I hadn’t been back to Sun Peaks in ages. It was more than 10 years ago that I would spend every weekend of my university years riding soft, blower powder down the slopes at Sun Peaks Resort. I have very fond memories of peaceful chairlift rides, empty slopes, and endless giggles with friends as we lapped glade runs through the Gil’s. I have fewer memories of ringing the bell at Bottoms Bar one too many times. Yet, in all the time I spent at this resort just 45 minutes north of Kamloops, I'd never taken a trip to experience this year-round playground in summer. As an avid mountain biker, I had heard rumours the bike park was phenomenal: non-existent lift lines, perfectly crafted trails, and a little village with everything you’d need to spend a few warm, summer days.

I decided to load up my bike and take a trip down memory lane to drive the familiar road to Sun Peaks Resort. The journey looked a little different, with pockets of wildflowers and green meadows replacing massive roadside snowbanks. I arrived and immediately discovered why mountain bikers flock to this blissful pocket of BC. Little did I know that the resort had just undergone some serious upgrades and expansion. A massive $1.5 million dollar investment was put into the resort's biking experiences for 2022. The bike park boasts 31 km of new trails, another 1,559 feet of lift-access vertical on Sundance Mountain, and a growing cross-country network on Mt. Morrisey.

Immediately after I arrived, I saddled up on my bike and jumped into the Monday Women’s Bike Nights. I joined a group of like-minded women and took to the trails for an evening of coaching and progression. The groups were broken up into first timers, beginners, intermediate, or advanced rider groups and everyone was properly paired up with a group and a coach suited to their skill level. The two-hour session was all about having fun mixed in with a bit of professional coaching. We were quickly given tips for line choice, techniques for jumping and cornering, tricks for riding technical trails, and more. By the end of the two hours, I had picked up a few new skills and made a handful of new friends. I also quickly discovered that the trails were quiet, the lift lines were null, and there was terrain for whatever combination of biking I wanted to experience—flow, tech, jumps, berms, rocks, rolls, roots, and drops.

The Women’s Bike Nights are offered every Monday night from 5pm to 7pm for six weeks through summer. The best part? All the coaches are female and riders can choose to book all the sessions, or just drop in for one or two. For those who can’t make it to the bike park on a weeknight, Sun Peaks also offers a Women’s Weekend Session. For more biking sessions, don’t miss the Wind Down Wednesdays for discounted lift tickets when you ride between 4pm to 7pm.

The next day I explored the local network of cross-country trails. I quickly found out the pedal-access singletrack was quickly expanding at Sun Peaks. Included in the new 2022 upgrades are three new pedal-access trails on Mt. Morrisey. Now, cross-country riders can ascend 6 km along a brand new, machine-built up-track. Once at the top, riders can descend a flowy, berm trail back to the base. For more cross-country trails, riders can check out the flowy singletrack network east of the village, including trails like Sunburf and Family Man. These are built and maintained by a passionate group of locals who make up the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association—and they are quickly gaining momentum to build more trails throughout the valley.

Looking for more alpine singletrack? Head back up the lifts and ride Altitude, a singletrack loop that starts from the top of Sunburst Express on Tod Mountain. This 16 km trail climbs through wildflower meadows and alpine forest before reaching Tod Lake. Riders can descend back to the chairlift and all the way down to the village base for a true biking epic—a true mix of alpine singletrack combined with downhill bike park flow trails. If your legs need a rest, take the lift and access 15 designated hiking trails through alpine meadows to alpine peaks for 360 degree views of the valley and mountains surrounding this interior mountain resort.

After my trip down memory lane, I can confirm that Sun Peaks Resort is a biking nirvana and my next trip back won’t take me another 10 years to make. I’ll be back next summer, with my bike in tow again.

Hot Tips: What to Know If You Go

Where to Eat
For a grab n’ go breakfast to be on the trails quick, opt for coffee and breaky at Vertical Cafe or Tod Mountain Cafe. For a sit down experience, head to Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom or Mantles Restaurant & Lounge. After a few laps in the bike park, you’ll be ready to fuel up for an afternoon of more riding. Masa’s Bar & Grill has all the mid-day pub fare you could want, or grab a slice from the long-standing establishment of Mountain High Pizza. For dinner, don’t miss the lively atmosphere of Bottoms Bar & Grill. If you’re there on a Tuesday, the taco night is not to be missed. For a more upscale experience, try the very Canadian themed Voyageur Bistro to try recipes of bison, bannock, and more. Don’t miss the newly opened Ohana Deli & Market to pick up something to-go as you're heading out of town.

Where to Sleep
Rest tired muscles at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Hotel & Suites, sitting a convenient 3-minute walk from the bike park lifts. Choose from 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites with full kitchens, studios with kitchenettes, larger family suites, or standard hotel rooms. All accommodation comes with access to an outdoor hot tub, gym facilities, and storage rooms.

Bike Rentals
Rent downhill, Enduro, cross-country, or e-bikes from Elevation Bike, Ski & Board or McSporties. Both are located right in the village, at the base of the lifts.

Leah Adams-Chute was invited on a press trip to Tourism Sun Peaks for this article.