Regions
Thompson Okanagan
From mountain peaks to sagebrush hills, overlooking the shores of glistening lakes and sprawling farmlands.
The seemingly infinite trails in Thompson Okanagan are celebrated for being fast and fun, rolling over mountain terrain and meeting cool freshwater lakes for respite on a warm, summer days. The region is home to Kamloops, the original epicentre of freeride mountain biking in Canada, and boasts a list of homegrown athletes that have made it to the world stage and put this region on the map. Valemount is known for its trails and outdoor recreation and is at the northern end of the region surrounded by three scenic mountain ranges. Heading south on Hwy 5 is Clearwater the gateway to Wells Grey Park and home to the community's beloved Candle Creek trail network. The Shuswap area offers more than 400 km (250 mi) of trails for every type of rider and connects the communities surrounding Shuswap Lake. Vernon has everything from steep, technical descents to family-friendly rides in grassy meadows. Kelowna is the major centre for the Okanagan and is home to a diverse mix of riding, from fast singletrack to technical rock gardens and wide open rail trails. Penticton is the southern cousin sandwiched between Okanagan and Skaha lakes and surrounded by hills filled with sweet, flowy ribbons of dirt and rock slabs. Osoyoos is Canada's desert oasis situated on the edge of the Canada/US boarder and is a hot spot for wineries, fruit stands, and fun technical riding. The Thompson Okanagan region also boasts three of North America’s top lift-access bike parks: Sun Peaks near Kamloops, Silver Star near Vernon, and Big White, near Kelowna.
"My roots are in the Thompson Okanagan and it may be the most diverse region I’ve ever ridden my mountain bike! From world-class bike parks and deep lush forest singletrack epics to open high-speed desert ripping, the region has everything to satisfy the most voracious mountain biker’s appetite. I hope to one day re-locate to this region and spend my days exploring this vast network!"
-Wade Simmons, Professional Freeride Mountain Biker
Spots to Ride
Discover friendly towns, refreshing lakes, stunning wineries, tasty breweries, and above all—incredible trails.
Bike Big White
This unique Okanagan riding destination speaks to the soul of mountain biking. Here, top downhill trails sit well above the treeline, high in the alpine with sprawling views of the Monashee mountain range. Beginner to expert riders will feel at home on Big White with trails designed with both progression and challenge in mind.
- Opening day: June 27, 2024
- Closing day: Sept 2, 2024
- Number of Trails:
- 25
- Highest Elevation:
- 2,300 m (net descent: 500m)
- Trails:
- 8
- 7
- 8
- 2
Clearwater
- Number of Trails:
- 16
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,096 m
- Trails:
- 8
- 4
- 4
Kamloops
Home to the Kamloops Bike Ranch, Canada’s largest municipal bike park, Kamloops is known as a mountain biking mecca with vast landscapes, rolling hills, and expansive bike trails. Riders of all levels can experience the flowy trails and wide-open vistas that make Kamloops a special place to ride a bike.
- Number of Trails:
- 272
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,482 m
- Trails:
- 111
- 114
- 40
- 7
Kelowna
Look no further than Kelowna for an all-around good time both on and off the trails. You’ll find a diverse range of singletrack options, for the expert to the novice, in as little as five minutes from the downtown core. As the diversity is so condensed, you can easily find yourself moving from dramatic forested downhill to cross-country sub-desert trails in a day. And, when the end of that day comes you will find yourself in a vibrant city packed with wineries, craft breweries and distilleries, farm-fresh dining, and lakeside nightlife.
- Number of Trails:
- 303
- Highest Elevation:
- 2,171
- Trails:
- 57
- 162
- 71
- 13
Osoyoos
With a unique, desert climate, adventure can be found all-season in Osoyoos. Trails surround our friendly and intimate resort town, which is rich in Indigenous culture and a wide range of culinary and artistic experiences – not to mention sophisticated resorts, championship golf courses, and the nation’s warmest lake.
- Number of Trails:
- 32
- Highest Elevation:
- 944 m
- Trails:
- 4
- 4
- 7
- 1
Penticton
The sunny South Okanagan is where you will find beautiful Penticton. Seemingly endless singletrack can be found in the hills overlooking Okanagan Lake and the surrounding vineyards. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail provides an easy peddle and convenient access to many of the challenging trails in the popular Three Blind Mice trail network above the Naramata Bench.
- Number of Trails:
- 241
- Highest Elevation:
- 2,198
- Trails:
- 48
- 96
- 47
- 3
Shuswap
Over 470 km (290 mi) of mountain bike trails and cross-country tracks serve up spokes of serious highland fun in all directions—big hit downhill, flow, berms, old school, cross-country, bike park features, loops, lines, descents, and distance. It’s a place where you can start your day with breathtaking views and end—no matter the trail—with your feet up at a pub or café.
- Number of Trails:
- 173
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,230
- Trails:
- 70
- 83
- 20
SilverStar Bike Park
As Canada’s second largest bike park, SilverStar is designed for progression to make you a better rider. Its high-speed chairlift offers downhill riders easy access to the top of an incredible selection of flow and technical trails, maintained throughout the season by a full-time trail crew. This is the place to discover everything from beginner biking trails winding gently through wildflower meadows to expert runs filled with berms, jumps, and features designed to challenge the hardcore rider.
- Opening day: June 21, 2024
- Closing day: Sept 15, 2024
- Number of Trails:
- 54
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,915 m (net descent: 551 m)
- Trails:
- 16
- 20
- 11
- 7
Sun Peaks Bike Park
With 25 years of experience in bike park operations, Sun Peaks is one of the best places to ride during the summer months. Accompanying Sun Peaks’ renowned steep and technical singletrack is a plethora of flow trails loaded with tons of hits and berms for maximum airtime. With big upgrades and new trails added over the past few years, you will find fast and flowing freeride trails catering to riders of all ability levels across three mountains.
- Opening Day: June 15, 2024
- Closing Day: Sept 30, 2024
- Number of Trails:
- 45
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,850 m (net descent: 595 m)
- Trails:
- 6
- 16
- 15
- 8
Valemount
Made for mountain bikers.
Valemount is surrounded by gorgeous snow-capped peaks, making for a spectacular riding experience. Take a shuttle up 5-Mile Road to access the top of the Valemount Bike Park or ride the CBT climbing trail to a wide range of thrilling descents that will bring you back to town for some local trail banter over après-ride refreshments.
- Number of Trails:
- 67
- Highest Elevation:
- 1,510
- Trails:
- 31
- 25
- 11
Vernon
Vernon is the northern cousin in the Okanagan trifecta offering old-growth forest, parched desert, and one of BC’s most beautiful turquoise lakes. Vernon’s diversity means there is a trail for every rider type and its rapidly expanding network offers fun and flowy singletrack with stunning views over the Coldstream Valley and Kalamalka Lake. The region has the added benefit of hosting some of the best downhill riding at SilverStar just 20 minutes outside of downtown. In Vernon, you are spoilt for choice with local craft breweries, quality accommodations, and tasty dining options at the end of the day.
- Number of Trails:
- 209
- Highest Elevation:
- 2,171
- Trails:
- 39
- 114
- 29
- 27
https://vimeo.com/128819319 (404)
Get Inspired
Uncover stories of the Thompson Okanagan.
- Camp Loops and the Future of Women in Freeride News
- Ale Trails - Season 2: Episode 2 - Vernon & Shuswap News
- 7-Day Itinerary: Interior Loop News
- Five Things You Need to Know About Valemount’s New Bike Park News
- Community is Not Cancelled News
- Bike-Minded People: Sam Loxton News
- Bike Parks BC Featured Trip
- 14-Day Itinerary: Southern British Columbia Loop News
- Penticton, Kelowna & Vernon // Classic Okanagan News
- Building New Paths to Resilience & Recovery News
- Bike-minded People: Tom Eustache - A place for my kids and my community to ride News
- Bike-minded People: Andrea Heath - Pursuing My Dream Later in Life News
- Riding Merritt with Dylan Sherrard News
- Mountain Biking in the Okanagan, British Columbia News
- The River Beaver 2017 News
- 5 Photos That Capture the Beauty of Riding Kamloops News
- Bike-Minded People: Devyn Pelley News
- Beer and Bikes Tour: Exploring the Lesser Known News
- Bike Parks BC Road Trip, Part 1 - Whistler & Sun Peaks News
- Guide to Inaugural Trans BC Powered by Stages Cycling, July 4-9, 2016 News
- From Waterfalls to Wildlife: A Family Road Trip in BC's Interior News
- Bike Parks BC Road Trip, Part 2 - SilverStar & Big White News
- Brew Loops Pub Crawl 2017 News
- Riding Penticton News
- 5 Photos That Will Make you Want to Visit Vernon and SilverStar News
- Trail Psych 101 News
- The Interior Loop: 7-Day Road Trip Road Trip
- Gather the Gals: Women’s Nights, Clinics, Weekends, and Camps at BC’s Bike Parks News
- Exploring Kelowna with Guestagrammer Niall Pinder News
- Snowdog Shredding, The Machine That Transformed Fat Biking into Legitimate Winter Fun News
- Explore Sun Peaks Bike Park with Guestagrammer @dylansherrard News
- Vintage Okanagan News
- Kamloops to Williams Lake - The Unconventional Road Trip News
- Sun Peaks is a Biking Nirvana for All News
- Has BC perfected the art of Bike Parks? News
- The Killer King - BC's Newest Epic Ride News
- Exploring Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton Through the Eyes of Ryan Creary News
- Micayla & Hailey Hit the Vast and Flowy Trails of Kamloops News
- Shred Hard Summer Camp 2017 News
- Hustle & Flow on the Cariboo Wagon Trail News
- The Beauty of Salmon Arm During the Fall News
- The Ride Home News
Start Planning Your Trip
The Thompson Okanagan sits in the southern Interior of British Columbia and is home to over 90 diverse communities. In this region, the landscape is as varied—from the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies to the semi-arid climate of the Okanagan Desert.