The popularity of fat bikes continues to grow and the Thompson-Okanagan area offers plenty of places to get out and ride during the winter. Many local bike shops offer rentals and the great thing about riding in the winter is, if you fall off, it is just snow you’re landing on! Fat bikes are designed with wide tires and when run at a low tire pressures (usually around 5-6 PSI), the bikes float over the snow. Fat bikes work best on packed snow, so if you choose to cut your own path, bring some snowshoes and walk the route first, packing the snow down in anticipation of your ride!
Apex Mountain Ski Area
New to Apex Mountain, the resort has recently added fat bike trails. The resort has fat bikes available to rent and is located on Green Mountain Road.
Photo via: apexresort.com
Big White Ski Area
Big White is starting to embrace fat bikes at the resort and presently has two trails available, the Trapping Meadows Trail and the Tile Field Loop with access from both Black Forest and Happy Valley. The trails offer about 4 km (2.5 mi) of riding and a pass is required.
Photo via: British Columbia Backroad GPS Maps
Crawford Trails – Kelowna
Located in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park, the Crawford Trails make a perfect winter fat bike destination. The lower trails offer the best place to ride as they are usually well-packed down by local snowshoers. Access to the trailhead is along Stewart Road.
Photo via: Thompson Okanagan BC Backroad Mapbook
Isobel Lake Trails
There are over 30 km (18.6 mi) of single track, groomed trails ideal for fat bike riders located at Isobel Lake, 17 km northwest of Kamloops. A parking area can be found at the end of the Beers a Waitin’ Trail, or if you have a two-wheel drive vehicle, park well off the shoulder just before the Education Centre.
Photo via: tourismkamloops.com
Kenna Cartwright Park & Pineview Valley Trails
Nestled between Highway 1 and Mission Flats, the Kenna Cartwright Nature Park, considered the top spot in Kamloops for winter biking, offers over 40 km (25 mi) of ungroomed trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking, with four different access points. Located across from this park off Hugh Allan Drive is the 40 km (25 mi) Pineview Valley trail system, which is geared mostly towards snowshoers and fat bikers. Take note that the west side of this trail network is closed in the winter.
Photo via: tourismkamloops.com
Kettle Valley Rail Trail – Myra Canyon – Kelowna
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail runs 12 km (7.5 mi) between the Myra and Ruth Stations, crossing 18 trestles and traveling through two tunnels. While the forest road up to the trailhead can be a bit rough, the rail trail makes a great ride on a sunny winter day!
Photo via: Western Canada Backroad GPS Maps
McBride Mountain Bike Trails
Just outside of town, the Robson Valley Mountain Bike Association has a network of multi-use ungroomed trails open through the winter. While the Bluff and Outrun are the easier trails here, fat biker riders will be climbing through mixed forest before looping back to the trailhead.
Photo via: Thompson Okanagan BC Backroad Mapbook
Silver Star Ski Area
The Silver Star Ski Area is located north of Kelowna and the resort has 15 km (9.3 mi) of fat bike trails. A day-pass or season pass is required and the trails are open during the regular cross-country ski hours. If you don’t own a fat bike, the resort also has bike rentals.
Photo via: silverstar.com
Sun Peaks Ski Area
Sun Peaks Ski Area north of Kamloops offers a variety of fat bike routes throughout the resort. Riders can travel the Morrisey and Valley Trails which wind their way through the resort, pick up a route that runs in a loop out towards McGillvray Lake or ride on designated multi-use trails. Day passes are required and the resort offers fat bike rentals.
Photo via: sunpeaks.com
You can find all of these fat biking areas and more in our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook and BC GPS Maps!
Backroad Mapbook
GPS Maps
(Canada-Wide)
Did we miss your favourite fat biking trail in this region? Let us know in the comments below or share your best adventure photos with us on Instagram using #brmblife for a chance to be featured on our feed and win prizes.