Okanagan Road Trip – More Riding in the Sun! Vernon – Kalamalka Park

Vernon, BC

Lake Kalamalka

From the BC Parks website – Mountain biking is permitted in the park, however, the beaches (Jade, Juniper and Cosens) and trails to Rattlesnake point are not appropriate for biking due to the high levels of use by hikers/walkers. Elsewhere in the park, please stay on trails and watch for other users. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. A bike rack is located at the Jade/Juniper Bay trailhead.

These trails are maintained by the North Okanagan Cycling Society. Please consider donating if you enjoyed your visit. For a trail overview checkout Trailforks.

Due to its proximity to Vernon many recreationalists use this park. It is very hot here in July and Aug so ride early if you’re here in the summer. The trails are well marked and signed so navigation is fairly easy. For an epic loop ride up the new climbing trail Stone Free to Tombstone and Big Ed down to the lower classics like Twista and Twisted Sisters. If you want some classic old school steep with some structures check out Fraidy Cat to 36 DD. Lookout trail to Sidewinder is a shorter popular scenic route. The trails here are fast smooth and can be dusty even in the wet. But like any area, be cautious of steeper rocky sections on the trail. The lower blue and green trails can be busy so be respectful of other users.

A Provincial Park that allows Mountain Biking

Kiosk with Map at Parking lot

BC Parks Map that doesn’t show the mountain bike trails

Road from the main parking lot, we started our ride on Dew Drops

To Three Rings and eventually over to Stone Free

Partly up Stone Free – Good Signage!

And up to CJ Express FSR, Tombstone and Big Ed.

Top of Big Ed

Big Ed starts out easy

With some techy rock sections

and technical trail features

Some nice rock slabs

and log rides

Getting there

Take 35 Ave to 27 St. Head north on 31 St toward 35 Ave. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto 35 Ave Take BC-6 and Aberdeen Rd to Cosens Bay Rd in Coldstream. Turn right onto 27 St. Turn left onto BC-6. Turn right onto Aberdeen Rd. Turn left onto Kalamalka Rd. Turn right onto Coldstream Creek Rd Drive to Cosens Bay Rd in North Okanagan B. Sharp left onto Cosens Bay Rd. Park at the parking lot at the end of the paved road.

 

Ellison Provincial Park

From the BC Parks Website. On the northeastern shore of Okanagan Lake, Ellison Provincial Park includes 200 hectares of forested benchlands above a rocky shoreline of scenic headlands and sheltered coves.

The network is not very big so this area makes for a good easy day of fast xc riding where you can end up in the lake.  Climbs are about 200m up and are well contoured making for a nice ride up and a meandering ride down.

Ellison Provincial Park bike trails May 30, 2015 (self-filmed) from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

 

The Predator Ridge golf course abuts right to the rim of the Provinicial Park.  Too bad you can’t get to Ellison right from the Kelowna – Vernon main highway

Deez Nuts is the sole black trail other than the DH track and is a short steep trail with great sightlines

Good Signage

Bumped into a youth riding and trailbuilding group from NOCS on the Ellison trails.  From L to R (Didn’t get your name, Aidan, Ed, Dalen, Tristan, Dave (Boutillier)

Getting there

Head south on 31 St toward 34 Ave. Turn right onto 33 Ave. Turn left onto 32 St/Okanagan Hwy/BC-97 S. Turn right onto 25 Ave. Continue onto Okanagan Landing Rd. Continue onto Eastside Rd Ellison Provincial Park

 

Olympia Cycle and Ski in Vernon has info on the goods.

 

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