Park the vehicle and explore Penticton by mountain bike. Words and photos :: Ben Haggar // Article sponsored by Visit Penticton.
With climate change ever-present in decisions we make these days, our holiday choices can be a great opportunity to think creatively and do better to reduce our carbon output. Luckily, Penticton, BC has done some of the work for us on this. The municipality has been carbon neutral since 2016 and Visit Penticton created and promotes their Fuel Free… Almost initiative challenging visitors to park the car and explore via human power. And what better vehicle for exploration and efficiency than the humble bicycle?
No matter what form your two-wheeled adventures take, Penticton has you covered from endless buttery tarmac winding through vineyards; cruiser bike paths connecting breweries, wineries and lakes; and the long-distance gravel routes centred around the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail. But the real gems are found in the mountain bike networks above Okanagan Lake.
Penticton boasts five riding areas within 20 minutes of downtown, with the closest networks of Campbell Mountain and Three Blind Mice easily accessed through pedal power alone. Short flowy laps through bright yellow fields of giant balsamroot spring flowers on Campbell Mountain is the perfect introduction to Penticton riding and just happens to be a 15-minute pedal from town. Classic trails like Whoops and Chicken Noodle are a nice mellow way to feel out the dirt while Campbell DH provides fun, small to medium-sized jumps while the best views can be had on South Canyon which traverses along the exposed canyon rim above Penticton Creek.
The Three Blind Mice network is the crown jewel of the Okanagan mountain bike scene with 90 trails totalling over 120km of singletrack bliss. You can climb the mountain’s shuttle road but the enjoyable Far Out, Yellow Brick Road and Neverland climbing trails are the preferred access point for the locals. Like a game of snakes and ladders, traverse trails like Rainbow, Rusty Muffler, Narnia, Fred and Yellow Brick Road provide a convenient opportunity for shorter laps and the ability to connect to a wide range of trails allowing for creativity and fine-tuning your ride whether you want flow, jumps, tech, or a combination of everything that the mountain has to offer. Standout trails include Wedding Crashers, Slabs, and Flow Coaster.
Penticton enjoys a long riding season from March into November. The northern desertscape basks in over 300 days of sun per year making spring and fall ideal times to visit when most of BC is socked in and rainy. The riding here is diversified by the elevation. The cool upper slopes of fir groves hold technical rocky and rooty terrain and as the elevation drops, the forest thins out with well-spaced, towering Ponderosa pines where the bulk of the network shines with Penticton’s characteristic fast and flowy singletrack with insane views of Okanagan Lake. The closer you get to lake level the sandier the soil gets and the riding becomes more technical with steeper, chunky slabs interspersed with flow trails traversing the mellower open grasslands and benches.
If you’re looking for fall-line DH style trails, head to the Carmi network southeast of town. Or if you want to switch up the views to something completely different, Conkle and Cartwright Mountains in nearby Summerland, just a quick 15 minute drive away, hold endless cross-country loops.
The mountain bike trails are maintained by Penticton and Area Cycling Association which, like most trail networks in BC, is volunteer-run—so please consider donating if you’re riding their trails. Penticton’s massive bike obsession is apparent with the abundant infrastructure and amenities for cyclists including seven water-bottle filling stations, four bike repair kiosks, a dedicated cycling path connecting Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, 22 km of bike lanes in town and over 25km of multi-use paths for stress-free commutes. Oh, and they definitely had apres in mind while creating the network.
Penticton is a craft beer oasis situated in the heart of wine country so there’s literally something for everyone. The first craft brewery in the south Okanagan, Tin Whistle Brewery was just the 12th to open in BC back in 1995. On Earth Day 2021, Tin Whistle announced it is the first carbon-neutral brewery in BC. Another early adopter of craft beer, Cannery Brewing brewed their first batch of beer back in 2001 and helped to further usher in the craft beer revolution over 20 years ago. In 2020, the Lonely Planet named Penticton ‘The Craft Beer Capital of Canada’ — boasting eight top-notch craft breweries, each with their own character and flavour.
As you would expect, they’re all centrally located and linked by bike paths. The most convenient brewery for an after-riding pint is Abandoned Rail sitting near the base of the Three Blind Mice network on the Naramata bench and right on the KVR for a convenient pedal back to town. Or, grab a four-pack and head to one of the designated beach areas where alcohol is allowed and finish off the riding day with a refreshing dip in the lake.
