Kimberley summer activities

Mountain Biking

Set amidst the spectacular Rocky & Purcell Mountain Ranges, Kimberley is a biker’s paradise. What makes Kimberley unlike many other communities is the vast trail system found within the city boundaries.

• Trails for the Family or for a Challenge – From easy family outings to thrilling technical rides, the area offers trails for all ability levels. Recreational trails range from fast downhill rides, varying terrain of cross-country trails, and long scenic road rides. The city’s location within the Rockies means breathtaking views in all directions. With so many spectacular trails in and around Kimberley, the hardest decision for bikers/cyclists will be choosing the perfect path.

• Mountain Biking in Kimberley Nature Park – Kimberley Nature Park (800ha/1800ac) is one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and its easy access to trailheads from downtown makes this a very popular choice. Entrance locations to the park include the Kimberley Nordic Ski Area, Swan Avenue, Higgins Street, and Jimmy Russell Road (near the Kimberley Riverside Campground). Kimberley has a long and successful history of mining and many trails have been created from the old exploration roads on the mountains.

• Kimberley Nature Park Highlight Trails – Some of the more popular rides in the Kimberley Nature Park include: Duck Pond Loop – easy to moderate, 8 km/5mi; Pat Morrow Trail Loop – moderate, 8 – 10km/5 – 6mi; Myrtle Mountain Travers – difficult to technical, 12 – 14km/7.5 – 8.5mi; South Side Loop – moderate with uphill, 6km/3.5mi. The park is multi-use so please use caution and watch for hikers when on trails. A Trail Guide can be purchased for a nominal fee at local businesses or the Visitor Centre.

• Lois Creek, Bike Parks and Bike Rentals – Lois Creek has a smaller trail system and offers more than 20 km/12.5mi of double and single-track trails for the beginner to intermediate rider. Access is at 8th Avenue, Elko Street and Nelson/Trail Street. For the more skilled intermediate to advanced rider, the Bootleg Mountain Trails (accessed off the St. Mary Lake Road) offers some of the most technical and thrilling rides in the mountains.

Scenic road biking is plentiful in the Kimberley area with rides to Wasa Lake, St. Mary Lake, Fort Steele and Cranbrook. And the Kimberley Skate & Bike Park is a popular recreational playground for BMXers and skaters. It has a terrain park for biking right next to the new skate park. It is located at Rotary Drive and Marsden Street, Kimberley and is unsupervised.

Hiking

Breathtaking, scenic hiking trails are located in and around Kimberley Alpine Resort. Many routes start from the base of the mountain, the site of the Kimberley Nature Park. In fact, there are over 100 km (62 mi) of multi-use trails in the park alone, some of which run through or around the resort. The park area is covered mid-elevation with fir and pine forest, while hikers will notice ponderosa pine and bunchgrass along trails on its lower southern slopes.

There are some wonderful hikes for those who like their walks in high alpine, accessed by the mountain’s NorthStar Express Chairlift. One signature route is Easter Lookout Trail (Intermediate), a 3-km (1.9 mi) trail that climbs a steep 500 m (1,640 ft). It’s worth it: hikers are rewarded with awesome vistas of the Kimberley area from the summit.