Video: Exploring BC's Kootenay Rockies

Apr 28, 2014
by Mountain Biking BC  
Views: 44,926    Faves: 407    Comments: 38


The Province of British Columbia has six distinct regions, all with an abundance of mountain biking and their own unique local flavours. Rocky Mountain Bicycles athletes Thomas Vanderham, Wade Simmons, Geoff Gulevich, and Andreas Hestler traveled to the Kootenay Rockies region to explore and capture a travelogue video for Mountain Biking BC.

"The Kootenays are a mountain bikers dream!" said Thomas Vanderham. "There are endless riding locations in a condensed area for every level of rider to explore. Each one has it's own vibe and culture but they all have big mountains and beautiful vistas in common. If you haven't ridden here you're missing out!"

Photo by Derek Frankowski

Road-tripping through the communities of Rossland, Nelson, Fernie, and Revelstoke, the team enjoyed new trails with old friends. With diverse backgrounds in the sport of mountain biking—from Olympic-level XC racing to big mountain freeriding—, each area offered something for everyone.

Rocky Mountain Brand Manager Brandon Crichton commented that "the Kootenays are just a short drive from our North Vancouver development centre, and the great riding we find there continually reminds us of why we develop our bikes here in BC. Spectacular!"

Photo by Derek Frankowski

Stay tuned for more episodes to drop in the near future: “Vancouver Island” and “Vancouver, Coast, and Mountains”. We hope you enjoy our explorations, learn something perhaps you didn’t know, and are inspired to get out and ride.

Happy Trail Shredding in 2014!

-Mountain Biking BC & Rocky Mountain Bicycles
Visit the Mountain Biking BC website for more information on riding in British Columbia, and visit bikes.com for more information on Rocky Mountain Bicycles.

Photo by Derek Frankowski


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76 Comments
  • 30 0
 Until now, I've never seriously considered bringing my trailbike to BC. With limited time to travel, it's DH bike to Vancouver and hit what I can from there. After seeing this, my head is spinning. Beautiful scenery and great looking trails. Effective tourism ad for sure - time to plan my trip.
  • 15 0
 There is exceptional XC and all-mountain riding all over British Columbia, and not just in the Kootenays. BC is well suited for trail bikes.
  • 5 0
 yeah man, as much as i love having my dh bike out here, its a trail bike that really shines. So many awoke trail systems in the sea to sky.
  • 5 0
 You would be remiss if you didn't bring your AM bike here.....soooooo much to ride. I grew up riding in Rossland/Nelson/Castlegar when the sport was in its infancy....it was amazing riding then and its been honed to perfection now....
  • 2 1
 I would suggest a DH bike for nelson.
  • 1 0
 For Nelson's dh trails yea.
  • 2 0
 I think if you have a good AM bike and skills....and you're not looking to drop/huck huge....you can to really well with a good 6" AM bike....for sure.
  • 1 0
 hell...my old DH bike back in the day was a crappy 6" of travel....lol
  • 15 0
 Does it bug anyone else that they lump Rossland or Nelson into the Rockies?!? Last I checked they were in the Columbia Mountains, the interior range between the Rocky Mountains and the Coastal Mountains. All three are distinct mountain ranges with different geology.
  • 6 0
 It was annoying the first time and still annoying to see but understand it's a marketing term.
  • 1 0
 Like pacific northwest for coastal BC
  • 2 0
 Travelling wise. All those places are easy to hit up on the same Kootenay road trip because of the high way infrastructure. They could have put Retallack in the mix as well.
  • 2 0
 The PNW is all of BC, Washington and Oregon. Even parts of Idaho. From what I understand.
  • 2 1
 Even Western Montana is recognized sometimes as PNW, although I disagree. I mean, Fernie is essentially due north of W. MT and it's not part of the PNW.
  • 1 1
 According to this picture, Fernie and W. MT are apart of the PNW
www.ancestral.com/images/maps/pacific_northwest.gif
Western Alberta is in PNW too. Haha.
  • 2 0
 I live in calgary so i guess weer part of the pacific northwest haha, but i think of it as northwest tip of washington!
  • 7 0
 Ugh,I've always wanted to live in any of these four places.....and I've never even been there. Just something badass about the northern Rockies.

And it's good to know that the 'Canadian Bro'sounds identical to the 'west American Bro.' If I had a dollar for every "super dedicated crew of_____",I'd have enough money to finally move to fernie.
  • 1 0
 only fernie is in the rockies.
  • 7 0
 This video perfectly portrays the riding vibe in the Kootenays. But you can land just about anywhere in small town BC and find good trails built by dedicated riders. I chose a small town between Revy and Nelson to find my roots, New Denver. Hundred year old mining trails reclaimed by modern builders. 80 km of sweet flowing singletrack, 1000m descents. Heaven.
  • 6 0
 I read your comments and cant help but clue in to how blessed I am to have most of those trails within 2-4hr drive from my place, as well as the many amazing trails in the Okanagan valley. Highly recommend Flow Down in revelstoke it's amazing!
  • 2 0
 I've had some great Okanagan Pinot Noirs, for what it's worth.
  • 7 1
 This I live in the east Kootenay's! I can ride these trails 10 minutes after I leave work! My commute is less than 5 minutes and if there's one car in front of me, it's a traffic jam.
  • 3 0
 wow. you are one very lucky man bulltxl, I know you have long winters with not much riding, but having trails like that in the summer must make up for it
  • 1 0
 The east Kootenay riding season runs from March to November most years, so maybe short for a Brit, but really not as bad as people think.
  • 8 0
 I've never been so depressed to live in England Frown
  • 4 2
 Yeah, but you've got way better Whisky than Canada does, so it all works out in the end.
  • 3 0
 I don't know man, BC looks amazing but England has some incredible stuff. I'm from the West Coast of the US and the Lake District is on my bucket list.
  • 1 0
 That's actually a good point, but the really insane stuff looks to be in Scotland (though I could be wrong there). Ibid on the whisky, though I still love a good English single malt.
  • 5 0
 True. Since riding I've been to some truly epic places in the uk. If you do ever head over the pond I highly recommend north wales... Proper mtb country.
  • 1 0
 North wales is great (we go a couple of times a year) but I'd move to BC in a heartbeat. I loved everything about Nelson, it's a special place.
  • 1 0
 The trails are a little bit sweeter than at home? I'd like to know the Canadian definition of "little".

minibikeDH - the Lakes are well worth a visit, even if it's only for the views. I'm pretty sure only England can have views that look brill even when it's raining and covered by grey cloud. The Lakes apparently has its own type of light too.
  • 4 0
 From Wikipedia:
American geographic classifications place the Columbia Mountains as part of the Rocky Mountains complex but this designation does not apply in Canada (despite a British Columbia government tourism campaign to rebrand their southern portion as the "Kootenay Rockies")
  • 2 0
 Now that's some amazing trails,beautiful mountains,lots of amazing things to do,and lots of different types of trails!! what a place!! my passion is trail riding coming from DH/Freeride etc, Canada is thee place I want to go and ride my trail bike some day and i'm thinking i need to do it fast!! loving the scene out there guys!! going to start saving and looking,any of you Canadian legends have any recommendations on where to stay etc?
any info would be awwwwwesome :-)
  • 6 0
 It's a biiig place man. Every town has a motel to stay in, a hostel or somewhere to camp. Car rentals are easy. If I were to make an itinerary I'd fly into Calgary, rent a car and mega road trip from Calgary - Golden - Revelstoke - Salmon Arm - Kamloops - Vernon - Kelowna - Rossland - Nelson - Cranbrook - Fernie - Calgary. If I were visiting and had the time and money that's what I'd do. It's under a 2000km driving loop through some beautiful places and if you did it in about 3-4 weeks I promise you'd have a whale of a time. World class trails in every town, 3 lift accessed bike parks, lakes, good people, mostly nice towns, good beer, no dealing with the shitshow that is the sea to sky rat race etc...
  • 2 0
 You could add Invermere/Radium before Golden for only 1.5 hours more driving too
  • 1 0
 You would be silly to drive past Bragg, Canmore and Banff on the way From Calgary to Golden.
  • 1 0
 That's true, I mean you'd already be driving through. I'm just spoiled because I grew up in Calgary so I left the close stuff out. In my head it's less exciting, but in reality, still world class riding.
  • 1 0
 Ah awesome man thanks that sounds the nuts!! Think I'm going to do some research and planing!! Can't wait it's been my on tick list for years and now it's time :-)
  • 4 0
 I have been to Golden and it is so awesome riding there, winter and summertime. I will definitely come back Big Grin
  • 3 0
 That is one of the most effective marketing adds I have ever seen. That trip is going on the bucket list for sure. Great job guys!
  • 3 0
 I'll be traveling to Fernie for work for at least two weeks this summer. I was already scheming to get my bike up there, but now I know I'll find a way!
  • 1 0
 I've met many contractors that come up to work in Fernie during the summer...let me guess...Teck Mining?
Make sure to bring ALL your bikes...Fernie Alpine Resort has an amazing bike park that just gets better and better every year! Along with some amazing AM riding they have a sick little dirt jump/skills park right in the middle of town!
  • 5 0
 ROAD TRIP! OMG I love BC!
  • 3 0
 I did pretty much this EXACT road trip in 1998. Probably the best time of my life. Spent the last 16 years just wishing I could go back in time.
  • 2 0
 Why not just go back to Kootenay?

Man I love typing that. And saying it as I type. Kootenaaaaay.
  • 3 0
 Bring your legs and lungs! Except Nelson...gotta strap on some big arse cojones to hit that awesomeness!
  • 1 0
 haha!.....Welcome to Nelson!
  • 3 0
 Yes keep 'em coming - best place on earth!
  • 2 0
 I just wrote down those city names and when I'm going to retire…I will move to one of those places.
  • 3 0
 Rossland is soo epic don't tell your friends though
  • 2 0
 A cougar with a cub uses the 7 summits trail just as much as the bikers do. That's epic.
  • 1 0
 i live only a few hours drive from Revelstoke, and have never been out that way to ride. I am so ashamed. i need to fix that ASAP!
  • 1 0
 Trails a little bit sweeter than at home eh? That one might getcha in some trouble, but either way I'm gonna road trip from Squamish to find out!
  • 3 0
 This is the most depressing thing I have seen in a while.
  • 1 0
 i live in calgary, a 3 hr drive away from the nearest trail in the kootenays and i feel the same way as you do. i gotta move to BC!
  • 2 0
 I can think of very, very few better situated major cities as far as riding goes, and the outdoors in general. From city limits it's 2.5 hours to Golden if you drive like a normal person and Bragg is as little as half an hour depending on where in the city you live. Cry me a river.
  • 2 0
 I know where I'm going this summer!
  • 2 0
 Highly recommend the Mondraker trails in Golden Big Grin Super Fun
  • 2 0
 This video really needed the theme music from 'Hinterland Who's Who'.
  • 1 0
 Sweeeet trails! 7 more days and I'm on the flight to live in BC!! Forever! and this video is exactly why.. Thank you PB.
  • 1 0
 I really don't like the idea of a 1 size fits all trail, there's a reason we have multiple trails.
  • 2 0
 Thanks, this makes me want to quit my job even more!
  • 1 0
 They are some crazy hills!!!
  • 2 0
 How do I move to Nelson?
  • 3 0
 Start by growing a beard and giving up on showering ever again. Seriously though.
  • 1 0
 Love how the term "hipster" is now thrown into tourism vids!
  • 1 0
 Hipster sounds nicer than panhandler or street urchin or whatever they call them in Nelson.
  • 1 0
 They missed the best spot of all the great ones: the Columbia Valley.
  • 1 0
 might have to make a trip out before school starts! great video
  • 1 1
 Love the look of these trails. Super fast and flowy. Bucket list!
  • 1 0
 Paradise
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