5 Things to Do With Your Downtime in Kimberley
More than just great riding. This year’s lesser-known host community offers a unique experience between stages.
In 2021, Singletrack 6 is going back to our roots. We’re visiting two host communities that are undeniably rider favourites: Fernie and Rossland. They’re mountain biking meccas, and the new routes we have planned for their stages are sure to cement their standing as Singletrack 6 classics. But just to keep things interesting, we’re throwing in a lesser-known destination—Kimberley, British Columbia. We held a great stage there in 2016, and since then, Kimberley’s trail network and reputation as a mountain biking hot spot have been continually expanding.
Kimberley’s growing trail network is quickly becoming a sought after destination and it's one that we’re confident will become a Singletrack 6 classic, alongside Fernie and Rossland. But trails aren’t the only thing Kimberley has to offer, it’s unique Bavarian character, mountain bike culture, great restaurants and range of low-key activities make it a great place to explore in your downtime with friends and family and recover between stages.
To get the ball rolling, here are our top five suggestions…
#1 - Get a head start on recovery
If you’ve read our other blog posts on the five things to do with your downtime in Rossland and Fernie, you’ve probably started to notice a theme emerging—eating and drinking is always number one! And that’s because refueling and rehydrating after a stage is such an important part of stage racing. Fortunately, Kimberley’s eateries have even the most ravenous racers covered.
Pedal and Tap Patio
Pedal & Tap Restaurant
This bicycle-inspired restaurant located in the heart of Kimberley offers a seasonally-inspired menu and their website lets visitors know to “expect fusion, food made from scratch and unexpected twists on classic dishes”. They also offer the longest list of BC wines by the glass in the Kootenays and a large selection of BC craft beers. Try their famous mucky fries or spaghetti balls!
Location: 215 Spokane Street (in the Platzl)
Phone: 250-427-3325
The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant
Offering traditional Bavarian Cuisine like wienerschnitzel and what they call the “Bavarian feast”, the original Old Bauernhaus Restaurant was built over 300 years ago in Germany. In 1989, it was disassembled, shipped to Canada and then reassembled piece by piece by its owners in Kimberley. The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant is fully licensed and reservations are recommended.
Location: 280 Norton Avenue
Phone: 250-427-5133
Our Place Restaurant
For more casual fare, check out Our Place Restaurant. It’s a family-style eatery that’s open for breakfast and lunch, serving classics like steak & eggs and burgers. Their food is homemade and the prices are very reasonable.
Location: 290 Spokane Street (in the Platzl)
Phone: 250-427-3739
Stonefire Pizzeria
Few things complement each other quite like mountain biking and pizza, so when a Singletrack 6 host community has a pizzeria that takes their pizza as seriously as Stonefire, it’s worth checking out. They specialize in Neapolitan pizza and use a wood-fired pizza oven hand-built in Italy that bakes their pizza in 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Stonefire’s sauce is made from plum tomatoes straight from Italy and they use only 00 flour, also imported from Italy. To top it off, their toppings include fresh regional ingredients!
Location: 195 Deer Park Avenue
Phone: 778-481-1800
#2 - Experience the Platzl
Kimberley Platzl
Kimberley’s Platzl is a pedestrian-only square located in the city centre. It’s surrounded by unique shops and restaurants and is a great place to meet friends and take in the city’s Bavarian culture. Brick streets, painted fire hydrants and giant chess pieces await visitors in this unique town square. Not to mention it’s also home to Canada’s largest free-standing cuckoo clock. Feed the clock a loonie and you’ll be greeted by the yodelling, beer stein wielding “Happy Hans”.
Kimberley’s Platzl is modelled after the original square of the same name in Munich, Germany. That square dates back to at least 1780AD and is surrounded by notable buildings, from both past and present.
Location: Kimberley City Centre
#3 - Visit a Bike Shop
Whether you’re looking for repairs, swag or even some local trail knowledge, paying a visit to a bike shop is never a bad idea. Luckily, Kimberley has two of them!
Bootleg Bike Co.
Bootleg Bike Co. offers service, repairs and bike rentals, among other things. They even rent electric cruiser bikes, so you can explore Kimberley in style while actively recovering for the next day’s stage!
Location: 197 Howard Street
Phone: 778-481-5455
Black Dog Cycle & Ski
Black Dog Cycle & Ski offers a range of service options from a quick tune to a major overhaul. They also provide bike rentals and have a retail store.
Location: 175 Deer Park Avenue (in the Platzl)
Phone: 778-481-5156
#4 - Explore the Kimberley Heritage Museum
Before Kimberley became the tourist destination—known for skiing and mountain biking—it is today, it was a mining town. In 1896, it was named after the Kimberley mine in South Africa and from 1917 to 2001 it was home to the world’s largest lead-zinc mine—the Sullivan Mine.
Find out more about Kimberley’s rich history on a trip to the Kimberley Heritage Museum. The museum is open year-round and is operated by the non-profit “Kimberley District Heritage Society”. The museum has rotating feature exhibits and “displays or stores 10,045 artifacts, 10,788 photographs, as well as maps and published books”.
Location: 105 Spokane Street (West end of the Platzl, above the Kimberley Public Library)
Phone: 250-427-7510
Marysville Falls
#5 - Relax at Marysville Falls & Eco Park
After a long stage, take a short 10-15 minute walk to the 30 metre Marysville Falls. It’s a relaxing stroll—mainly on a shaded boardwalk—that can help clear the head and the legs!
Directly across from the trailhead is the Marysville Eco Park. The park celebrates the return of the native westslope cutthroat trout to Mark Creek following an extensive watershed restoration project. In the park you’ll find picnic tables, information signs and flower gardens.
Access - Marysville is actually a suburb of Kimberley. The waterfall trailhead and Eco Park is located in Marysville just off of Highway 95A (the boardwalk begins right on mainstreet). Marysville is also just a short 10 minute walk along the Lion’s & Rotary Trail from the south end of Kimberley’s Platzl.
Location: Click Here for Google Map Directions to the Trailhead
Bavarian Charm in the heart of the Canadian Rockies
From it’s Platzl to an original 18th century Bavarian building, Kimberley’s unique style and culture is well worth exploring during your downtime. And we couldn't be more excited to bring this little slice of Germany in the heart of the Canadian Rockies back as a Singletrack 6 host community in 2021. This will mark our second visit to Kimberley, but a lot has changed, and we’re looking forward to showing you even more of this epic riding destination.