The Singletrack 6 Communities: A Playground Built on Adventure
Singletrack 6 visits some amazing communities. Rossland, Nelson, Fernie, Revelstoke...the list goes on. These and many of our other host communities have gained legendary status as ski destinations for their epic snowfall and spectacular terrain. They’re stops along what’s known as the ‘Powder Highway’. But they’re starting to become well known for mountain biking as well.
As Singletrack 6 Ambassador Travis Hauck puts it, “We should call it the 'Dirt Highway' or the 'Brown Pow Highway'!”.
Many of the communities we visit have been featured in mountain bike films, magazines, videos, blogs and more. Rossland is even referred to as “The Mountain Bike Capital of Canada”, which is no small thing in a country that has so profoundly shaped mountain biking as we know it today.
To date, Singletrack 6 has visited 14 different communities. That’s a staggering statistic when you consider there have only been five editions of the race to date. And we will be visiting four new additions over the next couple of years. That’s a lot of riding to look back on and to look forward to. All of these communities are located within relatively close proximity (at least by Canadian standards) to each other, and together they boast thousands of kilometres of singletrack. This is our playground. It’s always expanding, and we’re beyond fortunate to have it.
So, we’d like to stop and take stock of it all. Because it’s hard to believe just how big of an adventure we’ve all been on over the years until it’s laid out before us...
Think about it. If you’ve been part of each edition of ST6 since it began in 2014, you’ve had the opportunity to race in, and visit, 14 different world-class mountain bike destinations. If you haven’t, read on to find out what you’ve been missing! And a bit about what the future has in store.
Fernie, BC
Among the communities we’ve visited, Fernie holds a special place on the list. It was a host community for the TransRockies Challenge that began nearly two decades ago. For an event like Singletrack 6, Fernie is exceptional. It boasts hundreds of kilometers of well-maintained singletrack. Most of which can be connected and is rideable right from the center of town, as well as from the local brewery, the Fernie Brewing Company. In short, it’s a route designer’s dream!
➔ Local Trails Organization - Fernie Trails Alliance (FTA)
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Fernie
➔ Bike Shop(s) - GearHub Sports
Kimberley, BC
Kimberley is an up-and-coming mountain bike destination with a fast-growing trail network. And it will be a new addition to the list of Singletrack 6 host communities in 2021. The village itself is Bavarian-themed and is home to the largest free standing cuckoo clock in Canada. Its compact size makes Kimberley very walkable, and like nearby Fernie, many of Kimberley’s trailheads can be accessed right from town.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Kimberley Trails Society (KTS), Kimberley Nature Park Society (KNPS)
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Kimberley
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Bootleg Bike Co, Black Dog Cycle & Ski
Cranbrook, BC
Cranbrook is home to over 200km of singletrack that is spread out over a handful of riding areas. Due to its lower elevation (relative to other nearby riding areas) and dry climate, it’s known as a great early and late season mountain biking destination. If you’re looking for sunny weather, Cranbrook is the place to ride as it is reported to have the most sunshine hours of any city in British Columbia. The trails around Cranbrook are also known for their scenery. Spectacular views are often available not far from the trailhead.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Wildhorse Cycling Club
➔ Tourism Website - Cranbrook Tourism
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Gerick Sports
Nelson, BC
Nelson is home to ST6 Ambassador Travis Hauck and is an old school classic. Once best known for freeriding, Nelson now has something for everyone, and that makes it a great place for Singletrack 6 stages. It doesn’t hurt that Nelson is also rumoured to have more restaurants per-capita than Manhattan or San Francisco. So you won’t be left wondering where to eat dinner after a long day on the bike.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Nelson Cycling Club
➔ Tourism Website - Nelson & Kootenay Lake Tourism
➔ Bike Shop(s) - The Sacred Ride, Gerick Cycle & Ski
Rossland, BC
Rossland has a rich history as a gold mining town that dates back well over a hundred years. Today, it’s better known as a tourist destination where you can ski in the winter and mountain bike in the summer. It’s been deemed the ‘Mountain Bike Capital of Canada’, and is home to the IMBA epic Seven Summits trail. The riding in Rossland is not for the faint of heart. It’s steep and rocky—just the way we like it!
➔ Local Trails Organization - Kootenay Columbia Trails Society (KCTS)
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Rossland
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Revolution Cycles & Service
Kaslo, BC
As a riding destination, Kalso isn’t as well known as nearby Nelson or Rossland, but they’re working on it! The small town of less than a thousand residents has begun to carve out some great mountain bike trails. Singletrack 6 was fortunate enough to visit, and ride some of their freshly built singletrack, during our 2017 edition. One of the best parts about riding around Kalso are the occasional glimpses of the beautiful, and historic, Kootenay Lake.
➔ Local Trails Organization - KORTS
➔ Tourism Website - Visit Kaslo
Penticton, BC
For some reason, mountain biking and craft beer seem to go hand in hand. Many of our host communities are home to exceptional craft breweries and Penticton is no exception. But it’s wine that really dominates the landscape—literally! Penticton is the hub of wine tourism in the Okanagen. There 40 wineries within its city limits and another 120 within an hour’s drive. Mountain biking, beer AND wine! It doesn’t get much better than that.
➔ Local Trails Organization - PACA
➔ Tourism Website - Visit Penticton
➔ Bike Shop(s) - The Bike Barn, Freedom
Kelowna, BC
A city that measures its population in the hundreds of thousands, Kelowna is by far the most metropolitan of our host communities. And that large population comes with a trail system to match. On this stop, you’ll have access to everything you’d ever need or want, whether that’s shopping, bars and restaurants, or endless, expertly built and maintained singletrack. Oh, and I guess we should also mention there are some great beaches where you can rest and recharge after a long stage!
➔ Local Trails Organization - MTBco
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Kelowna
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Fresh Air, Kelowna Cycle, Cyclepath
Vernon, BC
Unlike most of the other riding areas we visit, Vernon is home to some great, privately built and maintained mountain bike trails. Predator Ridge Resort built, and retains stewardship over those trails. But they're open to the public, and have something for everyone—beginner (green) through advanced (black diamond). They also connect up with the Ellison Ridge trail network, one of several other fantastic riding areas in the Vernon area.
➔ Local Trails Organization - NOCS
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Vernon
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Skyride Bike & Board, Olympia Cycle & Ski, Sun Country Cycle
SilverStar Resort, BC
Although SilverStart Resort is located near Vernon, it deserves a mention of its own. SilverStar takes mountain biking seriously. The lift accessed bike park has grown to become the second largest in Canada, behind only Whistler. But they haven’t forgotten the climbers. Singletrack 6 ran a stage there in 2015, and when we returned in 2018, SilverStar had a brand new IMBA epic trail named Beowulf waiting for us. This is a prime example of how much trail building is going on in the communities we visit, and how networks can grow and change in only a few short years.
➔ Tourism Website - Silver Star Mountain Resort
Salmon Arm, BC
If you travel to Salmon Arm to mountain bike you’ll have no trouble finding great riding. It has a strong mountain bike community and hosts popular races every year. The town is also a well known destination for other tourist activities like house boating, for example, but there’s room for everyone. The tourism industry is so well-developed in Salmon Arm that you won’t have any trouble finding accommodation or places to eat and drink in your downtime.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Shuswap Trail Alliance
➔ Tourism Website - Shuswap Tourism
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Skookum Cycle & Ski
Revelstoke, BC
Revelstoke is the home of big mountains and big views. It’s one of the few communities on this list where you’ll find alpine riding (Rossland, on the Seven Summits Trail, is another). And there are two spectacular rides that fall into this category: Frisby Ridge and Keystone Standard Basin. Once you get above the treeline, you’ll be greeted with views of deep valleys and snow-capped peaks as far as the eye can see.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Revelstoke Cycling Association
➔ Tourism Website - Revelstoke
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Flowt Bikes & Skis, Skookum Revelstoke, Tantrum Ride Co.
Golden, BC
Golden will keep even the most seasoned rider on their toes. There, you’ll find everything from XC riding in the Moonraker and CBT areas to a large and well maintained shuttle area known as Mount 7. There’s even a lift accessed bike park at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. All these options make designing great Singletrack 6 routes around the town a breeze. In fact, we love Golden so much it’s also home to our 24-hour mountain bike event, the Golden 24.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Golden Cycling Club (GCC)
➔ Tourism Website - Tourism Golden
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Higher Ground Sports
Radium/Invermere, BC
Radium and Invermere are two towns in close proximity to each other and have shared the title of Singletrack 6 host community. Much of the mountain biking is found closer to Invermere, where there are both XC trails and a shuttle area for downhill riders. If you’re looking for a place to relax after a long ride, look no further than Radium. It’s home to the world-famous Radium Hot Springs. The hot springs are located in Kootenay National Park, while the town itself is just outside the park boundary.
➔ Local Trails Organization - Columbia Valley Cycling Society (CVCS)
➔ Tourism Website - Columbia Valley
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Columbia Cycle & Ski, Bicycle Works
Nipika Mountain Resort, BC
A resort built along the Kootenay River, this is a place to connect with nature. At Nipika, you won’t find bike shops, breweries, restaurants or a bustling nightlife. But you will find a spectacular trail network, few other riders and impressive scenery. Nipika is unique among our host communities in that it is an eco-resort that is fully ‘off-grid’. Electricity is generated using solar power, and the resort is heated using wood from the nearby forest.
➔ Tourism Website - Nipika Mountain Resort
Canmore, Alberta
Canmore is no stranger to hosting big sporting events. And mountain bikers have been racing there for decades. It was home to the nordic events during the 1988 winter Olympics, which were held at the Canmore Nordic Centre (CNC). That legacy paved the way for the CNC hosting world cup XC mountain bike races in the late 90s. Fun fact: Early in his career, TransRockies Race Series President and Chief Cycling Officer, Aaron McConnell worked on organizing these events.
➔ Local Trails Organization - CAMBA
➔ Tourism Website - Canmore/Kananaskis
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Rebound Cycle, Outside Bike & Ski, Bicycle Cafe
West Bragg Creek, Alberta
West Bragg Creek is a riding area located near the town of Bragg Creek. It’s long been a location known for XC skiing, but in recent years has seen huge growth in its network of singletrack trails. The trails in the immediate area link to others in riding areas close by, allowing for long XC loops and hundreds of kilometres of singletrack. The nearby metropolis of Calgary provides the area with an almost endless supply of people excited to visit the area to mountain bike and horseback ride in the summer and XC ski, snowshoe and fatbike during the winter.
➔ Local trails Organization - Bragg Creek Trails
➔ Tourism Website - Visit Bragg Creek
➔ Bike Shop(s) - Calgary Cycle/Cycle 22x
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
Crowsnest Pass is an up and coming riding area in southern Alberta that is beginning to gain the recognition it deserves. The Pass is the newest addition to our list of host communities and Singletrack 6 will be making its first visit there in 2022. Apart from mountain biking, the area has a long and storied history as a coal mining centre. Although now defunct, the industry has not been forgotten, and is visible in the form of museums and roadside industrial relics.
➔ Local Trails Organization - UROC
➔ Tourism Website - Crowsnest Pass
➔ Bike Shop(s) - CogNation Cyclery - Alpenland Ski & Cycle
Our playground is always expanding
We don’t play favourites, but there are some communities that we find ourselves returning to more often than others. Fernie, Golden and Rossland are three that come to mind. And although the communities themselves remain largely the same, we’re able to find new adventures every time we visit. The trail organizations in these (and all) ST6 host communities are continually expanding their trail networks, and that means we’re able to test new route possibilities every time we return.
Having said that, we’re nowhere near done finding new singletrack options to explore. Who knows what the future will bring as we expand our playground and continue on our campaign to #ridethewest!
We want to hear from you!
What’s your favourite Singletrack 6 host community?
Is there one you would most like to ride in but haven’t?
What other community would you like to see on the list?