Sun Peaks may have hosted the Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships just last month, but you don't have to ride like a champion to enjoy its world-class trails.
Like other alpine resorts across our province, Sun Peaks has turned its ski slopes into a summer mountain bike mecca with a vast network of trails for all ages and abilities to explore. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of a summer visit to this resort town in British Columbia's Thompson-Okanagan region.
Ride
Sun Peaks bike park boast 610 metres (2,000 feet) of vertical lift-accessed terrain, with 38 trails from easy greens to spine-jarring black diamonds. New to riding or just want to sharpen your skills? Get a guide for the day. Elevation Bike, Ski & Board, located in the Sun Peaks Grand, has everything you need to hit the bike park for the day. Elevation's Introduction to the Bike Park package is $119 ($114 for youth, $106 for child), and includes a full-suspension downhill bike, protective gear rental, lift ticket, and two-hour session with a local coach. Kids' camps run Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bike park closes Sept. 1.
Explore
Downhill thrills not your thing? Take the Sunburst chairlift to access new alpine cross-country trails including a scenic pedal through wildflowers to Tod Lake via Altitude and a descent to McGillivray Lake via Big Rock Ride (adult, $23; senior youth, $19; child, $16). Elevation has hard tails and dual-suspension bikes in its crosscountry fleet and, new this summer, electric motors for an added uphill boost.
Play
Not keen on cycling? Play a round of golf on B.C.'s highest 18-hole course (ask about The Golf Course at Sun Peaks Resort's "kids golf free" special), take a trail ride on horseback ($45 for 30 minutes) or explore the alpine meadows by foot. Sun Peaks boasts one of the most spectacular displays of alpine wildflowers in Canada, easily accessible via the Sunburst chairlift. Pick up a ready-to-go lunch from Café Soleil ($28, adult; $23 under 12, includes lift ticket) and venture out on a day hike to Tod Lake to view the vibrant blooms of Indian paint brush, tiger lilies, fireweed and lupines.
Eat
Start your day with a smoothie or wrap from Vertical Café in the Coast Sundance Lodge at the base of the Sundance Chairlift. For a midday break, refuel at Mountain High Pizza on the village stroll. Order The Bryndian (pepperoni, bacon, garlic, olives, mushrooms and mozza) and the pizzeria will make a donation to the Bluebird Day Fund, which supports young athletes in memory of local boarder Bryn Taylor. For dinner, drop by Powder Hounds Restaurant in Fireside Lodge and try the schnitzel, a house favourite. If you're lucky, you'll spot Canada's Female Athlete of the 20th Century Nancy Greene along with her husband and Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine. Together, they're Powder Hounds regulars. After dinner, stroll over to Nancy Greene's Cahilty Lodge to take in this champion alpine skier's impressive collection of trophies and medals on display in the lobby.
Stay
Located in the heart of the village, the Sun Peaks Grand offers a mix of old-world charm and modern luxury. A Delta resort property until it came under local management in May, Sun Peaks' signature hotel impresses with a lobby reminiscent of a European hunting lodge, mountainview pool, three outdoor hot tubs, spacious guest rooms with mountain or village views and complementary bike valet.
Getting there
Sun Peaks Resort is the closest resort in the Interior of British Columbia from the Lower Mainland. It's about a four-hour drive from the North Shore and located 45 minutes northeast of Kamloops. Take the Trans Canada eastbound to Hope, then Highway 5 North, exiting at Tod Mountain Road by Heffley Creek, B.C.
For more info, including vacation packages and deals, click here.