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In Golden, British Columbia, it’s all about multiples. Walk out your front door and you’re at the confluence of two of Western Canada’s most distinguished rivers: The Columbia and the Kicking Horse. Gaze skyward and you’ll note the crossroads of three powerful mountain ranges: The Rockies, Purcells and Selkirks – within five different national parks, no less. And if rolling on two fat tires is your thing, you’ve got just as many head-spinning options.
With a summer season that spans from early April to late October, this rootsy little railroad town with a population of 3,800 is experiencing an adventure-tourism renaissance that’s weaving trails through the forest like veins back to a heart. With four distinct riding networks spanning both sides of the valley, these days, it’s the two cross-country zones that have bikers buzzing – both accessible right from town.
The Moonraker Network
In the Moonraker network, well-established packed dirt with minimal technical sections gives way to a seemingly unending multi-directional haze that’s, thankfully, well signed. Novices, intermediates and experts will be equally entertained in this pine and larch forest where your quads are the only limiting factor to speed. The not-to-be-missed classic in this zone is Canyon Creek, a trail that offers one of the most stunning lookout points in British Columbia.
Below the bench that’s home to most of the Moonraker trails is CBT, the 9.5-km main artery linking the whole system to town, going either up or down. Spurring off of this trail you’ll also find machine-built Whistler-esque flow and jump lines as well as pumpy riverside cross-country.
The Mountain Shadows Network
Want a more technical ride? Head over to The Mountain Shadows and grind your way up steeper, rootier and rockier trails that roll along cliff sides and through impressive boulder fields. Make it up any of these without dabbing and you’re in a league all your own. Your reward? You get to come back down the exact same stuff—replete with side-hit jumps and technical woodwork.
If you’ve got a truck and want a gravity lap, The Mountain Shadows lies at the base of Mount 7, Golden’s famously steep downhill zone. Or you can head over to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort for an afternoon in the well-shaped bike park with its 1,200m of vertical drop.
Classic Trails
Moonraker and CBT Network
• The Mighty Quinn
• Canyon Creek
• Arrowhead
• Northstar
• CBT Mainline
Mountain Shadows Network
• Magic Dragon
• Trial and Error
• Cliff Side
• Rock About
Where to Eat
• Bluebird Café
• Whitetooth Bistro
• Eleven 22
• The Island
Where to Stay
• Kicking Horse Lodging
• Dreamcatcher Hostel
• Kicking Horse River Lodge
• Cedar House Chalets
Where to Camp
• Golden Municipal Campground (downtown)
• Cedar Lake Recreation Site (Moonraker network)
• Golden Eco Adventure Ranch
• Golden Golf Club RV Park
Only for the brave...
But if you really want to test your mettle, sign up for the Golden 24 on June 18 and 19, 2016. This 24-hour bike race is part of the TransRockies series. Spanning hundreds of kilometres of Golden trail, it’s available as a relay or single-person challenge, and also has an eight-hour option.
