Mountain biking in the Central Okanagan

Five sanctioned trail networks across Kelowna and West Kelowna, from the town-edge loops at Knox to the gap jumps at Gillard. Here is how each one rides, who looks after it, and what your bike should have done before you get there.

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Trail details last checked November 2026. Conditions change, so check the links on each trail before you ride.

Which network should you ride?

Filter by level and style, or answer three quick questions and we will point you to a network.

Comparison of the five networks
NetworkAreaLevelsBest forStatus
Smith Creek West Kelowna Flowy singletrack with a real climb-and-descend rhythm Open
Rose Valley West Kelowna Cross-country loops with big views over the reservoir Partly open
Knox Mountain Kelowna A fast lap with lake views, right off downtown Open
Myra-Bellevue / Crawford Kelowna (Upper Mission) The biggest, most varied network, with something for every level Open
Gillard Kelowna Bike-park-style gravity riding without the lift ticket Open

Smith Creek Trail Network

West Kelowna · Crown land · Recreation Sites and Trails BC · maintained by MTBCO

West Kelowna's home network sits on the hillside north of town, a seven-minute drive from the town centre and about twenty minutes from downtown Kelowna. Most of the descents are reached by climbing Holy Pail Climb, a twisty singletrack grind with a few optional technical sections that is a better way up than a fire road.

The trails have been rebuilt to modern sustainability and safety standards, and the mix suits a group with different abilities: easy dirt trails for newer riders, longer cross-country climbs for fitter ones, and black-rated descents when you want them.

Trails to know

Holy Pail Climb. The main way up. Singletrack all the way, with optional technical sections.

Feel the Love. The network's best-known trail. Flowing, with views.

More Cowbell, Dear Santa, Kid Dyn-O-Myt. Worth finding once you know the layout.

Ride it right

Mixed-use hillside: hikers and horse riders use it too, so slow down and yield on blind corners.

Works for cross-country, all-mountain and enduro bikes, as well as e-bikes and fat bikes.

Trail maps are on Trailforks, and the “Trails of the Westside” paper map is stocked at local bike shops.

Climb-and-descend bikes work hard here

Long climbs and rocky descents are tough on drivetrains, brake pads and suspension. A pre-season tune-up is cheaper than a ride cut short.

Book a service

Rose Valley Regional Park

West Kelowna · Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO) · maintained by MTBCO

Partly open. Reopening in phases after the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire. Only a limited part of the park is open, and closed areas carry hazards such as danger trees, ash pits and unstable soil. Trespassing in closed areas can bring a $500 fine. Check the RDCO before you go.

Rose Valley is a regional park with a long, looping network of cross-country trails, mostly intermediate, with views over the reservoir and out across West Kelowna. There are no stunts, so it rides as a steady pedal-and-view network rather than a jump park.

The park was closed after the McDougall Creek wildfire in August 2023 and has been reopening in phases. Phase 1 reopened in June 2025, with the rest following as hazard work allows. Riding in a closed area is not just risky; it also undoes the work the crews are doing.

Trails to know

Daze of Roses, WooHoo, Rooster Tree. Pre-fire favourites. Check which are open before planning a loop.

Grant's Grind, Swamp Donkey, RSVP. More of the park's long-standing trails, subject to the same closures.

Ride it right

Check the RDCO page for the current open area every time. It has changed several times since the fire.

The reservoir is a source of public water supply, so keep clear of the water.

Trails are shared with hikers. Signage was damaged by the fire, so carry a GPS track.

Get the bike ready while the trails recover

With only part of the park open, it is a good time to book the service you have been putting off.

Book a service

Knox Mountain Regional Park

Kelowna · City of Kelowna · built with MTBCO

Knox Mountain rises straight from the edge of downtown Kelowna, which makes it the easiest network to fit into a lunch break or a post-work ride. It is a municipal park shared with hikers and runners, and one of the few municipal parks with downhill-designated trails.

Most trails are beginner to intermediate, with a few faster, flowier descents mixed in. MTBCO has worked with the City of Kelowna on the trails since 2011.

Trails to know

FOMO. A gentler option for newer riders.

Shale Trail and Simpson Trail. The two that locals point visitors to first.

Ride it right

There is little shade on most trails, so bring more water than you think you need in summer.

Drive up Ellis Street to the lot at the base of the mountain. Vehicle access ends there and the trails begin.

Multiple access points and viewpoint turnoffs make it easy to ride a short loop.

Quick laps, quick fixes

If you ride Knox a few times a week, drivetrain wear adds up fast. A basic tune-up keeps it quiet and shifting cleanly.

Book a service

Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park (Crawford Trails)

Kelowna (Upper Mission) · BC Parks · Crawford Trails managed with MTBCO

Locals call it Crawford, after the neighbourhood and waterfall nearby. It is one of the few provincial parks in BC that allows mountain biking, and it is the largest and most varied network in the Kelowna area, with cross-country, all-mountain and downhill trails through dry pine forest, rock and canyon country.

The park also holds the old Kettle Valley Railway grade and the Myra Canyon trestles, so it doubles as a starting point for the gravel side of the sport (see our gravel guide).

Trails to know

Fairlane, Lost Lake, Bullwinkle, Astrid. Names you will hear at the trailhead. Start with the Trailforks map.

Ride it right

Helmets are mandatory in BC, and riders are asked to yield to hikers and horses.

Many trails get only periodic maintenance. Expect fallen trees and wash-outs, even on trails that are open.

E-bike rules in provincial parks are specific. Check the BC Parks page before you ride one.

A big network means big days

Long days on rough trail are where loose headsets, worn pads and tired tires show up. Book a check before you commit to a full day.

Book a service

Gillard Mountain Bike Trail Network

Kelowna · Recreation Sites and Trails BC · maintained by MTBCO

Gillard started in the freeride days of the late 1990s and has grown into the area's gravity network: fast singletrack, gap jumps of every size, wooden features, rock gardens and steep technical lines. It is built for intermediate to expert riders.

It was once a shuttle-only network. MTBCO's climb trail has made it reachable under your own power, and the province and MTBCO now manage the trails to modern building standards.

Trails to know

What to expect. Fast flow lines, gap jumps, wood features, slabs and rock gardens. Look up trail ratings on Trailforks before dropping in.

Ride it right

Enduro, freeride or downhill bikes suit it best, along with full-face helmets and pads for the bigger features.

Most riders shuttle the Gillard FSR. Arrange a driver, and check the road before heading up.

Jump and drop lines are for experienced riders. Walk new features first.

Gravity riding is hard on gear

Brakes, rotors, suspension and wheels take the beating at Gillard. A suspension service and brake check before the season is the sensible start.

Book a service

What “sanctioned” means, and why it matters to riders

A sanctioned network is built and maintained with the land manager's approval: the province's Recreation Sites and Trails BC, BC Parks, the City of Kelowna or the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. Volunteer trail crews do much of the work, under agreements that cover inspections, trail standards and long-term planning.

For you, that means trails that are repaired, signed and kept open. Unsanctioned trails can be closed with little notice, and nobody is responsible for what happens on them. Most networks below are looked after by Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan (MTBCO), which now includes the former West Kelowna Trail Crew. It is volunteer-driven. Joining or donating is the easiest way to say thanks.

Get the bike ready before you go

Our mechanics work on the bikes that ride these trails every day. Book ahead in spring and fall, when the workshop gets busy.

Pre-ride tune-up

Drivetrain, brakes, bolts, tire pressure and a test spin. The one to book before the first ride of the season.

Suspension and brake service

For gravity riders and anyone with hard descents ahead. We service forks, shocks and brakes in the shop.

Gravel trip prep

Tires or tubeless setup, a drivetrain check and a spares list for the KVR, forest roads or a multi-day trip.

Book a service Shop trail gear Or call 250-869-8878

Who keeps these trails open

These networks exist because volunteers and land managers keep showing up. Smith Creek Cycle is proud to be part of the same community, and we put money back into it: when the McDougall Creek fire closed Rose Valley, we raffled a bike to help the West Kelowna Trail Crew fund repairs. That crew has since joined MTBCO.

Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan (MTBCO)
Looks after Smith Creek, Rose Valley, Knox, Gillard and Crawford, since the West Kelowna Trail Crew combined with MTBCO.

Regional District of the Central Okanagan
Manages regional parks including Rose Valley.

BC Parks
Manages Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park.

Trailforks
Live trail status and maps. Report conditions after you ride.

Questions riders ask us

Which Kelowna-area trail network is best for beginners?

Knox Mountain is the easiest place to start. Most of its trails are beginner to intermediate, it is close to downtown, and trails like FOMO are a gentle introduction. Myra-Bellevue (Crawford) also has easier trails mixed through its larger network.

When is the best time to ride Smith Creek?

West Kelowna's dry climate makes April to early December the usual riding season. Check Trailforks for current trail conditions before you go.

Is Rose Valley Regional Park open to mountain bikers?

Only partly. The park has reopened in phases since the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire, and much of it has stayed closed for safety. The Regional District of the Central Okanagan publishes the current status, so check there first.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Yes. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Can I ride an e-bike on these trails?

It depends on the land manager. Provincial parks such as Myra-Bellevue have their own e-bike rules, and municipal and regional parks set theirs separately. Check the page for each network before riding one.

What bike do I need for Gillard?

An enduro, freeride or downhill bike suits it best, with a full-face helmet and pads for the larger features. Cross-country bikes are out of their depth on the steeper lines.

Looking for gravel?

Rail trail, forest roads and the long way to Big White.

Gravel route guide
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