Mountain Biking in Valemount, BC: A Beginner's Guide to the Valemount Bike Park

Valemount has more than 50 mountain bike trails a few minutes from downtown, and a good number of them are built for riders who are still learning. If you’ve been curious about mountain biking, this is a forgiving place to start. Green trails take you all the way to the bottom without surprises, two local shops rent and repair bikes, and the season runs through summer and into early fall.

This guide covers where to ride first, what to pack, a few skills to practise, and where to rent a bike in town.

Valemount is a village in the Robson Valley of British Columbia, about 90 minutes from Jasper and at the gateway to Mount Robson Provincial Park. It sits between the Rocky, Monashee and Cariboo mountain ranges.

Riding season typically runs from mid-May to mid-October, depending on snowmelt in spring and the first snowfall in fall. Early in the season, higher trails can stay closed while lower ones dry out, so check trail status before you head up. The same mountains that hold snow for sledders all winter turn into bike trails once it melts.

The Valemount Bike Park is a trail network built and maintained by the Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association (VARDA), a local non-profit. It has more than 50 trails across two areas: the main bike park off 5 Mile Road, home to most of the downhill and flow trails, and the Swift Mountain trails on the north side of Swift Creek, built for longer cross-country rides.

The main staging area is about 1 km up the access road from town, with two parking lots, an outhouse and a picnic site. To get there, follow 5th Avenue, take a hard right after the train tracks, then your first left.

Best trails for beginners

• Tyrannosaurus Rock (T-Rock): a true green downhill trail for brand-new riders. It flows gently for nearly 2 km and finishes at the main staging area.
• Bacon by NDIT: 2 km of berms, rollers and small jumps, designed as a low-risk trail for building bike-handling skills.
• Trap Line: a good next step for riders working toward the park’s harder trails.
• Green Mile: a two-way forest trail suited to beginners, with a short loop option from the south end.

Intermediate trails

• Inversion: a hand-built cross-country trail. Newer riders may find it rides like a beginner downhill.
• Tinfoil Hat: an intermediate downhill trail. Every jump is a tabletop, and harder lines have ride-arounds.
• Moby Dick: one of the most popular trails in the park, with ladder drops, wall rides and the Whale Tail feature. Every feature can be ridden around.

Advanced trails

• Turducken: a 2.5 km downhill trail with jumps, berms and some technical sections. A step up from Tinfoil Hat.
• Tech Zone: a compact set of loops with steep, frequent elevation changes and rock.
• High Roller: a jump line close to 1 km long, starting above 1,500 m, with more than 20 jumps.

See full trail descriptions and current trail status on the VARDA website, download the current trail map, or check conditions on Trailforks.

Yes. Peak Shuttles runs a commercial shuttle on most weekends and takes private bookings. You can also pedal up from town or drive the access road. VARDA asks drivers with four-wheel drive to use it, which keeps washboard down on the road.

• Bring these for a full day on the trails:
• Mountain bike, tuned and adjusted
• Well-fitting helmet
• Gloves
• Hydration pack or water bottle, filled
• Snacks or energy bars
• First-aid kit
• Bear spray, carried where you can reach it
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Sunglasses or eye protection
• Moisture-wicking layers for changing weather
• Sturdy shoes
• Trail map
• Charged phone
• Backpack or bike bag
• ID and emergency contact information

Riding farther from town? Add a spare tube or tire repair kit, a pump or CO2 inflator, and a multi-tool. For repairs or spare parts, both bike shops in town (below) are a short ride from the trails.

• Keep your knees and elbows bent and loose so they absorb bumps. Shift your weight forward on climbs and back on descents.
• Brake gently with both brakes. On most bikes sold in Canada, the right lever is the rear brake.
• Look ahead, not at your front wheel, so you see obstacles early.
• Shift gears before the terrain changes, not halfway up the climb.
• Yield to riders climbing, and call out before blind corners.
• Start on green trails and move up once they feel easy.

• Check trail status on Trailforks before you go, and stay off closed trails. Riding wet trails early in the season damages them.
• Weather changes fast in the mountains. Dress in layers.
• This is bear country. Carry bear spray, make noise around blind corners, and give all wildlife plenty of room. Never feed animals.
• Stay on marked trails.
• Pack out everything you bring in.

Bikes & Bites

Rents and sells mountain bikes, including the full-suspension Trek Slash, and repairs both regular bikes and e-bikes. Grab a treat while you’re there. Bikes & Bites is also a certified Park Tool School, running bike repair courses every month from November to April: beginner (6 hours), intermediate (12 hours) and advanced (24 hours). Call to book a rental or a course.

• Website: bikevalemount.ca
• Phone: 250.566.5169
• Location: 1030 Main St, Valemount, BC
• Google Maps Directions
  
  

District Bicycle Company Valemount

Rents full-suspension enduro bikes and e-bikes from Devinci, with a helmet, lock and local trail tips included. You can book a rental online or by phone. The shop also handles repairs and sells parts, accessories and apparel.

• Location: 1144 5th Ave, Valemount, BC
• Website: districtbicyclecompany.com
• Phone: 250.566.3565
• Google Maps Directions

Both shops are about a 3-minute drive or 5-minute bike ride from the bike park, and both are VARDA partners.

Is the Valemount Bike Park good for beginners?
Yes. T-Rock is a true green downhill trail built for brand-new riders, and Bacon, Trap Line and Green Mile are good for building skills before moving to harder trails.

How many trails does the Valemount Bike Park have?
More than 50, split between the main bike park off 5 Mile Road and the Swift Mountain cross-country trails.

When can you mountain bike in Valemount?
Typically mid-May to mid-October, depending on snowmelt and the first snowfall. Check Trailforks for current trail status.

Where can I rent a mountain bike in Valemount?
Bikes & Bites on Main Street and District Bicycle Company on 5th Avenue both rent mountain bikes. District also rents e-bikes.

How far is Best Western Plus Valemount from the Valemount Bike Park?
The main staging area is 4.6 km from the hotel, about a 9-minute drive. By bike it’s 3.6 km, about a 16-minute ride.

Does Best Western Plus Valemount have bike storage?
Yes. The hotel has a locked, shared bike storage unit on the property. Bring your own bike lock to secure your bike inside it.

How do I support the trails?
VARDA sells a $50 annual bike park membership. The money goes to trail maintenance and new trail development.

Best Western Plus Valemount is at 1950 Hwy 5 South, a 9-minute drive (4.6 km) or a 16-minute bike ride (3.6 km) from the bike park’s main staging area, and is an Executive Partner of VARDA, the non-profit behind the trails. Bikes go in a locked, shared storage unit on the property. Bring your own lock to secure your bike inside it.

After a day on the trails, there’s a hot tub and an indoor pool with a waterslide, dinner at the Summit Grill, and the wood-burning fireplace in the Cranberry Lounge. In the morning, fuel up at the full breakfast buffet before you head to the trails.

Planning a longer Rockies trip? Add a day hike in Mount Robson Provincial Park, or carry on to Mountaineer Lodge in Lake Louise.

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