When I arrived at my Airbnb at 2 AM, I had no idea what the next few days had in store for me. From the distance, the mountains looked like modest foothills, giving little hint of the sheer length and volume of the trails. Even from the chairlift in the morning, I thought to myself, “This mountain looks pretty small—I imagine these runs will be short.” I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’d visited almost every bike park in Western Canada this summer, and after riding the jagged Rockies in Kicking Horse, BC, seeing the giant wood features SilverStar had to offer, and enjoying the endless, well-built flow trails and jump lines at Panorama, I was ready for what I believed would be a relaxed weekend on a smaller mountain. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Sun Peaks Bike Park is not just a massive resort – even though, from a distance, it looks deceivingly small. It didn’t just meet my expectations, it blew them out of the water. I’d go as far as saying, it might just be my favorite bike park I’ve ever been to. 

I started my warm-up laps on the Stella Blue jump line, and halfway through the run, I thought, “How am I not at the bottom yet?” I’m not exactly the fastest rider, but I’m definitely not the slowest either, and after 20 minutes, it felt like I still hadn’t reached the bottom of the hill.

I thought to myself, “Well, it couldn’t get any better than this run, could it?”

Until I veered off into Bad Habit, where the jumps just got better and better. From Bad Habit to Bermalade to Super Nugget, I just kept saying, “I don’t know which one my favorite is because they are all so good!” So manicured, so well-built, berms supported for days with every kind of jump you can imagine. I spent ¾ of my first day on one side of the resort and had only experimented with the flow trails. I tried the greens, the blues, the blacks—nothing disappointed.

That was only one of the chairlifts.

I was still on my pre-ride lap of everything, and my first day was almost over. Keeping in mind that I had already calculated – with their extended hours of being open from 10AM until 7PM – over the course of 3 days, I could ride for up to 27 hours.

I made my way over to the second mountain to try out Canada Line, and I think I fell in love. It’s flowy, it’s fast, and it even has some technical bits and drops throughout. All with ride-arounds if you’re not into that sort of thing. Riding at a moderate pace from start to finish was over 25 minutes of feeling like I was on a roller coaster.

I thought to myself, “Well, most of this has been flow trails—is this whole resort flow?” Not that I’m complaining, but I like to mix it up with some tech. The tech didn’t disappoint. When I could hear my husband and his friends all cheering and making all kinds of ruckus, I knew there was some interesting terrain coming up. As an intermediate rider, I definitely had to veer off some trails as they far exceeded my skill level. Which means for any advanced rider, you’re going to have some fun. Roots, drops, narrow lines, steeps, skinnies and wood features—they have it all. Everything is built so well you can really test your limits.

We spent 3 days riding from open to close—and honestly, I could have spent more time there, as some trails I only got to ride once. I logged over 180 kms on my Garmin watch in 3 days – so we definitely rode our hearts out and honestly I think I could have used another day there to fully explore the mountain.

I’d say if you’re into endless flow trails and jump lines, whether you’re looking for tall, steep jumps or more moderate intermediate jumps, with some technical trails mixed in this is definitely the bike park you need to visit. This park by far had more flow trails than any other Bike Park i’ve been to. 

The best part of this resort? I didn’t stand in line once. There are two high-speed chairlifts. Both take up to 4 bikes. They use RFID cards, so you just scan yourself in without waiting for an attendant. Even on the busier days, their systems were so efficient we just got through right away with few pauses or stops on the lifts. Now when I say “busier days”—it was still pretty quiet on the Mountain and it felt like we had the place to our selves.

Accessing the Mountain

To get to Sun Peaks Resort, you’ll either fly or drive into Kamloops, BC. From there, you’re about 45 minutes to the resort up a pretty windy and steep hill with limited cell phone service. If you’re flying in and don’t have your own vehicle, there are several shuttle services available such as Tasteful Excursions, Sunstar Shuttle, and Peak Shuttles.

However, if you can find better flight options into the Kelowna Airport, you can also shuttle 2 hours using Cheers Okanagan Tours and Transportation.

Recommended Accommodations

I recommend staying right on the hill as you have several options to choose from. There are a few bike-in, bike-out options right at the resort, or you can look into grabbing an Airbnb or a private rental from one of the many available condos. We stayed at The Black Fox Vacation Rentals. We had a 3-bedroom, 3-bath condo with a kitchen and hot tub. One thing to look for, however, as Sun Peaks can get pretty warm, is air conditioning. It’s not entirely mandatory as the nights cool off significantly, but it’s something to consider. Also, the weather in Kamloops is much warmer than at Sun Peaks—despite being so close, the elevation makes a significant difference.

Amenities on the Mountain

Sun Peaks has—almost—everything you need to get biking. Bike rentals, repair, protection for rent or purchase, and biking apparel are all available. Plus, restaurants, and even specialty dessert shops like the world famous, Rocky Mountain Chocolate. I definitely recommend getting gourmet mini donuts and cookies in the village. They also have a small grocery store on the resort, however, for major groceries i’d stop in at a grocery store in Kamloops before heading up the mountain.

Note: If you’re bringing your own bike and it needs maintenance or repairs, you may be waiting a couple of hours. So, make sure to get any planned maintenance done ahead of time if you can—or get it looked at the day before you plan to ride.

Other Bike Parks in the Area

If you want to discover more Canadian bike parks, the following are a short drive from the Kamloops airport:

• Revelstoke Mountain: Just over 2.5 hours
• SilverStar: Just under 2 hours
• Big White: Just under 3 hours
• Whistler: 4 hours
• Kicking Horse: 4.5 hours

For Non-Biking Folks

If you’ve brought friends or family along that aren’t as into biking as you are, there’s a ton of other activities to do in the area.

Aside from downhill biking, Sun Peaks Resort offers a variety of summer activities that cater to different interests:

1. Hiking: Sun Peaks has plenty of hiking trails, with trails leading up to Tod Mountain and Tod Lake. You can even take a chairlift to skip some of the elevation gain and enjoy panoramic mountain views from the top. Just make sure to stay off the biking specific trails as it could cause a collision.
2. Golfing: The resort features BC’s highest elevation golf course, an 18-hole, par 72 course, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors at a more relaxed pace.
3. Paddleboarding & Other Water Sports: About a 15 minute drive from the resort Heffley Lake offers paddleboarding, kayaking, canoe rentals – you can even rent a fishing boat. 
4. Horseback Riding: Sun Peaks Stables offers Horseback Trail Rides, Private Horseback Riding Lessons and Carriage Rides conveniently located next to the Burfield chairlift at the entrance to the resort. 

5. Spas & Wellness: Whether you’re looking for a gym to get your daily workout in, a massage before a long day of biking, or a yoga class to stretch out your muscles, Sun Peaks Resort has it all. You can even spend a day at the spa, get a haircut on the resort, or opt for acupuncture. Check out all of the Spa and Wellness services here. 

6. Tennis and Pickleball: Sun Peaks Resort offers courts where you can play tennis or pickleball, both of which are popular activities during the summer months. You can even take lessons or rent equipment if you don’t have your own.

7. Shopping: The village at Sun Peaks has several unique shops where you can find souvenirs, outdoor gear, or locally made products. Whether you’re looking for a souvenir of your trip or need to pick up some gear, there’s something for everyone.

8. Dining: The resort offers a range of dining options, from casual cafes to fine dining experiences. Whether you’re craving a quick snack or a gourmet meal, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Don’t miss out on the Sunburst Bar & Eatery for a meal with a view.

Final Thoughts on Sun Peaks

Whether you want to be part of the action on the endless flow trails and challenging technical lines at Sun Peaks Bike Park, or simply enjoy a few days of fresh mountain air and stunning mountain views, Sun Peaks is the perfect place to be.