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Deciding what to do during your vacation to Penticton?
From easy day trips on bike paths that end up at tasty wineries or beautiful beaches, to mountain biking trails that deliver excitement and unbeatable scenery, Penticton and the surrounding Okanagan region is well known for being a top cycling destination in British Columbia.
Get to know the best cycling trails surrounding Penticton. We’ve put together this guide to help any level of cycler find bike paths, mountain trails, bike rental and gear shops, and general information about what to expect when you hit the streets of Penticton on a bike.
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Road Biking
The city of Penticton has built a certified accessible route known as the Penticton Creek Pathway, which offers a 1.8km stretch of bike path that’s suitable for cyclists of any skill level. The city of Penticton put together a handy Google Map that marks this bike path along with attractions, dining, and restrooms en route. Save this map to your device and hit the road for a fun day of cycling with friends and family.
One of the most popular road biking paths in Penticton is the lake-to-lake route, from Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake Park. This bike route takes approximately 25 minutes to complete, and riders can simply follow Main Street south the entire way, with the option of taking Skaha Lake Road southbound when it intersects with Main St.
Note that there will be some vehicle traffic along this local trail, however, the wide road makes for a safe and enjoyable bicycle ride through the city centre with a rewarding destination on either side. We recommend bringing your bathing suit and packing a picnic with fresh fruits and veggies from a Penticton farmer’s market!
Recreational Cycling
The most popular choice for recreational cycling is the famous Kettle Valley Railway Trail. This 650km stretch of railway track was once Western Canada’s longest rail network, connecting Hope to Castlegar. Now, cyclists can enjoy riding along dirt and gravel pathways for their preferred distance of the trail. There are a few steep hills to start on the Penticton section of this trail, but overall the trail is rated easy to moderate for recreational cyclists.
Penticton marks the start of the Carmi Subdivision of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, which includes the notable Myra Canyon. The most well-known biking path on the KVR for visitors to Penticton is the Naramata Section, which you can easily get to by following the trail just outside of Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre toward signs for Naramata.
A 10km bike ride up to the Naramata Bench starts your day of cycling, where you can expect to see vineyards, patios, and stunning views of Okanagan Lake. Many recreational cyclers in Penticton will bike to the Naramata community, about 16km away from the KVR intersection in front of Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre (an approx. 1 ½ hour ride).
Once in Naramata, you can stop to visit boutique stores or have lunch at a café. Then, decide whether to continue biking along the KVR to attractions such as Little Tunnel or Chute Lake, or simply turn around and enjoy the scenic views en route back to Penticton.If you want to get off the beaten path, speak with our front desk staff at Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre for more information about recreational cycling trails in Penticton, or visit the Penticton Visitor Centre website for a look at updated bicycle trail maps in the region.
Mountain Biking
Okanagan mountain biking trails are some of the best in Canada. There are a number of trails suited for beginners to expert level mountain bikers, and all of them are within a 30 minute drive of Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre. Some of the best Mountain Biking Trails near Penticton are located in the Three Blind Mice biking area, including:
- Climb This Way — a Green-rated, .75km narrow trail that climbs up an old cow highway to challenge bikers with a rewarding view at the top.
- Tsweet Tsue “Sweet Sue” — a Blue-rated narrow dirt pathway which meanders through twists and turns into gully near Okanagan Lake.
- High Roller — a Black Diamond-rated trail with man-made boardwalks and rock rolls that expert mountain bikers visit for a thrilling ride.
For even more trails including pictures, trail types, maps, difficulty ratings, and all the information you need about the best mountain biking trails surrounding Penticton, we recommend viewing the Trailforks Penticton Region website.
Other popular Mountain Biking Destinations that you should put on your itinerary include the Campbell Mountain mountain biking region, Wiltse, and Skaha Bluffs, all kept up to date with the latest information by the Trailforks user community.
BMX Biking at Munson Mountain
Looking for a BMX biking park? Munson Mountain, located only a 6-minute drive from Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre, has dirt tracks for BMX bikers, as well as hosts races and competitions which you can watch. Check out the Penticton BMX website for information on upcoming events and BMX park availability.
Bike Rental, Gear, and Tune-Up Shops
If you need to rent a bike, tighten a chain, fix your brakes or just inflate a tire, Penticton has a number of bicycle rental and repair shops located throughout the city. Our top choices for bicycle shops in Penticton and the surrounding region are linked below, including distances from Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre.
- Freedom Bike Shop (1.4km, ~10 mins walk from The Resort): offers maintenance and repairs, mountain and road bicycle rentals, trade-ins and bike purchases, parts and accessories. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly, a great resource for mountain biking trails and conditions in the Okanagan. Ask them about scheduling a biking tour in Penticton and the Okanagan Valley (*may have limited availability due to COVID-19).
- Penticton Bike Rentals (1.4km, ~10 mins walk from The Resort): offers road and mountain bicycle rentals. You can also rent two, four, or six-person bicycles with an overhead canopy for the unique experience of group biking with friends and family around the city of Penticton. Penticton Bike Rentals also provides scooter, paddle board, and kayak rentals for those days when your legs need a break!
- Sun n’ Sup (in Naramata, 14.8km ~20 minutes drive from the Resort): offers bike rentals, kayak rentals, and stand up paddle board rentals. Sun n’ Sup rents bicycles that are ideal for easy biking trails such as the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, but does not offer single-track mountain bikes rentals at this time. Note that this vendor only takes debit and cash — no credit cards.
E-Bike Rentals In Penticton
The next era of biking has arrived in Penticton. E-Bike rentals are now available for cyclists who want a little assistance as they traverse the hills and pathways surrounding the region.
Pedego Electric Bikes opened its first Penticton Location on July 1, 2020, offering electric bike sales and rentals available by the hour, day, and week. Pedego is conveniently located at 37 Backstreet Boulevard, downtown Penticton, just two blocks away from Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre.
Visit Pedego’s Penticton branch online to find the most up to date information on hours, rentals, and rates for e-bikes in Penticton.
Bicycles and Transit in The Okanagan
Penticton city busses are equipped with bike racks that can carry up to two bicycles at a time. If you’ve never used a city bus bike rack, just ask the bus driver to help you load your bicycle safely. Click here to see Penticton bus service times, schedules, and routes, or visit the BC Transit website to learn more about using bike racks on busses in the South Okanagan Similkameen region.
Courtesy Taxi and Klassic Kabs in Penticton can also accommodate bicycles in their vehicles. Contact them today to book a cab for you and your bike.
If you’re in the Naramata region, contact The Naramata Taxi Co.
What to Do After Your Bike Trip
Make sure to fuel up after a long day of biking in the Penticton sunshine! The Barking Parrot Bar is a popular bar and patio serving cool drinks and hot food right next to Okanagan Lake. For family dining, The Hooded Merganser has delicious food made with local organic Okanagan ingredients. Both establishments are conveniently located steps away from your room when you book directly with Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre.
Booking a room at our top-rated Penticton resort also gives you access to exclusive amenities, including a private beach where you can relax and rest up your muscles before embarking on your next great Penticton biking adventure. Stay up to date with news and events by following Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre on Facebook and Instagram.
Offers mentioned herein are valid at the time of publication unless otherwise mentioned. For our most recent offers and promotions, please visit our ...
Offers mentioned herein are valid at the time of publication unless otherwise mentioned. For our most recent offers and promotions, please visit our ...
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