Revelstoke
Why ride Revelstoke?
Revelstoke is big-mountain BC riding at full scale. Intermediates and experts will love the sheer size of the mountains and the trails, with genuine wilderness riding on offer for those who come prepared. The trails outside the park are exceptionally well maintained while keeping the true character of the landscape — and the resort park is home to the famous 5620 trail.
Ratings
🚵 Rider ability
Intermediates and expert riders will love the sheer scale of the mountains and the trails. There's true wilderness riding to be had here, but be prepared.
🗺️ Trail character
The trails outside of the park are exceptionally well maintained while maintaining the true character of the landscape. In the resort park there is the famous 5620 trail.
🌱 Sustainability
Canada's electricity grid is around 80% low-carbon / renewable, which means the lift networks in the park are pretty environmentally friendly. But there's no real transfer option other than hiring a vehicle from the airport.
−What do the trail types mean?
Bike Park
Predominantly uplifted, serviced DH trails — carefully designed, curated and maintained. Usually pay-to-play in one form or another, even if that's just the lift pass or uplift. UK example: Bike Park Wales.
Man Made
Generally not uplifted, so you earn your descents with the climbs. Often in forested areas designed specifically for mountain biking, usually way-marked and maintained. UK example: Glentress forest.
Natural
Lines on maps that are often public rights of way. Not way-marked, so you'll need navigation skills and a map, and you'll share them with walkers and horse riders. UK example: bridleways.
Why Revelstoke?
Revelstoke has an enviable reputation for being the snow capital of BC. It regularly gets some of the biggest dumps of snow in North America and lies on the banks of the Columbia River
To the east lie the Selkirk Mountains and Glacier National Park while the Kootenays and the fabulously named Mount Begbie nestle to the south of the city. I say city but with less than 9000 residents, city is perhaps a stretch for those who live in the Big Smoke or Auld Reekie.
Sanny - Singletrack Road Trip 2025 - Issue 164
- Snow Capital of BC
Revelstoke is legendary for its massive snowfalls—some of the biggest dumps in North America. - Jaw-Dropping Scenery
Nestled between the Columbia River, Selkirk Mountains, and Glacier National Park, every direction offers a new epic view. - Charming Small-Town Vibe
With less than 9,000 residents, Revelstoke’s welcoming “not-quite-a-city” feel is a breath of fresh air. - Independent Downtown Buzz
Downtown is packed with independent retailers and a lively atmosphere—even on a late Wednesday afternoon. - Unique Sense of Humour
From “Don’t pet the bears” to “Sweet dreams are made of cheese,” the local signs alone are worth the trip. - Foodie Surprises
Indulge in sushi feasts at Kawakubo, post-ride gelato, and the tastiest chicken burger you’ll ever inhale at the Rockford Bar & Grill. - Guided Adventures with Local Legends
Ride with guides like Matt Yaki of Wandering Wheels—encyclopedic trail knowledge and stories for days. - E-Bike Paradise
Explore endless climbs and flowing descents without breaking a sweat, thanks to top-notch e-bike rentals. - Wildlife Encounters
Spot everything from terrier-toting bikers to the occasional bear (don’t worry, guides have the stories and the bear spray). - Epic Alpine Trails
Experience high-altitude riding with breathtaking views, wildflower meadows, and flowing singletrack. - North America’s Longest Lift-Assisted Descent
Tackle “5620”—a 15km, 5,620ft vertical, blue flow masterpiece that’s pure, grin-inducing fun from top to bottom. - All Ages, All Levels Welcome
From retired “Thursday Geezers” to first-time e-bikers, Revelstoke’s trails and community are open to everyone—no matter your experience or fitness level.
Getting there
We flew Air Canada from Heathrow to Calgary direct.
Prices here are indicative only and based on September 2026.
- Return flights from £850 economy, including one checked bag.
- Bike carriage CAD$50 one way.
- Don't forget to apply for your travel visa before you go.
Getting to the resorts once you land
Trains – Computer says no
For those of us who are used to UK trains, be prepared for a bit of a wake-up call. There are no passenger trains from Calgary to Revelstoke, which is surprising given the proximity to railway tracks that run through the town
Shuttle and bus transfer
A shuttle from Calgary was, like Rossland, prohibitively expensive but if you are willing to go by bus, Rider Express offer one way tickets for around £50. Journey time is around 6 hours door to door.
Car hire
Canada is very much a car culture and for our ten-day trip, we were able to hire a frankly enormous Ford F150 six-seater flatbed truck for just over £330 through Enterprise, before adding on the cost of additional drivers. Fuel costs were half the price of the UK, meaning that we only spent about £150 on fuel for the entire trip, which involved four reasonably lengthy drives between the resorts we stayed at.
Bike Shops and Bike Hire
Our Revelstoke Recommendations
Unsurprisingly, Revelstoke is not short of options when it comes to bike rental and repairs. We were fortunate enough to be given e bike options for our two days of riding there. Our guide on the first day, Matt, who runs Wandering Wheels guide services also does rentals through Cycle Logic shop. We had the pleasure of riding some top end Transition lightweight e bikes and they were truly excellent
On the second day, Quinn, Harry and the team at the bike rental shop in Revelstoke resort right beside where you buy passes did a sterling job of setting us up on some full power Specialized e-bikes. On both days, the bikes were set up for our British preference with the front brake on the right (and indeed correct) side while the suspension was set up to perfection. The bikes worked flawlessly throughout (or at least did until I smacked the rear mech of my Specialized!)
Other options include Skokum, Tantrum Ride Company, The Wax Bench, Revelstoke Suspension Services, Highline and The Repair Shop.
Travel Insurance
Cover for our trip was provide by Yellow Jersey and included cover for guided rides above 5000ft and competition cover. See yellowjersey.co.uk for full details.
Guiding Services
Based out of the Cycle Logic shop in Revelstoke where they also offer bike rental options, Wandering Wheels did a sterling job of showing us some of the frankly stunning natural trails on the ridgeline above Revelstoke. Matt had an astonishing level of backcountry knowledge which meant we all felt in very capable hands. That said, his attempt at a Scottish accent was pretty woeful but no worse than our collective attempts at the Canadian one. Their guiding options are comprehensive offering everything from day tours through to multi day adventures and full on travel packages with accommodation included. When chatting with Matt, we learned that he operated in areas as far afield as Peru, Nepal and the Yukon with the icing on the cake being the option of going heli-biking if you want to be super fancy.
Where to stay
Swiss Chalet Motel was a treat for us as we each had our own room with two massive beds in case we went all Princess and the Pea. Having only ever seen motels in the movies, we were impressed by the excellent standard of the accommodation. It was nice to come back to a freshly made bed and fresh towels after each ride. A simple snack breakfast of coffee, yogurt, cereal bar and fruit got us ready for the day ahead while the nearby railroad did not disturb us as we slept.
Eating Out
Breakfast - The most important meal of the day
La Baguette
Despite using the word artisinal in its description as bakery and café, we were all big fans of this funky place. We tried everything from the banana and maple syrup crepes through to fruit compote granola yoghurt and a full Canadian breakfast. Oh and we snuck in some pastries too. Good coffee too. Open from early until 5pm
The Legendary 5620 Trail
The longest lift assisted flow trail in North America at 14km in length and 5620 feet in vertical drop. Find it in the bike park at the mountain resort. But beware! The gondola only takes you most of the way up. From the top of the lift there's another 6km of climbing to do before you reach the start.
Dinner – Essential post ride refuelling stops
Kawakubo
We thought sushi wasn’t filling. Boy, were we wrong. Mark and Nutty opted for the Chef’s selection while I had a perfectly cooked Beef Teriyaki. I was in fits of laughter as the boys manfully struggled their way through what was a mountain of perfectly prepared sushi.I think one wafer thin mint would have driven them over the edge. A real gem.
Craft Bierhaus
Although not a huge menu, there was more than enough choice to keep the met eaters well and truly sated. I chomped my way through a pound of gloriously flavoursome brisket while casting eyes over the enormous chicken salad that Meghan was eating. They offer a large selection of locally brewed fare with a real mix of ales and stouts to choose from. The gents toilet is worth a visit as it is decorated like something out of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler children’s book.
Taco Club
Offering some seriously tasty latin themed street food, cocktails and BC brews, Taco Club was positively heaving when we visited it on a Friday evening. It had a really welcoming and friendly vibe to it and grew out of two self confessed local ski bums making tacos in their kitchen.
Rockford Bar and Grill
Resort restaurants can sometimes be a hit or miss affair but the Rockford was definitely the former. I had arguably the best chicken burger that I have ever had in my life and it wasn’t just the impact of having a serious post ride need for sustenance. The fruit smoothie was excellent too. Not perhaps a typical post ride drink but it absolutely hit the spot.
Adding it all up
Prices here are a guide only and based on typical costs in September
A DIY trip for seven nights in Revelstoke for two, including economy flights, accommodation, car hire and fuel, plus bike hire, in September would cost approximately £3,800. (Approx. £600 less if taking a bike rather than hiring.)
Our ten-day road trip through Fernie, Rossland and Revelstoke would need a budget of approximately £3,800 for two with your own bikes or £4,300 with rentals in each resort, including Yellow Jersey insurance cover.
Not included: Food, tips, airport parking and UK transfers. If taking your own bikes, you’d also need Yellow Jersey insurance cover.
Covered by the crew
Insurance handled by people who ride, wrench and understand mountain bikes.
When something goes wrong, your claim is handled by people who genuinely understand how mountain bikes are ridden, repaired and put back together after a bad day on the trails.
From blown suspension to cracked frames, decisions are made by cycling specialists - not general insurers.
We also keep key bike parts in-house and work directly with trusted bike workshops, helping reduce delays and get riders back on the trails sooner.
What this means for you
- Cyclist-first decisions focused on getting you back on the trails
- Claims handled by people who ride and work with bikes
- Experience with real mountain bike damage, including off-road riding
- Repair-first approach using specialist cycle workshops
Save 15% on Home & Bike Insurance with code SINGLETRACK15*
Fresh Goods Friday is sponsored by Pedal Cover – The better route for cyclists
*Discount available subject to our business terms and conditions: pedalcover.co.uk/business-terms
