Rocky Mountain Singletrack
Ride Highlights
- The spectacular Rocky Mountains
- World-famous Nipika Mountain Resort
- The massive trail network of Fernie
- Radium Hot Springs
- Banff National Park
- JumpingPound Ridge - a ridge ride at 7,000 ft!
Let your horses run wild and free.
If mountains were animals, the Rocky Mountains would be a team of wild mustangs: bold, beautiful, and free. Stand on top of Jumpingpound Ridge and you’ll feel the same, your legs and lungs aching from the climb but your spirit soaring over a 100-mile view across the prairies, the jagged peaks of the front range providing the backdrop for your own hero story.
Somewhere along the way you might have misplaced that wild unbridled spirit of your youth, but don’t worry – the Rockies will help you find it and bring it back into your life like a big 'ol stampede. Join us in the Rockies and escape the drone of phones, traffic, email, fax machines and your whining boss, to a place where the only sound you hear is the wild beating heart of the Rocky Mountains – and your horses running free.
Rated Top 75 Adventures in the World by National Geographic Adventure magazine!
Is This Ride For You?
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“Mike, because of you, your mountain bike tour and and amazing team, my life was forever changed 7 years ago in Fernie BC. I can't imagine how many other lives you've changed since then.“
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"Johanna and Breen did such an amazing job and made this trip absolutely exceed my expectations. Johanna's pre ride communications were great and she got the brakes changed over for me to the Australian standard,which was perfect! The trails were epic and just amazing and Johannas knowledge and experience was with out a doubt awesome! Some of the best riding I have ever done and definitely the craziest adventure I have ever had with a bike! I found myself progressing very quickly!"
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"Just to let you know I had a fantastic time on the BC trip last month. Ryan & Cory were fantastic additions to Johanna's team & all three went out of their way for us on so many occasions!"
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"This trip was nothing short of the trip of a lifetime."
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"Our guides Kevin and Dennis were incredible. Could not have asked for better. They cooked, cleaned, drove, rode, etc... Awesome!"
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"I LOVED the food at Blackstone Lodge in Fernie! Ian and Charlotte were amazing!"
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"Mike -- I am back and had an amazing trip!! Denis Beare was a phenomenal guide and is one amazing rider (and unbelievably modest too) -- wow! "
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"Thank you for a really great week of riding! The mountains were beautiful and the riding amazing but YOU... Ryan, Johanna and Cory... are what made the whole experience really special for Jim and me.
We are already thinking about which Sacred Rides trip we want to take next!"
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"Quite possible the best mountain bike tours in Canada"
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"It was such an incredible trip. My most favorite mountain bike trip ever!!!!!"
Day 1. Arrive Calgary/Fernie
Your guide will meet you at Calgary Airport and drive the group to our beautiful lodge in Fernie. This is our base for the next few days of Fernie trail riding - Fernie overs over 80 incredible mountain bike trails to choose from, most just minutes from town. Tonight we'll dine in one of Fernie's excellent restaurants.
Day 2. The Fernie Epics
After a good sleep and hearty breakfast at our lodge, we'll build our bikes and spend the 1st hour of the morning working on mountain bike skills with our instructors. Once we've got the cobwebs cleared, it's off to the trails we go, heading out into the massive trail network of Fernie, with over 80 trails to choose from. We'll start off with a few warm up rides, come back to the lodge for lunch and a rest, then head out for a full afternoon of riding. We'll hit up some of the classics such as Roots and Roots Extension, and throw in a few of the soon-to-be-classic new and secret trails. When we come back to the lodge we'll shower up then prep for the always-fun communal meal!
Day 3. More Fernie fun
We're only beginning to scratch the surface of the Fernie trailriding scene. Today we might throw in a few longer rides, such as the epic Slunt trail (it's a slog and a grunt), well worth every ounce of effort on the way up for the incredible time-stands-still-and-the-world-is-perfect descent. Tonight we'll dine in one of Fernie's excellent restaurants - maybe some sushi, maybe a burger on the patio by the Elk River?
Day 4. Even more fun in Fernie (and a bit of rest)
After breakfast at the lodge, we'll have an optional morning ride up Dem Bones or another skills session. After returning to the lodge for lunch, you'll have the afternoon off to to rest your legs and explore the wonderful town of Fernie. There are myriad options for outdoor fun in this recreational paradise, including river tubing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, chairlift-assisted riding at Fernie Alpine Resort, fly fishing - you name it!
Day 5. Nipika Mountain Resort
After an early breakfast, we'll hop in the van for the drive to Nipika Mountain Resort, stopping for a soak in Radium Hot Springs. Nipika is a spectacular backcountry resort on the border with Kootenay National Park (part of the chain of National Parks that includes world-famous Banff and Jasper), surrounded by jagged peaks and handbuilt singletrack. The riding is sublime, as is the lodge. After we get our fill of the local trails, we'll enjoy another soak - this time in the resort's wood-fired hot tub. A few cold beverages await us before we retire to the lodge for an epic Rocky Mountain dinner.
Day 6. The Rocky Mountains Are Ours
We'll enjoy a full day of playing at our private singletrack paradise at Nipika, before returning to the lodge for dinner, perhaps an evening disc golf session, and a campfire under the stars.
Day 7. Banff National Park and Canmore, Alberta
After breakfast we'll squeeze in one last ride at Nipika before hopping in the van for a short and spectacular drive through Kootenay National Park, stopping in the town of Banff to get our tourist kicks (Banff is a must-see on any traveler's list!). We'll check in to our hotel in Canmore, then squeeze in a later afternoon ride on the Canmore trails, under the shadow of giant mountains such as the Three Sisters and Ha Ling Peak. Tonight we'll enjoy our final dinner and post-ride celebration together at a local patio.
Day 8. The best %*#@^!# trail ever !!!
The 'pot of gold' ride, this is the incredible, amazing, scintillating and stunning Jumping Pound / Cox Hill Ride. Imagine a challenging, switchbacking, singletrack climb up the side of a mountain, followed by lunch at the top. Then a ridge ride at 2185 metres (7000-ft) surrounded by the massive Rocky Mountains. Another challenging singletrack climb, then the icing on the cake, 7 kilometres of sweet singletrack and almost 930 metres (3000-ft) of vertical descent. We finish riding in the early afternoon and with huge grins fixed on our faces and a sad tear in our eyes, we'll hop in the van for a quick ride back to Calgary. Tonight you stay in a Calgary hotel (we can also drop you off at the airport) and celebrate your best week of riding ever, drink a beer (or more) with your new friends and relive the many, many highlights of an unforgettable week.
Arrival and Departure Airport
You should fly into and out of Calgary International Airport (YYC). Please see the schedule page for the exact pickup times for your particular trip. Please note: we do not book flights for our Riders - contact your local travel agent or use an online flight booking site to book your flights to Calgary.
Pickup & Drop-off Information
We offer a free airport pickup and dropoff service to Calgary airport. Please make sure to select this option when making your booking, or notifying us in advance if you decide to add this later.
The pickup point is Meeting Point A, at the information counter at the domestic arrivals area.
Our shuttle departs Calgary airport at 4 pm sharp. We will wait for delayed passengers until 5 pm at the absolute latest, but after 5 we have to leave (it is a 3-hour drive to Fernie and we typically have tired people who have been flying for most of the day). If you are experiencing delays with your flights, please call our BC office at +1.250.278-0364 as soon as possible, or call our toll-free line at 1-888-423-7849 (within North America). Please write down these numbers and keep them with you when you are travelling.
If you are unable to make it to the shuttle, you will have to arrange alternate transportation to Fernie. Please see 'extending your trip' below for information about private shuttles and the Greyhound bus.
On the last day of the trip, we ride until about 2:00 pm, then drive to Calgary (we will not be returning to Canmore), stopping first at our partner hotel (Sandman Airport Inn Calgary, with free airport shuttle -see below) to drop off those staying until the next day or longer. We then head to the airport to drop off those people who are flying out that night. n.b. if you are planning on flying home on the last night of the trip, we recommend you not book anything departing before 7:00 pm, to take into account any unexpected delays.
After dropping people off at the airport, the van will return to Fernie, arriving at approximately 8 pm. If you have made your own way to Fernie for the start of the trip and need to return to get to your vehicle, you are welcome to join our guides on the return to Fernie, free of charge.
Extending Your Trip
If you want to extend your trip by arriving early or staying on after your trip, there are a few things you should know:
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We can arrange special pickups if you are arriving before the scheduled pickup date, however the price for a private shuttle is expensive ($400 CAN). An alternative is taking the Greyhound bus to Fernie from Calgary. There are 2 buses/day: departing 6:30 am, arriving 12:05 pm
departing 10:10 pm, arriving 3:05 am If you are taking the bus, please let us know and we'll arrange to have a taxi meet you at the bus depot for the five-minute drive to our lodge. - You can book accommodation at the Sandman Airport Inn in Calgary before or after your trip. Please contact the Sandman Airport Inn directly and mention Sacred Rides for a discounted rate.
- You can book extra nights at our lodge in Fernie, depending on availablity. Price is $45/person/night - please contact our office via email.
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If you want information on places to visit and things to see in British Columbia or the Banff area after/before your trip, here are a couple of useful websites:
Tourism British Columbia
Banff National Park website
Many of our clients choose to visit the Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise area after their trip. The easiest way to do this is to arrange a shuttle to Banff or Canmore when you get to the Calgary airport. These can be booked onsite or in advance by visiting the Banff Airport Taxi website
Trip Cancellations
You may cancel your reservation with no penalty within 7 days of booking. After the first week, our cancellation policy is as follows:
-60 days notice or more: $250 cancellation fee per person, or $100 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-30-60 days notice: $500 cancellation fee per person, or $250 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-less than 30 days notice: the full trip price is forfeited.
Please note that our cancellation policy is strict, and we ask that you do not request an exception to our policy. For this reason we strongly urge you to purchase affordable trip cancellation insurance.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.
You can purchase insurance from our partners at bikeflights.com via our insurance page
Bike Rentals
Santa Cruz Blur LT full-suspension rentals can be arranged through one of the local shops at a price of $399 CAD for the week and added to your booking at checkout.
Travelling with your bike
If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, we recommend one of two options:
1) if you think you may be travelling more than once with your bike, then we recommend purchasing a purpose-made bike bag. This will protect your bike from damages, and makes shlepping your bike around a little bit easier than with a rigid box or cardboard box. We sell beautiful handmade bags by PikaPackworks in the United States. For more information, visit our online store.
2) If you think this is the only trip you'll take with your bike for a while, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.
Alternately, you can courier your bike to Ski Base in Fernie. For $40 they will take delivery of your bike and assemble it (there is no charge if you don't want them to assemble the bike). We will pick up your bike and have it waiting for you at our lodge. Please visit their website for contact information and notify them in advance that you are shipping your bike, and also notify our office.
What type of bike should you bring?
We recommend you bring a solid all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 4-5" of travel, and no heavier than 30 pounds since there are several long climbs. A bike with at least 2 chainrings up front is mandatory, as is front suspension.
Spare Parts for your Bike and other gear to bring
Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts and gear with you to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:
- rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
- extra set of front and rear brake pads
- extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old
- 4 tubes
- 4 extra spokes
- shock pump
- chain lube
- multipurpose tool for trailside repair (including chain break)
Assembling your bike when you arrive
We have bike stands and a full toolset available for assembling your bike once you arrive. You can build your bike the night you arrive, or the next morning. We will have a prearranged time for building bikes and our staff are on hand for assistance.
Accommodation
Accommodation during this trip is in beautiful locally-owned lodges and hotels, on a shared basis. You will be paired with a roommate of the same sex for the duration of the trip. If you would like a single room to yourself, you can pay the single supplement fee during the booking process.
Trip Additions
We have a few add-ons that will make your trip even more memorable. These can be added when you make your booking or added later:
- post-ride therapeutic massage with a RMT(1 hour): $100 Cdn
- extra nights at our lodge in Fernie: $45 Cdn/night/per person/double
Weather and Clothing
The weather in the Rocky mountains can be quite cool in the evenings, and at higher altitudes during the day, with lows between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, so we recommend you bring long pants and a jacket for the evenings. Daytime highs are usually quite warm, with highs between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. We recommend you bring some type of shell to keep you warm and dry at higher altitudes in case of inclement weather.
Packing List
- comfortable clothes for riding, such as biking jerseys and padded shorts. 2+ sets are ideal, 1 is a must.
- helmet
- bike gloves (2 sets is ideal)
- lightweight, weather-resistant outerwear for riding in inclement weather.
- warm clothing such as sweaters and fleece jackets and pants for nighttime.
- swimwear
- sunglasses/eye protection for sunny and/or muddy days.
- hydration system that can carry at least 2 litres (bottles and/or Camelbak)
- toiletries i.e. toothbrush, shampoo, soap
- towel
- camera
- sunscreen and insect repellent
Passports & Visas
All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, please contact your local Canadian embassy, or passport office.
Emergency Contacts
If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:
Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you feel that you need to contact us outside of office hours, our BC office can be contacted at +1.250.278-0364
If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Health Requirements
Vaccinations are not required for Canada, and Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Should you experience illness or injury while in Canada, rest assured that you will receive the best care possible.
Fitness Requirements
You should have a moderately high level of fitness and be able to bike for up to four hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip. This is one of our most challenging trips, and you need to be prepared.
We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. We have partnered with Fit for Trips to develop customized training programs for you in advance of your trip. We recommend beginning your training at least 2 months prior to your trip. For more information, please visit the Sacred Rides page at Fit for Trips.
Safety & Security
To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.
Meals
On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip price. Dinners can be taken in local restaurants or you can use the kitchens at our lodges (from past experience, most groups decide together whether they will eat out or stay in on a particular night). You should budget $10 Cdn per meal prepared in-kitchen, or $15-$20 per dinner in local restaurants (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).
Other expenses
Aside from meals, there are no required additional expenses for this trip, but you might like to take spending money for such things as souvenir shopping, nightlife and Internet cafes. The easiest way to deal with spending money is to withdraw money from an ATM/bank machine, which are readily available.
Laundry
All of the lodges and hotels on this trip have laundry service.
Internet
All of the towns where we are staying have internet cafés, and most of our accommodations also have wireless internet access on-site.
Tipping
Gratuities of 10-20% at restaurants are common in Canada. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity is $20-$100 per guide.
Useful Links
For additional information about traveling in British Columbia, visit:
Tourism BC website
Canadian Tourism Commission website
Currency exchange
The Canadian currency is the Canadian dollar (CAN). For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator
Our Guarantee
We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.
Lead Guide and Lead Instructor.
Johanna is our lead guide and coach for B.C, Utah, Mexico and Patagonia. After learning to ride on the North Shore of Vancouver and in Whistler in early 2000, she has been coaching since 2003 after racing elite DH and XC and guiding since 2007. Living in Fernie for the last 5 years, she's blessed with amazing local trails as well as traveling and riding all over North America. Johanna is Certified by CMIC, Endless Biking, NCCP, Yoga Alliance, Sports Nutrition, Advanced Wilderness First Aid, she also teaches yoga and surfing in Mexico and Patagonia as well as Essential Yoga Studio in Fernie. |
Driver.
Rarely seen off the water until landing in Fernie, Gordo's adjusting to the epic terrain nicely. Having not really ridden a bike since leaving Ontario, it's often a fun day riding with him. He's not use to "multi-speed" bikes , disc brakes or suspension. If your looking for something to do on the off days, just ask him. If he's not driving he'll probably take you rafting, tell you of a lake or swim hole close by. A great source of knowledge, stories and music, you probably won't have to ask! |
Lead Guide, Assistant Guide and Lead Instructor.
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Lead Guide and Assistant Guide.
Dennis grew up riding the tropical jungles of north Australia. He has done it all: Australian fourcross champion, professional world cup mechanic, trail builder for the World's biggest mountain bike trail construction company, and now a lead guide for Sacred Rides! |
Lead Guide and Assistant Guide.
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 British Columbia mountain biking |
 Canyon Creek Trail, Golden, BC |
 Cox Hill/Jumpingpound Ridge |
 Slunt Trail, Fernie, BC |
 Verboten Wald, Fernie, BC |
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Airport
What's Included
- 7 nights accommodation in beautiful backcountry lodges and hotels
- 7 days of guided mountain biking in the Rocky Mountains with experienced, certified guides
- Healthy, hearty breakfasts, lunches, and 2 dinners
- Transportation during the trip in our air-conditioned 12-passenger van
- Admission to provincial and national parks
- Full bike repair and maintenance toolset available at all times
- 2 morning skills sessions with our guides/instructors
For More Information
Send us your questions by email
