Rocky Mountain Rambler
Ride Highlights
- The spectacular Rocky Mountains
- World-famous Nipika Mountain Resort
- Radium Hot Springs
- The massive trail network of Fernie
Release your inner beast.
The Rocky Mountains of Canada are one of the wildest places on Earth, their thousands of square kilometres of wilderness a major corridor for the migration of all kinds of wild animals, from mountain goats to bighorn sheep to grizzly bears. Your inner wild beast will feel right at home here amongst all those acres of great outdoors, as you explore that wilderness from the seat of your steed on this amazing 6-day trip.
With 3 days of riding in Fernie, one of the best mountain bike towns in North America, and 2 days at Nipika Mountain Resort, a private and remote singletrack paradise adjoining Kootenay National Park, you'll get your fill of some of the world's best mountain biking on this Ride. Spectacular vistas await at the top of every trail - just remember to pick up your jaw every time it drops at the scenery!
Is This Ride For You?
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"Corey was a great addition, and Ryan gave excellent instruction while we rode. All the guides were very friendly and accommodating to everyone's needs."
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"Thanks so much for making a great trip possible! We had a blast on the Fernie 7-day trip. Your team of guides was a winning combo. Cory's coaching skills totally revitalized my riding. He went out of his way to provide extra and individualized skills training and feedback for many of us, amping up the value of the week significantly. With Johanna organizing and leading, he was really free to float around, just making us all better riders.
Thanks again for making all the fun possible. I shall definitely keep the recommendations rolling."
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"The mountain biking was mind-blowing, and the guides were very safety-conscious and lots of fun!"
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"It was truly epic. I am born and raised in Toronto and I have never connected to this country like I did this past weekend. Fernie is an amazing place for biking and when you partner it with a great Ride Guide it can create a life changing moments. I had Sil for a ride guide and he was the main reason that ride went from good to great. He set-up a ride that took us through the best that Fernie had to offer customizing the ride to meet our challenging requests. Without Sil, I would not have the courage nor the capability to do what I did on that ride. I am a better and happier rider thanks to Sil.
I was fatigued and heart broken when the weekend came to an end. I am not sure when I will ever have a chance to do this again but not only will I try, I will also join your ambassador program."
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"The mountain biking was mind-blowing, and the guides were very safety-conscious and lots of fun!"
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"The lodge in Fernie was the best place I have ever stayed and I have stayed at some of the best B&Bs in England!"
n.b. the Rocky Mountain Rambler itinerary follows the first 6 days of our Rocky Mountain Singletrack ride.
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
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! If you want to keep riding, our guides are always happy to indulge you!
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. Rocky Mountain Playground
Spend the day of playing at our private singletrack paradise at Nipika, before returning to the lodge for an early dinner and the shuttle back to Calgary, arriving at approximately 9 pm. You may either fly out that evening or spend the night and fly out the next morning.
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 an airport pickup and dropoff service to Calgary airport. Cost is $80 Cdn for both pickup and dropoff. This can be added to your trip when you make your booking.
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 +1-250-946-6017 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, you will ride until about 4:00 pm, have an early dinner, then transfer to Calgary via shuttle, arriving at Calgary airport at approximately 9 pm. Should you wish to fly out that evening, we recommend not booking anything that departs before 11:00 pm. Otherwise, you can spend the night in Calgary at the Calgary Airport Sandman Inn and fly out the next day (the Sandman has free shuttles to the airport)
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 amIf 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.
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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
Visit our cancellations page to read our cancellations policy.
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
If you don't feel like hauling your bike to BC, an alternative is renting a bike. We offer beautiful DeVinci Remix SL3 bikes for rent. These are quality cross-country bikes, purchased new each year, and built to handle the demanding terrain of British Columbia. Price is $249 Cdn for the duration of the trip. This can be booked online when making your initial booking, or added later. We recommend booking your bike rental at least 2 months in advance to ensure we have your size available. Here are the specs:
FORK Marzocchi 44 TST2 140mm w/remote
REAR SHOCK Fox Float RP2
REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM X.9
FRONT DERAILLEUR SRAM X.7
PEDALS Crank Brothers Smarty
FRONT WHEEL Mach 1 MX Disc/DareDevil 15mm/DT Champion
REAR WHEEL Mach 1 MX Disc/Shimano M475/DT Champion
TIRE Maxxis Ignitor 26x2.1"
BRAKES Avid Juicy 3 160mm rotor hydraulic disc
please note: our rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you are used to riding with SPDs, we recommend bringing your pedals and shoes with you - we'll swap the pedals when you arrive.
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 hotels and backcountry lodge, 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 +1-250-946-6017.
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. Our coaches have develop a comprehensive pre-trip training program - visit the pre-trip training page for more details.
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 and 2 dinners (at Nipika Resort) 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! |
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 British Columbia mountain biking |
 Canyon Creek Trail, Golden, BC |
 Slunt Trail, Fernie, BC |
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Airport
What's Included
- 5 nights accommodation in beautiful backcountry lodges and hotels
- 5 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
For More Information
Send us your questions by email
