If you can balance yourself on two wheels, then Grand Forks has some treats for you. Tucked away in what some people call “The Sunshine Valley”, Grand Fork’s long cycle season offers more than you’ll find in most Canadian cities, including:
- Easy family friendly rail-grade (aka flat) trail rides, with countless panoramic views
- An enthusiastic BMX community
- Road cycling ride loops with minimal traffic
- And top tier mountain biking
Mountain Biking
While Grand Forks itself is host some spectacular trail riding, it would be foolish to ignore the world class trails surrounding the area. Christina Lake, about 10 minutes down HWY 3, has a vast network of trails, and some of the best pure downhill biking you will find. Coming in from west, you’ll find long rail-grade networks that can take you… well pretty much as far are you willing to go.
That said, those of us lucky enough to live right in Grand Forks know full well that some of the best rides are found right out our front door.
Harpold and Saddle mountain are two of the single-track trail rides that will challenge even the most experienced of riders. But the payoff is always worth it, with multiple views of the entire city – and with a climate like this one, you are going to see people riding these trails 6 months a year, or more.
Trails like Fisherman’s Creek and White Arrow are diverse enough for beginners to ride, while entertaining and challenging enough to keep our local pros coming back for more.
A blog really isn’t the place to do these trails, and all of the others justice… if you have read this far, all you need to know is… bring your bike, there is a lot of trail to ride! Check out this TRAILFORKS link for a bit of an overview!
Family Friendly Biking
While it must be mentioned that many of the mountain biking trails, like White Arrow, are definitely family friendly – Grand Forks offers some purely recreational trail riding that simply cannot be found in most other places.
The City is lucky to have the Trans-Canada Trail cut right through the heart of Grand Forks. The great thing about this trail, and numerous other rail-grade trails in Grand Forks is that the riding is simple. On a rail-grade trail, you are not going to face steep climbs or descents, nor any other dangers – it is as family friendly as trail riding gets! The Trans-Canada Trail is also largely paved in Grand Forks, and follows the Kettle river – which is a good thing on those 35-degree days.
Downtown Grand Forks also hosts a number bike racks, so stopping in for a drink to cool down at the Boardroom Cafe or Wooden Spoon is always another great option on those hot summer days.
If you hop onto the TRAILFORKS link provided, and keep your eyes to the “green & blue trails” you will find a number of family friendly trail segments. All well maintained, with wide-open space, spectacular views, and high reward for taking your time to make the adventure.
Long Story Short – Bring Your Bike!
Photo credit to Bob Stanhope and Peter Kalasz