iN PHOTOS: Fat bikers float on snowy trails in Kamloops, Okanagan

Riders on fat bikes don’t have to stop cycling when the snow falls, they can glide along easily through snowy trails and over icy landscapes in Kamloops and the Okanagan all winter long.

Fat bikes have wide, oversized tires with low tire pressures that give the bikes extra grip on ice and allow them to float over the snow. There are numerous groomed and uncleared natural trail networks in the region that take riders through forested, winter wonderlands.

Isobel Lake Winter Recreation Trails in Kamloops offer roughly 30 kilometres of single track machined groomed trails designed for every skill level. The trails go through fields and forests with views of frozen Isobel Lake.

Overseen by the Kamloops Mountain Bike Trail Association, it takes local volunteers roughly five hours per groom using snowmobiles and specialized equipment.

To get there from Kamloops, travel north up the Lac Du Bois Road, turn right onto McQueen Lake Forest Service Road and follow the signs to the trails. Go here for information on Isobel Lake trail conditions, fat bike best practises and grooming reports.

Located in Kamloops at 2000 Hillside Drive, Kenna Cartwright Nature Park has more than 55 km of uncleared nature trails meandering through roughly 800 hectares on Mount Dufferin, offering panoramic views of the city, lake and rivers, according to the city’s website.

Trails range from easy to extremely difficult with ratings indicated at trail junctions.

The park has trail heads at Hillside Drive past Dufferin Elementary School, at the north end of Pacific Way, at Home Depot and at Bunker Road behind the recycling area.

In Kelowna, Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park has more than 150 kms of single track multi-use trails that range from gentle to technical with patches of forest, rocky features and open viewpoints along the routes.

Overseen by Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan in collaboration with BC Parks and partner organizations, the trails are maintained by a community of volunteers, according to their website.

To access the Crawford bike trails from downtown Kelowna, leave Highway 97 and head south on Gordon Drive, then turn left onto Casorso Road. Follow it until it turns into Bedford Road, drive straight through an intersection onto Stewart Road East until you get to the parking lot.

The South Okanagan offers numerous trail networks for winter fat bikers, featuring rolling hills, dense forest and stunning views. In Penticton, Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park has eight kms of groomed and natural trails of varying difficulty levels to enjoy. The trails can be accessed by driving south on Lakeside Road from the city. Take a left on Smyth Drive and follow it to the park entrance.

In the North Okanagan, there are fat biking trails in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park and Ellison Provincial Park, both near Vernon, managed and groomed by the North Okanagan Cycling Society. Within the city, there are some beginner trails Becker Bike Park. For more details, check out the North Okanagan Cycling Society website or the Vernon Tourism website.

There are also groomed trails at ski hills throughout the region, including at Apex Mountain Ski Resort near Penticton, Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, Vernon’s SilverStar Mountain Resort and Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops.