The story of the Kamloops Bike Ranch

Nestled in the heart of Kamloops, British Columbia, the Kamloops Bike Ranch has become a hub for mountain biking enthusiasts around the world. Cheryl Beattie, president of the Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre (KPCC) and one of the original members of the Bike Ranch inception team, recalls the park’s humble beginnings. “The Ranch is a 26-hectare park located right in the city of Kamloops,” Cheryl explains. “It’s an iconic part of Kamloops’ mountain bike history, with a diverse set of trails, a jump park and a new Velosolutions pump track area.”

But the Ranch wasn’t always the well-organized park it is today. Its origins are rooted in an effort to manage the city’s growing collection of unofficial riding spots. “The idea was to provide a place for this kind of riding in hopes of curbing the random builds throughout the green spaces in the city,” Cheryl says. Before the Ranch, Kamloops riders had a passion for building trails, but there wasn’t a sanctioned space for these projects.

Bringing the vision to life

The vision for Kamloops Bike Ranch came to life in 2005 through the combined efforts of local riders and city officials. “It was a local team effort of riders to bring this project to fruition,” Cheryl notes. The project gained momentum with the inclusion of a UCI-compliant BMX race track, which helped secure funding from the City of Kamloops as part of their “tournament capital” initiative. This strategic move not only provided the initial funding for the trails but also helped the city embrace the growing biking culture.

The land itself became available through a creative land trade. “There were a few sets of dirt jumps in the area we now call ‘the corral,’” Cheryl explains. “The area was owned by a different landowner who made a land trade with the City of Kamloops, bringing a significant portion of the land we now have as part of the network.”

Global and local impact

Since its inception, the Kamloops Bike Ranch has grown into more than just a local hangout. Riders from all over the world travel to Kamloops each year to experience the Ranch’s trails, jumps and pump tracks. “The Ranch brings riders from all over the world all spring and summer long, so it has great tourism benefits for the city,” Cheryl says proudly. But beyond tourism, the Ranch is a community asset, giving local riders a space to enjoy their sport year-round. “I’ve spoken to a number of…