Sicamous Gets $280K Mountain Bike Trail Funding
Sicamous, a Canadian town known for houseboats and snowmobiles, has received $280,000 to develop mountain biking infrastructure. The funding will support expanded climbing access, new downhill trails, and significant parking upgrades at the growing trail network. The investment aims to transform Sicamous into a more attractive destination for mountain bikers in a region with limited riding options.
- The $280,000 originates from the Economic Opportunity Fund, a provincial program designed to compensate areas impacted by dams and reservoirs. - This investment funds Phase 2 of the Owlhead Mountain Bike Park, which currently consists of a single climbing trail and one intermediate downhill trail that opened in the summer of 2025. - The expansion will add a new climbing trail, another intermediate downhill trail, and a technical black diamond trail for advanced riders. - The project, a collaboration with the non-profit Shuswap Trail Alliance, also includes significant upgrades to an upper parking area to create mid-mountain access. - Officials anticipate the new trails will attract visitors during the spring and fall, extending the tourism season beyond its summer peak. - This trail development is part of a larger regional focus on outdoor recreation, complementing the ongoing construction of the Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail Trail. - The investment reflects a growing trend in British Columbia, where mountain biking tourism has a significant economic impact; for example, it generated $26 million in visitor spending in Squamish in 2023. - The Shuswap Trail Alliance, which is leading the project, is a 20-year-old organization that manages over 200 kilometers of authorized trails in the region.
