By Dierdre Heim
Are you’re feeling that summer has arrived and you have no place to go? Do you feel the need to get away from the city and explore some of British Columbia’s back country on foot or on wheels? If you’ve answered yes to both these questions then a one or two day trip to Sun Peaks Resort will be all you will have to do to have this need fulfilled!
Sun Peaks Resort is centrally located in southern British Columbia, only a 45 minute drive from Kamloops. This mountain resort boasts a summit elevation of 2,152m (7,060’) and a village elevation of 1,255m (4,117’). It also has 15 hiking trails, 39 bike park trails (70KM stretch) with 255 features and a bike park vertical reaching 595m (1,954’). An 18 hole golf course is wrapped around the edge of the village that is also home to a tranquil creek that flows into a fly fishing lake.
During the warmer months at Sun Peaks you can park your vehicle and take advantage of the convenient village layout by riding your bike or walking with the kids to the Sunburst Express chairlift, hotels, eateries, shopping, the swimming pool, spas, and a variety of activities. The Valley Trail is the safest route to travel by foot or bicycle in the resort. The trail winds through the entire resort. In the evening the trail is also lit for your safety. All Bike Park trails lead right into the village, so it’s easy to connect with your friends and family after spending a day on the mountain.
Kids Mountain Adventure Camps are being offered all summer long giving kids the chance to learn about and experience horseback trail rides, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and so much more. The Sports Centre features an outdoor swimming pool, ‘kid’s pool’, hot tub, two tennis courts, and basketball court. The Bike Park at Sun Peaks is not just for the extreme. A wide variety of lift access trails off the Sunburst Express chairlift, as well as a developed cross country trail system in the lower sections of the valley that are suitable for families is also offered at this resort.
With 7,000 beds in total you’ll find a wide variety of accommodation options from hotels to condos to town homes all within a short distance of the slopes. The village has numerous dining options, a restaurant or café for every mood from casual family dining, to fine dining, to grab-and-go pizza, there is a place for every taste and budget. After dinner there is even a Nightclub to dance the night away. For more information visit www.sunpeaksresort.com
