Kimberley is one of my favourite places to ride with the family. Two distinct riding areas, trails for every age and ability, and a campground that feels like it was designed with bike families in mind — it's hard to get bored here, which is exactly why we keep coming back year after year. Our youngest learned to ride at that campground, and our oldest got their first taste of shuttling on Bootleg Mountain. That kind of variety, all in one spot, is hard to beat.
Where We Stayed — Kimberley Riverside Campground
Kimberley Riverside Campground might be the most bike-friendly campground I've ever stayed at — and I mean that in the best way. Kids on bikes everywhere, flat terrain with just enough dirt path on the side to keep things interesting, and a whole community of families who are in the same boat. If your kids need a little nudge to get rolling, this place does that naturally. The lower loop, Pine Meadows, is the one to know — it sits right by the playground and the river, making it the perfect after-dinner spin. Our kids lapped it three times on the first evening and would have kept going if we'd let them. It was the perfect place to stay, which also gave us easy access to all the trails that Kimberley has to offer.
Area 1 — Nordic Centre (Happy Hans Loop + Hans Up)
The Nordic Centre is just up the road from the ski hill and has a proper trail network — which is both the appeal and the catch.
Happy Hans Loop (Green)
We rode the Happy Hans loop with both kids — our 5 and 8 year old, both on 20" bikes — and it hit the sweet spot for our youngest. It had small climbs, fun rollers, and just enough descent to feel rewarding without being overwhelming. This 2.5km loop was challenging enough that he felt proud of himself, but not so hard that the fun ended with trailside tears. Highly recommend this trail for an early ride, looking for a confidence boost.
For our oldest, this loop was too easy. He's a capable rider who's ready for blue trails with rollers and small jumps — so we had to find him something with a bit more bite. We chose Hans Up.
Hans Up (Blue)
Hans up follows the main Happy Hans loop in parallel but traverses the hill higher up. As such the climbs and descents are a little more demanding. It was fun for us to still see Happy Hans from up above so the brothers could still see each other. The two trails merge back together just before the skills park/parking lot.
Fair warning: the Nordic Centre trail network is a maze. We stopped four or five times to check the map to make sure we were still on track. My advice would be to download the Trailforks map for Kimberley before you leave the campground. The last thing you want is to end up on the wrong side of the hill, working your way back to the car with a tired kid who's done for the day.
The Skills Park
The skills park at the entrance to the Nordic Centre is also worth a visit. Our kids made a beeline for it at the end of our ride and wanted to try every feature they could. It's the kind of place where you can let them loose while you catch your breath, rehydrate, and enjoy a snack in peace. It was the perfect way to end our ride.
Area 2 — Bootleg Mountain
Bootleg is Kimberley's shuttle mountain, and we leaned into that fully and guilt-free.
First run — parents only. We did the first run as a parents-only warm-up, shuttling Pinch and Roll into Purple People Pleaser. It was the right call. It gave us a feel for the terrain before deciding what to put the boys on, and honestly, it was a nice reminder that we're riders too.
Second run — with the kids. For the second run, we split by ability. Our youngest, five years old, rode Spicy Kitty — a super fun, well-built trail with a few optional features that were just right for his level. Our oldest got NIMBY, a blue flow trail with some creative optional features worth pausing to scope before committing. The second lap on NIMBY was even better — he was warmed up, knew what was coming, and could start pushing his lines a little more. Both trails were a perfect match for where each of them is at right now.
We shuttled both times. The climbing trail — Unicorn Hunting — is the way up if your legs (and kids!) are game. This climb is a bit long for short legs. The shuttle made sense.
Area 3 - Northstar Rails to Trails
Northstar Rails to Trails is a 26km gravel/asphalt trail that connects Kimberley with Cranbrook. Worthwhile for an easy pedal is to start right across from the Kimberley Aquatic Centre and head towards Maryswille. The trail passes by the Kimberley Bike Park: perfect for a few laps on the pump track. Our youngest (5yr) got a little tired at the end on the way back, so make sure to budget your energy (or bring lots of power-ups!).
Quick Notes for Planning
- Happy Hans loop: best for kids 5+ with some trail experience, 20" bike minimum
- Bootleg for families: shuttle, pick an appropriate trail per kid, and do a parent-only lap first if you haven't ridden it before
- Kimberley Riverside Campground books up — reserve early in summer
Kimberley is worth a dedicated riding trip. Two areas with different flavours, a campground that gets it, and trails that are great for any age. Add this stop to your family biking list.