1 day itinerary - #OkanaganExploring - Vernon

Heading to SilverStar Mountain Resort for the bike park’s opening weekend was even better than I had hoped for, and my expectations were high.

By Mark Matthews

Our visit to O’ Keefe Ranch was a first-time ranch experience for me and my girlfriend, Chelsea. Leaving the sounds of the highway, just north of Vernon, B.C., behind and stepping onto the soft dirt pathways of the working historic ranch was a refreshing experience.

#OkanaganExploring Sipping his morning pick-me-up out of a coffee mug featuring a photo of his family, Sun Country Cycles owner Ricardo Smith was gracious enough to meet me as I began my Vernon cycling journey. I arrived first thing in the morning and the Sun Country parking lot was already full of customers - either dropping off their bikes to get serviced or picking up rentals like me.

SilverStar is famous in the summer for its ridiculously fun bike park, but the hiking is often overlooked by the large influx of people who come up just to ride.

Vernon, B.C. – The story of the Okanagan Valley can be told through a natural corridor that runs along the valley; moving from the Syilx (Okanagan) band to gold-rush-era miners and turn-of-the-century rail lines. Today, the former Canadian Northern rail corridor once again connects communities from Coldstream to Kelowna, this time as the Okanagan Rail Trail. It’s a unique addition to the ever-expanding bike trail system of the Okanagan. 

The aha moments come thick and fast while cycling the section of the Okanagan Rail Trail that hugs glinting green Kalamalka Lake. There are jaw-dropping vistas galore along the 23-kilometre glacial body of water.

Bob Vedan is living the active lifestyle dream in Vernon.

“My trifecta is skiing in the morning, golfing in the afternoon, and curling at night,” the 20-year Silverstar Mountain Host Bob Vedan told me over a cup of hot chocolate in the village on a snowy Friday afternoon. He completed his trifecta last year, and he’s going for it again this year.