Vernon ATV Club

Saturday & Monday Thanksgiving Rides

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Ride Recap

Two fun rides on the Thanksgiving long weekend.
The Saturday ride visiting the Trinity Ricardo trail network north of Silver Star Provincial Park. After slogging through a tight trail tangled with blowdown and alder, the ride stopped at the Vernon Snowmobile Association Armstrong Cabin for lunch. After lunch the ride continued to the park boundary then back along the snowmobile trails to the Slide Trail with the ginormous rock overhanging the trail (check Vernon ATV Trail Riders group for photos).

The Monday ride’s mission was to summit Terrace Mountain then wander the area trails. After riding through increasingly larger road deactivations the group finally was at the base of Terrace Mountain, a quick squirt up the switchbacks took the group to the top for a spectacular 360 degree view. Fortunately the sun poked through a few times and the wind stayed down enough to remain atop Terrace Mountain to enjoy the view before descending to continue the ride to explore area FSR and old logging roads.

10:00am Start Saturday for Trinity Ricardo Ride

Trinity Ricardo is a trail network to the north of Silver Star Provincial Park accessed from Trinity Road in the summer and used as snowmobile trails from within the park in the winter.

A convoy will be leaving the Tim Hortons on 58th Avenue across from Walmart Vernon at 8:30am, the next stop is the Enderby Chamber of Commerce at 700 Railway Street. Leaving the Enderby Chamber of Commerce at 9:15am for the gravel pit staging area on Durnin Road. The preride safety meeting will start at 10:00am. Map to meeting locations and staging.

Trinity Ricard reaches 1800m elevation so we may encounter cold, wet and even snowy conditions so come prepared for all conditions.

A single tank of fuel will be more than enough for this ride, trail difficulty will range from beginner to intermediate with speeds reaching up to 50kmh on FSR.

We will be stopping at the Vernon Snowmobile Association Armstrong cabin that has an outhouse.

Pack a lunch, this will be a leisurely ride with a few stops and opportunities to enjoy the views along the way. The ride should be wrapped up by 4:00pm.

10:00am Start Monday for Westside Road Ride

NOTE: Thank you to the BC Wildfire service for discussing our request to access the Whiterock Lake fire closure area. Our request has been declined so we are moving this ride a little further south to Terrace Mountain which is outside the fire closure area.

Our usual convoy leaves the Tim Horton’son 58th Avenue across from Walmart Vernon at 8:30am for Terrace Mountain Road on the Westside. We will wait at the bottom of Terrace Mountain Road (just past the LaCasa Resort development) until 9:15am then will drive up until we find a suitable area to park and unload safely along the road, the preride safety meeting starts at 10:00am. Map of meeting location to Terrace Mountain Road.

Ride speed with reach up to 50kmh on Forest Service Roads, ride difficulty will be beginner to intermediate with assistance should we encounter difficult obstacles. We may pass recreation sites with outhouse facilities so plan accordingly.

Come prepared for all weather, bring a lunch and your camera as there are lots of vantages and viewpoints along the ride.

Bring extra fuel as we’d like to explore a loop so we’re not riding the same roads/trails on the way out and back. The plan is to be back at the staging area by 5:00pm.

Fly Hills – Save Your Photos Day Ride

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10:00am start Sunday September 26

Check the maps below for directions, the Salmon Arm Snowblazers parking lot isn’t easy to find so study the map or join the convoy leaving Tim Horton’s on 58th Street Vernon at 8:30am.

This is going to be a slightly faster ride with speeds up to 80kmh on open Forest Service Roads and a pace of 30-50kmh on trails. If you’re not able to maintain 30-50kmh on trails please check back for future rides to attend.

The Fly Hills has an amazing variety of trails and numerous viewpoints.

When
Join the convoy leaving Tim Hortons on 58th Street Vernon at 8:30am. We are aiming to have our pre-ride safety meeting and being ready to ride at 10:00am.

Where
The Salmon Arm Snowblazers trail system staging area we’re using is west of Salmon Arm. Please review the map below or join the convoy leaving Vernon at 8:30am.

Trail Difficulty Rating
Intermediate level and above riders will enjoy this ride which combines a mix of Forest Service Road, old logging/skid trails and snowmobile trails.

Ride Speed
Speeds will reach up to 80kmh on open Forest Service Roads and will be at a sustained 30-50kmh on trail sections. Please skip this ride if you can’t do this speed, there will be more leisurely rides in the coming weeks.

Trailside Bathrooms
We are riding past a few recreation sites and snowmobile cabins for those needing an outhouse.

Viewpoints and Breaks
There will be a few breaks to take in the views, for snacks and a longer lunch break with a campfire so bring something to toast over the fire.

What to Bring

  • Food and drink for a day riding
  • Clothes for all weather conditions, we ride in all conditions!
  • Your standard ATV emergency supplies
  • A chainsaw or handsaw, we haven’t ridden here all summer so there may be trees down.
  • A single tank of fuel will be adequate for the entire ride.

Vernon ATV Club and events are open to everyone, we encourage new riders to come out for a couple of rides to meet club members, find new trails and get a sense of the club before joining.

Great First Ride Back!

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Mara Mountain Lookout is always a great ride, 19 machines came out for the first ride back after the extended self-enforced shutdown during the extreme fire danger risk this summer.

The weather didn’t look great but the dark clouds held onto their contents and the temperature was warm enough for an extended stay atop the windy lookout.

After a quick safety meeting and discussion about the importance of staying on the trail in the alpine the group climbed to the 2,240m (7,350′) elevation at the old fire lookout. Thanks to David and Alex for placing the PLEASE STAY ON TRAIL signs to help spread the message of the importance of staying on the trail in the alpine.

What’s Next, Where to Ride?

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Our ride leaders are either busy or recovering from injuries for the next weekend or two so there probably won’t be any organized club rides so head over to the Vernon ATV Trail Riders Facebook Group. The group is a great way to ask questions, share photos and meet up with other riders looking to head out on the trails.

Try these rides

Create a free account on GaiaGPS to download the GPX files (or a discount on Gaia GPS Premium for extra features) for these rides, load the files on your GPS then get out there.

The Epic 250 isn’t for everyone but it isn’t as long as it sounds. Starting from King Eddy staging with 20 litres (or more) of extra fuel, we did it in just under 10 hours with several stops and a maximum speed of around 60kmh.

Skimikin Lake (parking lot before entering the campground) northwest of Salmon Arm is the staging area for this fun ride that accesses a vast trail network of forest service roads and snowmobile trails.

Mt Ida is northwest of Enderby on Deep Creek Road and has an amazing network of trails with views of Salmon Arm and Shuswap lake and diverse trails from rainforest cedars to Okanagan dryland fir/pine forest and everything in between.

Trinity Ricardo Trail Network is a hidden gem that takes riders up to the Silver Star Park Boundary (no ATVs in the park!). Tolko is logging in this area so weekday riding is not advised and watch as they may be logging on weekends with winter on the way.

Mara Mountain Ride – Sunday September 5

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Mara Mountain let the voting for the first ride back of fall. Other rides were close so watch for those areas in coming weeks.

There are multiple meeting points and a new staging area so read on.

  1. Departing Tim Horton’s on 58th Avenue across from Walmart at 8:45am
  2. Departing the Enderby Chamber of Commerce at 700 Railway Street at 9:30am
  3. Departing Beattie Road staging at 10:30am

Directions & map to Beattie Road staging (written directions below)

NOTE FOR WIDE SIDE X SIDES
If you ride a wider side x side you may need to do some trail trimming to fit the first section of trail. By starting on Beattie Road we cut out the first section of road riding and replace it with great trail but it is grown in some spots so if you’re 64″ plus bring a chainsaw.

RIDING OFF THE TRAIL
There is zero tolerance for off trail riding on this ride. The area has seen an increase in off trail riders and is on the BC Government’s radar which means it is in danger of closure. The ride rules will be explained at the pre-ride meeting.

Trail Difficulty Rating – Intermediate
The lower portions of the ride are on FSR, as we climb into the alpine the trail becomes much rougher due to exposed rocks. There is one point on the trail where there is a short rock ledge which most people climb over easily, there will be spotters in place to assist less experienced riders should they need assistance.

Come Prepared for All Conditions
The Vernon ATV Club rides go ahead regardless of conditions so come ready for sun, wind, rain and at this elevation it may even snow. If it’s nasty and cold we likely won’t go up to the lookout and will explore the trails at the north end of Mabel Lake.

Detailed Driving Directions
A convoy leaves the Vernon Tim Hortons on 58th Avenue opposite Walmart at 8:45am heading to Enderby.

Leaving the Enderby Chamber of Commerce on 700 Railway Avenue at 9:30am we head east on Enderby Mabel Lake Road for 34 kms where we turn right onto Beattie Road then continue another 3km to where it becomes a Forest Service Road where we can park.

Everyone is welcome, the Vernon ATV Club encourages quad and side x side riders to attend up to 3 rides to meet other riders, find new trails and get a sense of what the club is all about. We’re sure you’ll like the club and want to join!

GPS Training

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6:00pm Saturday, July 14 – Lane behind Banner Recreation

Most riders have parked their machines until these dry forest conditions pass so why not improve your GPS navigation skills with all the extra time on your hands?

*** RSVP for the training course by noon Saturday July 17 by emailing info@vernonatvclub.ca. ***

If we don’t get enough interest we won’t run the course so email if you want to attend!

What to bring:

  1. lawn chair
  2. GPS (or GPS App on your smart phone)
  3. Laptop and USB cable for your GPS if you use a Garmin GPS

We’ll meet for a couple of hours in the lane behind Banner Recreation that runs from Roko Electric to Canada Water Depot.

No ATV required, this is a classroom course. See the map for course location.

Find the Secret Spots to Win!

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During the 2021 season we’ll post the GPS coordinates of secret locations throughout the region.

Find the secret spot, take a selfie identifying the secret location and send it to info@vernonatvclub.ca to be entered to win. The secret spot will be something obvious at those coordinates so look around and take a selfie with what you think is the secret spot.

Secret Spot #1 – 50.70992, -118.75297
Secret Spot #2 – 50.15132, -119.26990
Secret Spot #3 – 50.64351, -119.29921

Our first prize draw will be at the end of August, more info to come.

Trail Etiquette – Sharing the Trails

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Motorized vehicles yield to cyclists, pedestrians and horses

A little courtesy goes along way to protecting access to trails and fostering relations with other trail users.

Many cyclists, pedestrians and horseback riders will move off the trail when they hear an ATV coming but this doesn’t mean you should continue past them. Proper trail etiquette calls for the ATV rider to pull to the side of the trail, shut their engine off, remove their helmet (if horses present) and allow the other trail users to pass.

Use Extra Caution Around Horses

Horses can be unpredictable and spook when scared, please use extra caution around horses for everyone’s safety:

  • Pull to the side of the trail far enough for horses to pass safely as soon as you see them.
  • Pull to the downhill side of the trail if possible since horses tend to perceive unknown threats on the uphill side as predators.
  • Shut off your motor as soon as possible and remove your helmet. The horse will be more likely to recognize you as a human.
  • Speak to the rider and horse in a friendly, relaxed tone.
  • When approaching horses from behind, stop, call ahead and make yourself known to the rider. Ask them if it is OK to pass and the best way to do so.
  • Horsemen may pull to the side of the trail a safe distance if they hear an OHV approaching, but this does not necessarily mean it is safe for you to ride by. Stop and wait for instructions from the horseman.
  • Ask the horseman how he/she would like to proceed.
  • The horseman will know his/her horse and how the horse reacts to other trail enthusiasts. The horseman may ask you to stay put and ride past you.
  • The horseman may ride to the side of the trail and ask you to ride or push past them.
  • If you ride by a horse, keep your rpm’s low and steady and your sound as low as possible.
  • Sudden movements or sounds can startle horses.
  • Be alert, aware and on guard for oncoming traffic.

Longest Day Ride

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Saturday June 19 – 5:30pm Start @ King Edward Staging

An annual favourite where riders hit the trails for an evening ride to take in the longest daylight hours of the year without needing headlights. BRING BUG SPRAY!!!

The ride kicks off at 5:30pm sharp with a safety meeting then gets rolling on the trails. It’s King Eddy so we’ve ridden here a bunch but we’ll try to incorporate some new trails that most haven’t ridden while still taking in the communication tower lookout over Kalamalka Lake and the North Okanagan valley. The ride will be a mixture of Forest Service Road and old roads that now look and feel like trails.

Start Time: 5:30pm sharp Safety Meeting
End Time: approximately 9:30pm
Ride Length: up to 80km, a single tank of fuel in your machine should suffice
Ride Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate trails with other members assisting at difficult obstacles if needed
Ride Speed: up to 60kmh on Forest Service Road sections
Number of Breaks: 1 longer break at the lookout, other short stoppages
Bathroom Facilities: we will pass numerous rec sites with outhouse facilities throughout the ride
Machine Size: machines up to mid-60 inch size should fit on the trails.

Parking is available along the Forest Service Road immediately after turning off Highway 6 in the Coldstream.


Everyone is welcome, the Vernon ATV Club encourages quad and side x side riders to attend up to 3 rides to meet other riders, find new trails and get a sense of what the club is all about. We’re sure you’ll like the club and want to join!

Mt Ida Ride Sunday June 6

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10:00am Start @ Deep Creek Road Staging

FREE HOTDOG BBQ LUNCH FOR MEMBERS - $5 FOR NON MEMBERS

RSVP by 5:00pm Friday June 4 via our website or by emailing info@vernonatvclub.ca

We’re back to hosting group rides but we must continue being COVID responsible citizens.
Riders must maintain physical distance of 6′ or more from other riders not in their bubble and wear masks any times you may be in close proximity of other riders.

The ride will start from the Deep Creek Road staging area after a safety meeting at 10:00am sharp!

Google Directions to Deep Creek Road Staging.

If you’re coming from Vernon there will be a convoy leaving the Tim Horton’s parking lot on 53rd Avenue (across from Walmart) at 8:45am.

Start Time: 10:00am Safety Meeting
End Time: approximately 4:00pm
Ride Length: up to 80km, a single tank of fuel in your machine should suffice
Ride Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate trails with other members assisting at difficult obstacles if needed
Ride Speed: up to 60kmh on Forest Service Road sections
Number of Breaks: 3 planned breaks at 10:30am check-in, 12:30 lunch break and afternoon snack break
Bathroom Facilities: we will stop at Silver Creek Community Park after lunch where there are toilets, we are unsure if they are open with current COVID restrictions.
Machine Size: machines up to mid-60 inch size should fit on the trails. If you ride a wider machine you should come prepared to do some trimming, just in case.

Our first ride back as a group since the fall of 2020. The ride will proceed at a safe trail speed and as fast as 60kmh on Forest Service Road sections. Trail conditions vary from Forest Service Roads to old and deactivated roads that have grown in over the years to now become narrower trails.

There will be a 1/2 hour lunch break (free BBQ for members, $5 for friends and guests) and a couple of other short stops to enjoy numerous viewpoints.

We will be using the leapfrog method of marking corners where the leader instructs a rider to park at a corner to indicate the way then that rider joins back on in front of the tailgunner. 

A little (or a lot) of rain has never stopped a Vernon club ride so come prepared for all conditions.

Everyone is welcome, the Vernon ATV Club encourages quad and side x side riders to attend up to 3 rides to meet other riders, find new trails and get a sense of what the club is all about. We’re sure you’ll like the club and want to join!