Three Blind Mice
On the east side of Okanagan lake, above Penticton, is the Three Blind Mice trail network. A maze of trails over varied terrain, well worth checking out.
I stopped by Freedom Bikes on main st on Saturday to get some route info and pick up a map. Directed to start by the pearly gate at the end of riddle road off I went.
Through the gate I took a left and traversed on a gradual climb along White Trail. The trail starts on a sandy FSR like surface and soon mixes it up with a single track ascent over roots, stoney sections, rock slabs and in and out of the trees. I picked up Narnia rather than stay on White trail, then conected with Three Witches to get me up to a viewpoint. Views are stunning all the way. Freedom recommended this route and a descent from here back to start point would give a 2hr loop. Took me over an hour to reach the viewpoint...climbing was never my forte, add to that 30 deg interior heat and stops for pictures the time soon dissapears.
Rather than just descend back down I continued on to get some more vertical before heading back. Pick up Yellow Brick Road and Squirrel to get to the Corral junction. From Corral I headed for Drops a Lot, fun trail and well worth checking out. Drops and the odd gap riding mainly rock all the way to pick up Fred which is less techy but fast and flowing. From Fred I picked up Cougar and then connected with Chute Out and Roller Coaster to get me back to the Pearly Gate. Takes 2 to 3 hours with all the photo stops and the trail network is packed with something for everyone. If you keep your eyes peeled for the yellow diamond trail markers and make sure to pick up a map from Freedom or the Bike Barn you can't go far wrong. If you want to shuttle and miss out on the long traverse I think there may be an FSR access further North called Arwana. Dropping a car near Riddle road and then heading up there would deliver the fun without the toil, don't know if you will get the same views though.
I stopped by Freedom Bikes on main st on Saturday to get some route info and pick up a map. Directed to start by the pearly gate at the end of riddle road off I went.
Through the gate I took a left and traversed on a gradual climb along White Trail. The trail starts on a sandy FSR like surface and soon mixes it up with a single track ascent over roots, stoney sections, rock slabs and in and out of the trees. I picked up Narnia rather than stay on White trail, then conected with Three Witches to get me up to a viewpoint. Views are stunning all the way. Freedom recommended this route and a descent from here back to start point would give a 2hr loop. Took me over an hour to reach the viewpoint...climbing was never my forte, add to that 30 deg interior heat and stops for pictures the time soon dissapears.
Rather than just descend back down I continued on to get some more vertical before heading back. Pick up Yellow Brick Road and Squirrel to get to the Corral junction. From Corral I headed for Drops a Lot, fun trail and well worth checking out. Drops and the odd gap riding mainly rock all the way to pick up Fred which is less techy but fast and flowing. From Fred I picked up Cougar and then connected with Chute Out and Roller Coaster to get me back to the Pearly Gate. Takes 2 to 3 hours with all the photo stops and the trail network is packed with something for everyone. If you keep your eyes peeled for the yellow diamond trail markers and make sure to pick up a map from Freedom or the Bike Barn you can't go far wrong. If you want to shuttle and miss out on the long traverse I think there may be an FSR access further North called Arwana. Dropping a car near Riddle road and then heading up there would deliver the fun without the toil, don't know if you will get the same views though.