The valley occupying the broad Rocky Mountain Trench outside Kimberley, BC, with the Northern Rockies in the background. — Photo: Aaron Theisen

Post-Ride: Kimberley, British Columbia

Our tips for brewpubs, bike shops and beyond in the East Kootenays community of Kimberley.

Author:
Aaron Theisen
Oct 18, 2024

The East Kootenays community voted "BC's best small town" has outsized amenities for the road-tripping traveler, including more than forty dining options for a population of 8,000. Centerpiece is the Platzl, the Euro-style pedal- and pedestrian-only plaza in the heart of downtown. On the weekends, the Platzl buzzes with pre- and post-activity energy (and the occasional warbling tune when a tourist activates the Happy Hans Cuckoo Clock). Bikes lean against patio railings, and kids climb the stonework. Mountain bikers can start and end their rides here and find virtually everything they need for a memorable bike trip.

Fall colors flank the St. Mary's River near Kimberley, BC — Fall colors contrast with the steep cut-bank hoodoos of the St. Mary's River.
Photo: Aaron Theisen

Dining and Drinks

Before departing the Platzl for a ride, fuel up at Snowdrift Cafe. In addition to coffee, Snowdrift serves saucer-sized chocolate chip cookies, hearty wraps and smoothies. Its cinnamon Rolls alone are worth a visit.

Across the plaza, Stonefire Pizzeria slings Neopolitan-style pizza from its wood-fired oven, which results in a crust both crispy and chewy. Stonefire imports its pizza flour and tomatoes from iconic Italian growing regions and pairs them with fresh regional ingredients. Its pizzas in turn are paired with perhaps the best patio view on the Platzl.

Outside the Kimberley institution Pedal and Tap, old bicycle parts decorate the windows and patio. Inside, the expansive beer and all-BC wine list spans an entire wall; the bar also makes many of its own cocktail mixers in-house. Menu items rotate regularly, but the offerings often nod toward seafood and Asian-influenced dishes. One menu item that never leaves the lineup: mucky fries—hand-cut fries topped with mozzarella, aged cheddar, maple bacon, green onion and a house-made chipotle sauce. Any side of fries can be upgraded to this rich twist on poutine; don’t pass them up.

Around the corner, Pedal and Taps’ sister establishment, The Shed, offers late-night vibes and creative takes on pub staples using its house-smoked meats.

An interior shot of The Shed, a restaurant and pub in Kimberley, BC — The Shed, a Kimberley institution, offers late-night vibes and creative takes on house-smoked meats.
Photo: Aaron Theisen

Kimberley's cultural centerpiece is the Platzl, the Euro-style pedal- and pedestrian-only plaza in the heart of downtown.

Bike Shop

Show up to the Bootleg Mountain trailhead on a peak-season weekend, and you're likely to see a parking lot of parents shuttling kids in full-face helmets. Like its namesake trail network, Bootleg Bike Co. feels both family-friendly and hardcore, with a welcoming vibe and knowledgeable service department. And like nearly everything else a visitor to Kimberley needs, it's accessible immediately off the Platzl.

The exterior of Bootleg Bike Co. in downtown Kimberley, BC — Like its namesake trail system, Bootleg Bike Co. feels both family-friendly and hardcore.
Photo: Aaron Theisen

Lodging

Big-mountain accommodations meet small-hill charm at Kimberley Alpine Resort's Trickle Creek Lodge, where the two-room condos and large hot tub and pool area accommodates family road trips and guys’ or girls’ bike weekends alike. The paved Platzl to Peak trail connects from downtown to the resort to the Electrify the Mountain network, making an uninterrupted circuit between play and après.

The closest tent and trailer sites to town, the Kimberley Riverside Campground offers spacious but private sites on a bluff above the St. Mary's River, with several bike-trip friendly amenities, including shower and laundry facilities, and, during summer, a pool. It's a great basecamp for bikes, with a Kimberley Nature Park trailhead across the road and Bootleg Mountain five minutes away.

Autumn leaves float down Mark Creek in downtown Kimberley, BC — The paved Platzl to Peak trail connects downtown to Kimberley Alpine Resort, passing over creeks and among fall colors along the way.
Photo: Aaron Theisen

Support

Founded in 2009, the Kimberley Trails Society (KTS) advocates for, builds and maintains non-motorized trails in the greater Kimberley area. The society has maintenance agreements for 180 km of trail stretching from the Kimberley Nordic Center to Bootleg Mountain, in addition to helping with the 50 km of singletrack in the Kimberley Nature Park. Relatively young by Kootenays standards, the KTS has embraced a forward-thinking mindset to trail development, including the development of the Electric the Mountain project, the e-bike-optimized trails of the Kimberley Nordic Center.