Meet MTBCO: The Volunteers Behind Kelowna's Mountain Bike Trails
By the Fresh Air Team | May 2026
The Gillard trailhead parking lot is bigger this season. If you're already an active part of the Kelowna mountain biking community, you'd probably notice it. If you’re new, you might not think twice.
What you probably don’t know is that this expansion took years of Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan (better known as MTBCO) identifying the need, working with Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) and the City of Kelowna, coordinating private funding support, navigating the approvals process, and showing up until it was done.
Most mountain bike enthusiasts and casual riders don't think about any of this. You pull up, unload your bike, and hit the trails. The path is there, shaped and maintained, and it’s still there next season. All of that happens because groups like MTBCO work with community members to put in sweat equity to maintain the trails we know and love.
Who is MTBCO?
MTBCO is a non-profit club with more than 1,000 members, six trail networks, 400+ kilometres of singletrack, and four active build projects underway right now (as of May 2026). They run Dig Days, advocate for rider access, and host dozens of events each year.
“We are a volunteer-powered community, dedicated to building sustainable trails and creating exceptional mountain biking experiences for everyone.”
— MTBCO Mission Statement
Unfortunately, there’s a huge gap between the number of riders who use these trails and the number of riders who support the club. Anyone can help by joining, supporting, or spreading the word about their community.
What MTBCO Does That You Don't See
Trail maintenance is obvious. For example, you can see a freshly shaped berm or a rebuilt drainage line. What's we don’t see is MTBCO in a room with a land manager, making the case for why mountain biking deserves to stay.
MTBCO operates under formal partnership agreements with the City of Kelowna, BC Parks, and RSTBC. Knox Mountain has been a formal partnership since 2011. The expanded Gillard parking lot is just one recent example of what got built because MTBCO kept advocating for the community and the trails we love.
“This project is a great example of what can happen when volunteers, private supporters, government partners, and the riding community come together with a shared vision for sustainable outdoor recreation infrastructure.”
— Aimee King, MTBCO President, on the Gillard parking lot expansion 2026
MTBCO’s Six Trail Networks
MTBCO stewards these 6 trails:
● Knox Mountain: minutes from downtown Kelowna, multi-use, all levels, sweeping lake views. Multi-use means sharing with hikers, so ride with care on busy days. MTBCO has worked with the City on Knox since 2011.
● Crawford (Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park): 150+ km in Kelowna's Upper Mission, flowy singletrack through to technical rock gardens and proper descents. A new parking lot is nearing completion this season.
● Gillard: the Okanagan's original freeride trails, fast lines, jumps at every size, rock and wood features. The expanded parking lot is open this spring.
● Smith Creek: forested laps northwest of West Kelowna, natural-feature jumps and drops, smooth and fast. This spring the crew reworked Feel The Love and Jump Alley and upgraded the berms on FOMO, with Pacific Rim Equipment donating an excavator for a week to make it happen.
● Rose Valley: rock bluffs, ridgelines, and flowing descents in West Kelowna. Quiet and rugged.
● Lake Country: the newest and fastest-growing. The Lake Country Bike Park officially opened March 21, 2026. Work is underway on Switchback Hill, a connection that will link the bike park to Okanagan Lake. A new zone near Oyama is in early planning with Westbank First Nations as partners.
Four projects are currently underway as of May 2026. The people building them are MTBCO volunteers, and they’re powered by members, sponsors, and donations.
What’s a Mountain Bike Trail “Dig Day?”
There are two formats.
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Community Dig Days
These run about 8 to 10 times a year, mostly on weekends. You don't need to know what you're doing to show up and be useful. This spring, 25 volunteers came out to Knox on March 28, raked Shale, and rebuilt a berm on lower Simpsons. Afterwards, the group went to Rustic Reel (an MTBCO perk partner) for a post-dig gathering, because nothing is better than a cold drink after a hard day of diggin’ with your community.
View upcoming Dig Day events at mtbco.ca/events.
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Trail Fit Tuesdays at Gillard
Every Tuesday, led by Cam Lainchbury. This is where new jumps get built, berms get reshaped, and whole sections of trail get reworked. No experience required to come. If you have trail-building certification, MTBCO wants to hear from you. Check in with Cam on arrival so your volunteer hours get tracked and recognized at the end of the season.
MTBCO coordinates trail days through Heylo, their community trail app.
Join the effort at heylo.com/invite/XM0SpIAp.
Five Ways to Get Involved
Not everyone has the same amount of time or resources. If you want to help out, here’s how!
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Become a Member: mtbco.ca/membership The most direct way to fund trail work. $20 to $95, depending on your situation.
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Volunteer: mtbco.ca/volunteer Meet some people at Dig days, races, Cranksgiving, events, or by contributing random skills. Board director positions are currently open as of May 2026.
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Become a Sponsor: mtbco.ca/sponsor Put your brand in front of a community that's on the trails all season. Multiple partnership options available.
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Adopt a Trail: mtbco.ca/adopt-a-trail Your name or logo on a trailhead sign, your funds into that trail's maintenance. Currently at Gillard, a portion goes directly to Westbank First Nation youth programs.
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Make a Donation: mtbco.ca/donate One-time, any amount. Goes straight to trail work.
Why Get an MTBCO Membership?
Membership fees go directly back into trail work. MTBCO's a non-profit, so that's just how it works. The money funds materials, tools, insurance, and the organizational infrastructure that makes trail work and advocacy possible.
“The most important reason to become a member is that all the money from our memberships goes directly back into the community to make, maintain, improve, and expand our trail networks. To do this, we collaborate with many parties involved, including various levels of government, local businesses, and other volunteer-driven societies.”
— Marieke de Jonge, former MTBCO Director of Marketing & Communications
Every membership is a vote in favour of the trails you love to ride. When MTBCO walks into a room with a city planner or a land manager, the number of members they represent is part of how seriously they get taken. A club with 2,000 members gets taken more seriously than a club with 200.
Membership Tiers (per year)
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Student or youth (18 and under) is $20*
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Single adult is $45*
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Couples are $80*
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Families are $95*
Members also get 40+ events and 16+ perk partners, including 30% off a Trailforks subscription, 15% off Kelowna Bike Rentals, 10% off School of MTB, and discounts at Rustic Reel, Red Bird Brewing, Vice & Virtue Brewing, The Mission Creamery, Rack Attack, Over The Top Racks, and TBS Bike Parts. Eight new partners joined this season.
*Prices listed are for membership as of May 2026. Cost is subject to change. Memberships run 365 days from the date of sign-up.
What the Kelowna Mountain Biking Community is All About
Some folks enjoy the version of mountain biking that looks great in a video… Fast riders, perfect conditions, and sick jumps. But most of the Okanagan community is pretty relaxed: think an after-work lap at Knox, a short Saturday morning ride where the kids are finally starting to get it, the first time someone tries it and falls in love (and on their face).
No matter your flavour, everyone depends on the trails. And the trails depend on MTBCO.
Fresh Air has been part of Kelowna's outdoor sport community since 1981, and we've watched MTBCO build something amazing.
If you ride these trails, this is your invitation to join the effort.
A Few Things People Ask
Q: What does MTBCO stand for?
A: Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan. A non-profit club that builds, maintains, and advocates for mountain bike trails across Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country. Six trail networks, 400+ km stewarded.
Q: Do I need experience to come to a dig day?
A: No. Community Dig Days are designed for people who've never picked up a trail tool. Show up with boots you don't mind getting dirty, pants for the bushwhacking, gloves, and sunscreen. Tools are provided. If you have trail-building certification, get in touch.
Q: What are good beginner trails near Kelowna?
A: Knox Mountain is minutes from downtown and has accessible routes alongside more technical terrain. The Lake Country Bike Park opened in March 2026 with a purpose-built progression zone including pump tracks and beginner lines. Crawford covers a wide range of difficulties. The team at Fresh Air Kelowna rides these trails and can point you in the right direction.
Q: How much is an MTBCO membership?
A: Student and youth is $20. Single adult is $45. Couples is $80. Family is $95. Runs 365 days from sign-up. Comes with 40+ events and 16+ local perk partners.
Get the Right Gear for the Season
Fresh Air Kelowna has been serving the Okanagan since 1981. The team rides locally, knows the networks, and can help you find the right bike, protection, and fit for where you're actually going to ride. Fresh Air also offers bike rentals, fittings, and services/assessments. Stop in at either Kelowna location or browse our bikes.
Fresh Air Kelowna helps Okanagan riders find the right gear, get a proper fit, and stay connected to the local riding community. Serving Kelowna since 1981, Fresh Air specializes in mountain bikes, road bikes, winter gear, and trail-ready equipment from top brands. Visit either our Pandosy or Dilworth Fresh Air Kelowna locations.
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