Landing in Golden just a few weeks back, i’ve happily lounged into laid-back life, enjoying a quieter, leisurely pace and plenty time to take it all in. Not that this is representative of the true flavour of this seemingly sleep town. Indeed adventure awaits. Although surrounded by the grandness of the Yoho and Glacier National Parks, Golden has ample adventure not far from the centre itself.

For mile munching mountain bike lovers you’ll earn many a smile from a superb network that covers over 100km of riding. Devised by locals, the trails offers a selection of spicy singletrack intertwined with epic vistas. However, depending on your timing of choice, the mass of man-eating mosquitos will be quick to bite, as i’ve found out despite a dousing of Deet.

So what’s to see and do here? What makes Golden sparkle in the Canadian sunshine? As a mountain biker, there’s a profusion of routes to relish – rocks, roots, drops and berms all handcrafted by the enthusiastic locals of the Golden Cycling Club. Dedication to the cause has resulted in an ever increasing web of marked trails that rarely reveal a tar or fire road. To date, the only one i’ve ridden leads you to the awe-inspiring Canyon Creek – a cavernous geological wonder that not many places i’ve ridden can rival. Among my favourites are CBT mainline for it’s ability to crucify my legs and despite sweating, still crack a smile at the summit.

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