Top trails aren’t so far-flung

The Inland Northwest is no stranger to classic destinations for mountain-biking routes.

Rossland, British Columbia, snuggled in the Kootenay Mountains just three hours north of Spokane, ranks high on North American mountain-biking destination lists. The Kootenay-Columbia Trails Society maintains 32 trails totaling 100 miles.

Topping the list of routes is the Seven Summits Trail, which runs 22 miles over the peaks of seven mountains. Check it out on your own, or sign up for the Seven Summits tour during the Rossland Fat Tire Festival, Sept. 5-6.

Info: www.rosslandfattirefestival.com

North Idaho’s latest rave reviews are coming from Trail 409 on the Kaniksu National Forest a mile south of the Canada border, according to Pat Hart at the Bonners Ferry Ranger District.

With a nice base camp out of Robinson Lake Campground off Highway 95, cyclists can link about seven miles of trails and road including a sweet stretch of single track over Mission Mountain, elev. 6,200 feet, and along Harvey Mountain, elev. 6,400 feet.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort recently opened Beargrass Trail, a new beginner downhill mountain-bike route with an average grade of 6 percent to go with a midmountain progression skills park. The ski area also has cross-country trails and other lift-assisted biking routes.

Silver Mountain offers several spectacular network of downhill rides waiting for pedalers after they unload themselves and their bikes from the “world’s longest gondola.”

Mount Spokane and Riverside state parks have many miles of high- and low-elevation trails that change character with the seasons from spring through fall.