Originally a hiking trail, this is now primarily a single-track black diamond mountain biking/hiking trail. It is unbelievably scenic – almost all alpine meadows, a backdrop of glaciated peaks and wildflowers in early August. For many, it is the most scenic bike ride the have ever taken.
After a steep 1km hike, the trail is relatively easy through meadows. KSB is not snow-free until early to mid-July most years. One of the better alpine experiences around.
Rating: ♦♦♦♦◊
Location: North of Revelstoke east of Lake Revelstoke.
Difficulty: C1. Moderate. Rated black diamond as a mountain biking trail.
Elevation Gain: +562 m, -440 m
Key Elevations: Trailhead 1759m. High point 2067m. End 1880m.
Distance: 22 km return to cabin. Another 11.4 km return to Standard Basin.
Time: 3.5 hours biking
Season: Mid-July to September
Access: 2WD
Map: 82N/8
Drive: Drive 50 km north of Revelstoke on Highway 23N following the shore of Lake Revelstoke. Turn right on Keystone FSR. Continue 15 km to the trailhead.
Trail: This is the very popular Keystone Cabin Trail originally built for backpacking back in the 70s as an old multi-purpose route and not designed primarily as a mountain bike trail. An unbelievably scenic trail that is almost all alpine meadows.
Note that the trail is out and back, with no junctions – 11.3 one-way, 22.6km return. Start with a challenging rooty, rocky forested climb that gets you to the open alpine meadows at one km then gives way to 9 kilometres of cruzy alpine single-track – meadows and occasional light forest patches for pretty well the rest of the way. The trail generally contours around the landscape, over a moderate ascending and descending trail. At its middle, it descends somewhat to Standard Basin, then climbs switchbacks to the other side. For the last part, it descends to an open forest and a cabin on the lake (available for overnight stays).
Although the meadows are blue, many climbs, switchbacks and slope exposure keep this trail black with several steep, gruelling, techy climbs that will have you hiking your bike to the next ribbon of rideable trail. There are burley parts across scree slopes midway through the ride.
The usual turnaround is 11 km in at the Standard Cabin, a backcountry cabin primarily used by snowmobilers in the winter. It is on a small alpine lake surrounded by jagged peaks towering in all directions. Routes continue beyond the cabin to the summit of Standard Peak and beyond. The cabin is open for shelter but this is a pack-in pack-out site.
From the cabin, turn around and come home the same way. For an end-of-the-day treat, cycle down the logging road to Highway 23 and a fast long descent.
Keystone is a remote alpine trail with no cell coverage and no water. Come prepared for bike failures, rapid weather changes and bear encounters. Please respect the trail and the alpine environment and don’t ride it when wet.
What to Do:
Stay in the cabin.
Swim in an alpine lake at the end.
Climb Standard Peak. The ‘second 11.4 km half’ of the trail to Standard Peak is a fantastic extension to the already mind-blowing trail.
Back on the valley floor, there are plenty of boat launches and stretches of beach along the highway to stop for a swim and cool off, with Martha Creek Provincial Park the official spot closer to town.
References:
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/keystone-standard-basin/
https://revelstoketrails.com/trails/north-hwy-23/north-hwy-23-high-elev/north-hwy-23-high-elev-established/keystone-standard-basin-trail/