The Naramata Beer Run (I've referred to it as the Arawana Beer Run elsewhere onsite, as folks seem to use the title interchangeably) gets its name from both the fact that there are beer cans randomly nailed to trees along the run, as well as the trail’s conclusion near a local pub.  The cans are a bit of a redneck touch, but the pub is an excellent call.  I first rode this wild piece of singletrack in late Oct. 08’.

You will need a GPS the first time that you navigate this run, as it is crisscrossed by many intersecting trails as it drops down the mountainside, and jogs along several short sections of roadway.

The route is a marvel of hard work, dedication and love of the sport by Peter G., his close friends and family.  I tip my helmet to his efforts!

There are generally few mountain bike or hiking tracks to follow, as the descent sees little traffic; at least for the top half of the route.  You will need to employ a car-shuttle technique (or a serious set of lungs) to reach the top trailhead as it is located 12.4km up Arawana Rd.  The route is initially paved, but changes to washboard gravel part way up.  This is followed by a brief hike / bike a short way up to the actual trailhead, located on an overgrown two-track branching off the main road.

Once you discern which one of the numerous trailheads is actually the Beer Run and not a random dirt-bike trail, you will be set to enjoy a fantastic, 9km downhill plunge to a beautiful park and the community of Naramata.  A convenient area to leave the bottom shuttle-vehicle is at Naramata Creek Park - exactly where you pop out upon completion of the ride.

From the park, shuttle south on Naramata Rd. for approximately 500 meters to the junction of Naramata and Arawana Rd.  Turn up Arawana and travel up it for a distance of 12.4 kilometers, including a right turn up Mt.Randolph FSR.  You will eventually arrive at a flat section of road featuring an overgrown rock fire-pit / camping circle and slightly vague two-track roadway which climbs up into the forest on your left.  I strongly suggest that you download a copy of the companion GPS track for this trail - as you will need it the first time in.

Hike or ride this forest two-track for approximately 700m, keeping an eye to your left for an opening in the forest.  You will come upon what appears to be a singletrack trail marked with a red sandbag and rock pile as well as a set of pink signs with arrows on an adjacent tree - ignore this motorcycle entry and carry on a further 40 meters where you will see another narrow, left hand junctioning trail marked with a (small) rock-kiosk.  The entrance is immediately across a very small creek which crosses the road you are ascending. 

Drop in here and you should begin seeing a variety of ramps and jumps.  If within 200m you do not - you are on the wrong trail.

The Beer Run is filled with stunt after wooden stunt - many which will amaze you; not only with their sheer size, but also their relative lack of maintenance.  If you are riding mountain bike and have a predilection for dropping off the edge of structures, dismount and examine stunts before attempting them.

Judging by numerous visits, Naramata Beer Run frequently exhibits a great deal of wind-blown deadfall, despite the best efforts of the local chainsaw gods.  Its relatively remote trailhead and infrequent use leads to it being somewhat ‘off the radar’ as far as trail use and maintenance goes.

1.7km into the trail you will pop out into a large clear-cut.  Navigate almost directly across it and you will see that the trail resumes on the far side.  Witness to the Beer Run’s light use - we did not see foot prints or Mt. bike tracks across the clear-cut during our last visit to the area.

The mid-to lower section appear to be a motorcycle haven; luckily, dirt-bikers have their own routes in the area and the Beer Run is for the most part un-damaged by motorcycle use.  The Beer Run is quite fragmented, with sections finding you on brief stretches of road or entering open fields which you must cross in order to re-locate the trail.

In a nutshell; when you pop out onto the first major gravel road; head left for 125m, there, across the road on your right and just shy of the Arawana / Randolph FSR intersection, you will find the entrance to what appears to be a small clearing.  Enter the clearing and head west, where you will pick up the trail once again.

Approximately 1km later, you will ride under the entry of a massive stunt; The Separator, and pop out onto a small two-track road.  Stop to admire the insanity of this jump/drop, and then bear north along the road (a right turn).  250m along it, you will bear left and continue your adventure along a fantastic canyon-side singletrack. 

The blow-down becomes less severe as you near the mid-point of the trail, and the singletrack takes on a smooth flow with wooden stunts nearly all the way to the bottom.  Most of the stunts feature ‘easy-outs’ for riders who are not so inclined - be aware that nearly every one of the stunts lacks a ‘roll-over’ option.  The vast majority are straight drops off the end, some as little as a half-meter, others as high as four+ meters, often with significant gaps.

You will pop out on the KVR; head right (north) for 225m where the creek crosses beneath the KVR and be on the lookout for the continuation of the trail on your left.  Things get very sketchy & technical here; only very advanced riders need apply.

The final section of the ride enters the bottom of Naramata Creek Park and a beautiful world of massive cliffs, boulder-strewn singletrack and technical riding.  Take your time in this section, as it is the head of a popular hiking area for locals and tourists alike.  Naramata Creek Park may also be used as a quick hike up from the bottom; it features a beautiful waterfall 1km from the parking lot and is well worth the visit.

Getting There From the Peach in downtown Penticton, you will already be on Lakeshore Drive, just head east.  Pass through the ‘roundabout’ and ascend Vancouver Hill.  You will soon see signs directing you to Naramata.  Drive as far as the Naramata Creek Park, indicated with signage.

UPDATE: Just above the point that the Beer Run trail meets the KVR / TCT, there is new construction occurring.  At present, it is unclear if the Beer Run exit will impede on private property.  It appears however, that an alternate exit will have to be created at some point in the near future.  As an alternate route, I suggest that you pay close attention as you descend, as, there are two left-hand junctions along this trail which allow you to enter the Three Blind Mice trail network instead.

The first appears at the clearing mentioned six paragraphs ago; when you hit the first gravel road, travel down it to the left, and then turn into the clearing on your right.  Immediately upon entering this clearing, look sharply to your left.  A small, initially vague entry leads to a connector trail known as 'T2theG. This trail' will connect you with the 'Cow's End' singletrack entry to the Mice trails.

If you ignore that, and choose to drop lower down the Mice, you will eventually come to a section of trail that features a ramp-over-fence with a right-hand 'go-around' option.  At this point, you will also notice a south bearing trail; an unmarked connector we call Rustler.  It will drop you out onto Arawana Rd., where a short 20m ride up (to your left) will place you at the 'Corral' entrance to the Mice.  Either way; these options allow you to avoid dropping all the way down to the bottom of the Beer Run.  These optional routes will come in handy as time passes; as it appears that the lower sections of the trail may be destroyed by housing developments...

Low: 441m | High: 1394m | Length: 21km return | Water: Not potable | Cell Access: Spotty