Touring - Kettle Valley Railway - BC, Canada

I have always wanted to spend a few days on this old railway line. Can anyone recommend a route if I fly into Kelowna??
Cheers
Ben
:beer:

Hey Ben, my husband and I did this ride in 1993 before the trestles were fixed up. There were ties missing in spots, leaving gaping holes. The best part of this ride is a section called Myra Canyon. It offers several tunnels and about a dozen trestles (I can't remember the exact #), some of which are several hundred feet above some spectacular gorges. The riding is very easy and extremely scenic.

From the airport head towards the city and take the turn to go to Big White ski hill. I believe this is hwy 33 and will take you to a suburb of Kelowna called Rutland. The KVR is accessed from the Little White Forest Service Road. You can get exact directions and probably maps from any bike shop in the area.

Myra Canyon is the best part of the KVR. We also did a section of it starting at Summerland, specifically to see the Adra Tunnel. The view of the Okanagon Lake was beautiful but the tunnel was a bust because it's blocked off for safety reasons.

In theory, you should be able to ride the KVR from Grand Forks to Hope and I think most of it has been incorporated in the Trans Canada Trail. The trail itself is not challenging but it's a great trip for leisurely, scenic riding.

By the way, when were you thinking of doing this ride? We did it in the summer, but the fall would be a good time to do it as well with the leaves changing colour and all.

:beer:

(edited to change hwy from 93 to 33)

Thanks for the detailed reply! I would like to do it this Fall if possible but it may have to wait until next Spring. Is there a good map of this section of the KVR? I know there is a book on the subject; is it worth getting?
Cheers
Ben
:beer:

The book is a great investment as it breaks the KVR down into different sections with maps and general info. I lent our book to someone a few years back and never got it back so I can't remember the name exactly, but do remember that it is red in colour and I'm sure I've seen it at MEC.

Happy trails! :)

For the book, see http://www.planet.eon.net/~dan/kvr.html (the author's personal site)
and http://www.rmbooks.com/books/lanket.htm

Regards,

Hey Croc Dundee I cycled the KVR this summer it was awsome. A good route if your flying into Kelowna is to arange for transportation from Kelowna to Midway. From Midway you will be cycling to Penticton it is about a 5 day trip. Along this streach you will see and stay at some very cool places. Once you hit Penticton you will have to arange for transportaion back to Kelowna it is a short trip. If you wanted to tack on a couple more days you could start in Castlegar. If you do this stop at the Grand Forks Station Pub it is on the trail and the only Pub you will hit that is right on the trail. I bartend their in the summer ask for Jarrod and if I,m working I will buy you a beer. Anyway I recomend riding during the warmer part of summer as you will hit a lot of lakes and streams that are very nice to swim in. Cycling the KVR by Dan & Sandra Langford is a must make sure to buy the 3rd edition as it is the most up to date on the trails condition. Any more questions just ask.

Hi Gavin
Thanks for the input. I am already looking forward to doing it next summer....hopefully you're still at the pub so I can take you up on the beer!
Cheers
Ben
:beer: