Grand Forks Note: You will be riding on an abandoned railbed; expect a wide range of surface conditions, from hard packed gravel to loose, unconsolidated railway ballast. This trail is generally unsuitable for street bikes, and will require a bike with wider tires for soft surfaces. Main > Communities > Grand Forks > Trips Map Info

This portion of the Trans Canada Trail is under the stewardship of the Boundary Pathway Society, who is working with trail supporters, government agencies and others to restore and maintain the trail. You will see evidence of their work between Grand Forks and Eholt. If you would like to support them in this work, please contact them directly at:

Chris Moslin
Boundary Pathway Society
Phone: (250) 442-2620
Email: cmoslin@sunshinecable.com

Day Trip - Grand Forks west to Eholt
(22 km one way/44 km return)

Trail conditions: generally uphill from Grand Forks to Eholt; trail surface is a mix of hard packed gravel with some unconsolidated portions. Watch for rockfall along some of the rock faces, and be alert for potential wildlife encounters along the trail.

This trip takes you along the abandoned CPR Columbia and Western Railway. Start your day trip from downtown Grand Forks; one option is to begin from the original train station, which has been restored as the Grand Forks Station Neighbourhood Pub and Columbia Grill, located at 7654 Donaldson Drive. This is the oldest CPR station in BC still in its original location and many historical artifacts are found in the pub.

Head west out of the city along the rail bed. You'll ride through a few tunnels just past Fisherman Station. The route offers great sweeping views of the Grandby River Valley as you pedal a steady uphill grade to Eholt. Back in the late 1890's, Eholt was a railroad divisional point and home to about 300 people. The settlement didn't last long though with the world copper market collapsing after World War 1.

The ride back to Grand Forks will be quicker as it is downhill.

There is also the option of arranging a shuttle to take you and your bike up to Eholt to start your trip. Contact the Boundary Transit System at (250) 442-7215 for details on shuttles to Eholt, Christina Lake and Greenwood.

Overnight Trip - Grand Forks west to Greenwood
(36 km one-way/72 km return)

Again, start from downtown Grand Forks, continue uphill past Eholt for a reasonably level ride into Greenwood, BC's smallest city. Along the way, keep an eye out for access to Jewel Lake Provincial Park, which offers some camping and fishing opportunities; the turnoff to Jewel Lake Provincial Park is a few kilometres west of Eholt.

Please be aware that some of the trail between Eholt and Greenwood passes through private agricultural land. Respect signs and gates, and if you must travel with a dog, please keep it on a leash as unleashed dogs have harassed cattle and horses in the area.

Continue on to Greenwood, your stop for the night. Greenwood is a picturesque place, surrounded by mountains dotted with old mine sites and ghost towns. The city has many heritage buildings and sites worth visiting, and, as a point of interest, was the location for the recent filming of the movie "Snow Falling on Cedars". The Greenwood Tourism Info Centre can be reached at (250) 445-6777.

Return to Grand Forks the next day.