| Kelowna |
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 >
Kelowna > Trips
|
 Map
|
 Info |
|
In September 2003, wildfires swept through
the Myra-Bellevue Protected Area near Kelowna, destroying
12 wooden trestles and damaging 2 steel trestles along the
Myra Canyon route. As a result, the 12-kilometre Myra Canyon
section is closed at this time to all trail users.
The loss of the trestles and their significant historic
and tourism values warranted immediate action. Last fall,
the provincial, federal and local governments, along with
community groups, formed a team to assess the damage and
develop options for rebuilding them.
Those interested in supporting the work to rebuild the Myra
Canyon trestles can make donations to:
- Kelowna and Area Okanagan Fire Recovery Trust Fund; online
at http://kvr.acromedia.ca or sent to the City of Kelowna,
1435 Water Street, Kelowna BC V1Y 1J4. Cheques should be
made payable to the "City of Kelowna Fire Recovery
Fund" and
should specify that your donation is for the "Myra
Canyon Trestle Restoration Fund".
- Trails BC website
 Day
Trip - Traverse the Myra Canyon
(24
km return trip)
Trail
Condition and Grade: generally flat grades with hard packed
surface and some loose gravel sections.
There
are two starting points and parking areas to begin your trip
through the Myra Canyon; the Myra Forest Service Road and
the Little White Forest Service Road.
To
reach the Myra parking area from downtown Kelowna, follow
Pandosy Avenue south from Highway 97, turn east on to KLO
road, then south and east on McCulloch Road, then south on
the Myra Forest Service Road (a rough, unpaved road) and look
for signage for parking where the Myra Forest Service Road
intersects the railgrade. There are washroom facilities at
the parking lot.
Bring
your own water as it is not available on the trail and this
area tends to experience very hot, dry summers.
Your
trip will take you over 18 trestles and through two tunnels
along the historic Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) as you wind
your way up through the Myra Cannon. Turn around at the Little
White Forest Service Road parking lot and return to Kelowna.
For
a longer day ride (20 km one way/40 km return), continue past
the Little White Forest Service Road parking lot southwards
to the Bellevue Creek Trestle, the longest trestle on the
Kettle Valley Railway at 700 feet in length. Return via the
Myra Forest Service Road to Kelowna.
Another
option would be to return via the Little White Forest Service
Road for a shorter trip back to Kelowna.
 Little
White Forest Service Road East Through Myra Canyon
(12km
one way)
From downtown Kelowna, follow Pandosy Avenue, turn east on
to KLO road, along McCulloch and June Springs Road which turns
into Little White Forest Service Road (rough, unpaved road
-- drive with caution). Look for signage for parking.
Cycle
east through the Myra Canyon to the Myra Forest Service Road.
Turn around at the parking lot and return to Kelowna via Little
White Forest Service Road, or use the Myra Forest Service
Road to return to Kelowna.
Overnight
trip - Kelowna to Penticton
(73
km one way/146 km return)
 From
Kelowna, access the trail from the Myra Forest Service Road,
cycle through the Myra Canyon, past Little White Forest Service
Road, across the Bellevue Creek Trestle and on to Chute Lake
(some accommodations available at Chute
Lake Lodge). Continue on through the bypass at Adra Tunnel.
The curving Adra Tunnel, at almost 500 metres long, is the
longest tunnel on the KVR. Located on a switchback in the
grade, the tunnel has been closed off to public access, as
the roof has collapsed in several places and there is often
fairly deep standing water in places. Unfortunately, the tunnel
has been also subjected to some vandalism, with some fire
damage resulting to some of the interior cribbing and wooden
supports. There is a short bypass trail here (watch for the
signs) that cuts off the loop and rejoins the railgrade. Please
DO NOT enter the tunnel, as it is not currently safe to do
so.
 Continue
on past the Rock Ovens Regional Park and Little Tunnel into
Naramata and wine country (see Tourist
Information Guide).
As
you continue south and approach the northeast end of Penticton,
be prepared to head off the trail and on to Naramata Road
to bring you into the city. The City of Penticton is currently
reconstructing 5 km of the trail through this section.
For
Penticton visitor information, check out the following websites:
Stay
overnight in Penticton and return to Kelowna the next day.
Please
note that the return trip to Kelowna will be uphill all the
way from Penticton to the Chute Lake area. This is one of
the longest steady uphill grades on the entire system, and
late spring/summer travellers will experience extremely hot
and dry conditions with little or no water available along
the trail. Trail users MUST be prepared for potentially long
periods of sun exposure, and must bring sufficient water supplies.
In addition, some of the trail surface in this area may be
loose gravel, making a long uphill trip seem even longer.
|
