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Particulars

Tour Dates:

2009
June 20-26

July 11-17*

Custom trips also available and can start any date. Call or email for details.

2010
July 10-16

The Tour can be combined with our Stage 1 which precedes or our Stage 3 which follows.

Trip Size:

12-16 participants expected

 

Total Days:

7 days/ 6 nights

(5 riding days)

Arrive/Depart:

Beaverdell/Coalmont

Accommodations:

Camping

Activity Level:

Moderate
20-37+ miles daily
van supported

Terrain:

The railgrade has a maximum grade of 2%

Cost:

Land Cost (current year):
CAD$995/US$845

Includes all meals

Bike Rental :
CAD$140 / US$120

Transfers:
Vancouver to Beaverdell: CAD$80/US$65

Coalmont to Beaverdell: CAD$60/$US50

Coalmont to Vancouver: CAD$42/US$35

Kettle Valley Trail, Biking

Stage 2: Beaverdell to Coalmont

This tour incorporates the classic Kettle Valley line with overnights at McCulloch Lake, Chute Lake, West Summerland, Chain Lake and Coalmont. We’ll average 55 km (34 miles) per day with highlights to include Myra Canyon and wine sampling in the Okanagan region of British Columbia's interior.

*This event will support TheBigWild.org to help raise awareness and funding for Canada's wild places.

Itinerary

DAY 1:
For those who have booked transportation from Vancouver, we transfer by van to Beaverdell, stopping in Hope for lunch (and to pick up those who would prefer to leave their cars there). We arrive to Beaverdell late afternoon which may allow time for those who want to explore the local area on bike. We will have dinner together and then join in festivities at the Beaverdell Hotel.

 

DAY 2:
Beaverdell to McCulloch Lake, 53 km / 33 miles

Our ride today passes the ghost town of Carmi before continuing through the lush valley that gave the railway line its name. We’ll lunch at Arlington Lakes and then continue on to McCulloch Lake where we overnight.

DAY 3:

McCulloch Lake to Chute Lake, 50 km / 31 miles
We’ll ride the spectacular Myra Canyon. It was here in 2003 that a fire ravaged the famous wooden trestles that had been a major attraction of the trail; all trestles have been re-built and re-opened in 2008. We'll reach Chute Lake late afternoon where our campsite is lakeside with boating and swimming available.

DAY 4:
Chute Lake to West Summerland, 58 km / 36 miles

Today, it's a scenic downhill coast into Penticton and West Summerland. En route we’ll visit the rock ovens built by the railway builders to bake their bread in. We’ll stop for lunch and wine tasting at a prominent winery and then visit an interesting railway museum in Penticton. We’ll have dinner near Okanagan Lake; on some trips we are joined by a band of banjo playing, railway story spinning musicians.

 

DAY 5:
West Summerland to Chain Lake, 55 km / 34 miles
We continue on a steady grade westward, detouring from the railway through rolling countryside towards Faulder. We pass a number of pristine lakes, staying overnight at Chain Lake.

DAY 6:

Chain Lake to Coalmont, 60 km / 37 miles
We ride downhill to Princeton through ‘cattle country’, perhaps having lunch and a swim at the Princeton Castle along the way. We'll tour the Princeton museum and hear fascinating stories of Princeton's past. Afterwards, we continue on to Coalmont and Granite City. After dinner, we’ll take on the locals in a shuffleboard tournament in the historic Coalmont Hotel.

DAY 7:

Van transport will leave from Coalmont on Friday morning for Vancouver. For those continuing with Stage 3, please refer to the Stage 3 Itinerary.