Kettle Valley Trail Stage 1 – Mountain Biking

Kettle Valley Trail Mountain Biking: Stage 1 – Castlegar to Beaverdell

The first stage begins in the historic village of Castlegar, located at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. We’ll visit the turn-of-the-century towns of Grand Forks, Greenwood, Rock Creek with some wilderness backcountry in between. One of the highlights will be the cycle along Arrow and Christina Lakes with a view only the railbed enjoys. Overnight stations will be in a mix of provincial, private and backcountry sites, where you’ll enjoy the serenity of this timeless landscape. Cyclists who enjoy single-track riding will be thrilled with the additional trails located at or near our overnight locations.

This tour can be combined with the Stage 2 trip & Stage 3 trip offered in conjunction.

Want to know more? Read Robbin’s full story about Kettle Valley here.

Location

Castlegar

Castlegar, BC, Canada

Stage 1 Starting Location

Christina Lake

Christina Lake, BC, Canada

Grand Forks

Grand Forks, BC, Canada

Greenwood

Greenwood, BC, Canada

Midway

Midway, BC, Canada

Beaverdel

Beaverdell, BC, Canada

Stage 1 End Location

What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?

INCLUDED IN REGULAR TRIP

Services of one or more experienced Great Explorations guides
Support vehicle
All overnight camping as specified in the 'Accommodations' tab
All breakfasts, lunches & dinners (appetizers daily, gourmet meals, lots of variety, vegetarians gladly accommodated)
GPS instructions
All baggage transportation

Not Included

Mountain bike rental
Camping gear
Transfer to Castlegar on arrival day
Transfer to Hope or Vancouver on departure day

Particulars

EVENT DATES

2023

Jul 10-16

2024

Jul 8-14

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

TRIP SIZE

8-12 participants

TOTAL DAYS

7 days / 6 nights (5 riding days)

ARRIVE / DEPART

Castlegar / Beaverdell

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate
20-30+ miles daily
Van supported

TERRAIN

The railgrade has a maximum grade of 2%

COST

Land Cost:
CAD $1,950*
Includes all meals

Mountain Bike Rental:
CAD $280*

*Prices before tax. British Columbia applies a 5% GST.

Transfers Available (bike transportation inc.):

Arrival day:
- From Vancouver to Castlegar: CAD $85
- From Hope to Castlegar: CAD $85
- From Beaverdell to Castlegar: CAD $65
Departure day:
- From Beaverdell to Hope: CAD $65
- From Beaverdell to Vancouver: CAD $65

Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by telephone at 604.730.1247

Day 1

Arrival Day

For those traveling from Vancouver, we offer van shuttle from Vancouver departing at 7:30 am, stopping in Kelowna for lunch en route with a stop in Beaverdell to pick-up anyone who wishes to leave their cars there. We arrive at Castlegar usually by 5:00 pm.

Day 2

Castlegar to Tunnel Station

Today, we start on the railbed with incredible views of Lower Arrow Lake. The railbed hugs the cliffside as it climbs to Bulldog Tunnel (almost 1 km long). We’ll camp at Tunnel Station, overlooking Dog Creek Valley. We’ll have a backcountry cookout and relax under the stars.
Distance: 40 km.

Day 3

Tunnel Station to Christina Lake

We cycle a gradual 2% grade up to the summit at Farron and then enjoy a long descent to Christina Lake, where boating and swimming are possible. There are also wonderful trails to ride (or hike) in the area, so for those who wish, we’ll explore Texas Creek Provincial Park.
Distance: 43 km.

Day 4

Christina Lake to Grand Forks

Leaving Christina Lake, we climb back up to the rail grade before continuing on to Grand Forks where we’ll have lunch at the museum. For those who want a break from the bike, there is lots to explore in town.
Distance: 30 km.

Day 5

Grand Forks to Rock Creek

From Grand Forks, we’ll continue along the railbed to Greenwood, a town that boasted 26 hotels in 1899! Many of the buildings have been restored and stand testament to a rich past. We’ll have lunch at a superb bistrot in town, and then visit the local museum before continuing on to Rock Creek, located on the Kettle River.
Distance: 65 km.

Day 6

Rock Creek to Beaverdell

Today’s ride follows the Kettle River as it winds its way towards Beaverdell. You’ll want to spend some time at the Kettle River Park where there is an excellent swimming spot and beach. We’ll camp at Little Dipper Campground, just east of Beaverdell.
Distance: 49 km.

Day 7

Departure Day

Van transport will leave from our campsite on Sunday morning after breakfast for Vancouver, arriving around 2:00 pm. For those that are continuing with Stage 2, please refer to the Stage 2 Itinerary.

Camping

Camp sites include a mix of provincial, private and wilderness parks; on 3 of the 6 nights, hot showers are available (on 3 evenings we are at wilderness sites with solar showers and propane heated basins of water to wash).

Trip Reviews

Dave B. – Port Coquitlam, BC

July 13, 2014

“Stage 1 of the Kettle Valley is an amazing ride with some beautiful country that most people will not see but I would recommend. Once we were in camp the meals were the highlight to end an awesome day. This is my second trip with Great Explorations with more to come! Trip was well organized and campsites were very good.”

George S – Nanoose Bay, BC

July 16, 2010

“What I enjoyed most about the trip was the guides-nothing was too much for them and the food quality and quantity was 1st class. It’s hard to improve on perfection”

Leave a Review

Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.