Kettle Valley Trail Stage 2 – Mountain Biking

Kettle Valley Trail Mountain Biking: Stage 2
From Beaverdell to Princeton

This tour incorporates the classic Kettle Valley line with overnights at McCulloch Lake, Chute Lake, West Summerland, Chain Lake and Princeton. 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.

*The July tour will donate $50 per participant to the Great Trail (Trans-Canada Trail).

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

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

Location

Beaverdell

Beaverdell, BC, Canada

Stage 2 Starting Location

Myra

Myra, BC, Canada

Penticton

Penticton, BC, Canada

Summerland

Summerland, BC, Canada

Osprey Lake

Osprey Lake, Okanagan-Similkameen H, BC, Canada

Princeton

Princeton, BC, Canada

Stage 2 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
6 nights camping
All breakfasts, lunches & dinners (appetizers daily, gourmet meals, lots of variety, vegetarians gladly accommodated)
Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
GPS instructions
All baggage transportation
All transportation from initial meeting point to final drop-off (Beaverdell / Princeton)

Not Included

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

Particulars

EVENT DATES

2023

Jul 15-21

2024

Jul 13-19

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

TRIP SIZE

8-16 participants

TOTAL DAYS

7 days / 6 nights (5 riding days)

ARRIVE / DEPART

Beaverdell / Princeton

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate
20-37+ miles daily
Van supported

TERRAIN

The railgrade has a maximum grade of 2%. Note, however that due to the trail surface, sandy and loose in places, cyclists need to have good bike handling skills and stamina to do the full daily distances. Shorter options are available and it is possible to ride the 'best of' with strategic shuttles and have an easy-going trip.

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 Beaverdell: CAD $85
- From Hope to Beaverdell: CAD $85
- From Princeton to Beaverdell: CAD $65
Departure day:
- From Princeton to Hope: CAD $55
- From Princeton to Vancouver: CAD $55

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 who have booked transportation from Vancouver, we transfer at 10 am to Beaverdell, stopping in Hope & Princeton to pick-up (you can park your car at the finish of the stage you are doing if you prefer). We arrive to our campsite near Beaverdell late afternoon and enjoy a welcome reception and dinner.

Day 2

Beaverdell to McCulloch Lake

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 Hydraulic Lake where we overnight.
Distance: 24 km; 270m or 55 km; Elevation gain: 650m

Day 3

McCulloch Lake to Chute Lake

Today, you’ll ride the spectacular Myra Canyon with its iconic trestles and views that are spectacular. We’ll reach Chute Lake late afternoon where our campsite is lakeside. Enjoy a cold beer at the historic Chute Lake Lodge or take a swim in the pristine lake.
Distance: 50 km; Elevation gain: 360m.

Day 4

Chute Lake to West Summerland

Today, it’s a scenic downhill coast into Penticton. En route we’ll visit the rock ovens built by the railway builders to bake their bread in. The trail crosses through Naramata, BC’s famos wine region (Hillside Winery is right on the trail and tasting is possible). We vist the museum in Penticton, followed by a picnic lunch. From Penticton to Summerland you have the option to ride the railbed up and over 73 meter high Trout Creek bridge, the highest of its type in North America. Dinner will be at our campsite a few hundred meters from Okanagan Lake.
Distance: 42 km; 50m + shuttle or 62 km; Elevation gain: 250 m

Day 5

West Summerland to Osprey Lake

West of Summerland there is a new Trans-Canada Trail to Faulder; if you wish to sleep in and take the steam train for a section of trail this is an option (you would cycle the shorter distance and shuttle to Osprey Lake). We pass a number of pristine lakes, staying overnight at a beautifuy campsite at Osprey Lake.
Distance: 25 km + shuttle or 51 km; Elevation gain: 865m

Day 6

Osprey Lake to Princeton

We ride downhill to Princeton through some of the most beautiful scenery in British Columbia. Our ride will finish after crossing the newly built ‘Bridge of Dreams’ a cycling and pedestrian bridge completed in 2010 thanks to a determined Vermilion Trails Society, the City of Princeton and generous funders.Visit the local museum here and then reach our campsite located on the Tulameen River.
Distance: 52 km; Elevation gain: 150 m

Day 7

Departure Day

Van transport will leave from Princeton after breakfast for Hope & Vancouver.
For those continuing with Stage 3, please refer to the Stage 3 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

Paul & Robyn D. – Morphett Vale, Australia

September 27, 2019

“We thoroughly enjoyed the trip with the scenery, the challenge of the ride, the campsites and the food. The other
people on the trip were lots of fun too. The scenery was more interesting than I expected. It was also more remote than I expected and drier really. I had no idea what to expect with regard to lake swimming or what was meant by wilderness camping. We were very impressed by the variety of wild life we saw. All meals were excellent. The van was available when the terrain allowed it. We found the bikes to be excellent. I just love riding through the shady forest and seeing wild life and beautiful mountain scenery.”

Luzia G. – Vernon, BC

September 27, 2019

“The GPS app worked well for me. Food was above my expectations. The wine tasting we went to was very good. Chateau Robin was awesome! It was more difficult than I expected due to the sand. But it was also my first trip so I wasnt sure what to expect. Now we know. Nothing that I could say was bad.”

Allison B

July 3, 2014

“The Okanagan is such a beautiful spot!”

Robert C.

July 14, 2013

“Some stunningly beautiful scenery. On a camping trip we actually prefer camp meals if well done and indeed they were. We certainly were well taken care of.”

Janet S. – Vancouver, BC

July 14, 2013

“As this was my first ride of this nature, I didn’t have any real expectations about it. It was definitely challenging at times, but a good challenging. The group was well-suited to the terrain. The wine-tasting was nice; the choice for lunch excellent! It was glorious to come in to our tents already up!! Thank you!”

Stephen F. – North Vancouver, BC

July 25, 2012

“The guides did a great job & the food preparation was fantastic!”

Dorothy P. – Abbotsford, BC

July 16, 2007

“I just came back from the Kettle Valley Trail. Thanks to the guides I felt good about my accomplishment. They were funny, entertaining and great cooks. I came home with great ideas and motivation to eat healthier. The fellow riders were all great folks. Thanks again to our guides for a wonderful time.”

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