Kettle Valley Rail Trail

A classic rail-trail ride in Canada’s southern interior, with a famous trestle-and-tunnel section at Myra Canyon.

Time to Ride: Many riders do a half-day out-and-back at the Myra Canyon Trestles, while longer point-to-point trips take several days if you link multiple sections.

Best Time to Go: Late spring to early autumn is the usual riding window in the Okanagan and Boundary region, when higher-elevation sections are clear of snow.

Getting there: The most common access is via Kelowna for the Myra Canyon section, or via towns along the corridor between Penticton and the Boundary region.

Costs: Riding the trail itself is generally low-cost, but budgets vary depending on bike hire, shuttles, and whether you stay in towns or camp.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate - it is a rail grade in many places, but surfaces can be gravel and some sections are remote or impacted by washouts.

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail in the Okanagan-Boundary region of southern British Columbia. It uses the rail corridor built for the now-abandoned Kettle Valley Railway, developed into a trail in the 1990s after train service was abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The route’s most celebrated ride is the Myra Canyon section on Okanagan Mountain, south of Kelowna. Here the original railway required 18 wooden trestles and two tunnels between Myra station and June Springs station to traverse the deep canyon. After a fatal cyclist accident and years of trestle disrepair, upgrades added repairs plus handrails and planking to make crossings safer.

This Myra Canyon railway section was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002. It was heavily damaged by the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, which destroyed 12 of the 18 trestles and damaged bridge decks on two metal bridges. The provincial government rebuilt the structures, and the restored trail reopened on June 22, 2008, alongside further safety work such as rock face stabilisation.

• Stage 1: Kelowna to Myra Canyon (km not specified) - A popular access to the trestles area on Okanagan Mountain, often ridden as an out-and-back rather than a full traverse.
• Stage 2: Myra Canyon trestles and tunnels loop or out-and-back (km not specified) - The headline section: multiple high wooden trestles and two tunnels on a steady rail grade, with major safety upgrades and rebuilt structures after the 2003 fire.
• Stage 3: Myra Station to June Springs Station (km not specified) - The historic canyon-traverse section where the original railway engineering is most concentrated.
• Stage 4: Penticton side approaches (km not specified) - Connections toward the southern end of the Myra Canyon corridor; check current route continuity and access points before committing to a through-ride.
• Stage 5: Penticton to McCulloch Lake area (km not specified) - A longer, higher-elevation stretch referenced in fire-affected portions; expect a more remote feel than the city-accessed trestles.
• Stage 6: Princeton area (km not specified) - Be aware of major storm impacts west of town: flooding in November 2021 washed out many portions of the rail grade.
• Stage 7: Princeton to Coalmont and Tulameen (currently unusable in places) - As of the documented flood damage, this segment can be unusable due to washouts; verify current conditions locally before planning.
• Stage 8: Brookmere and Coquihalla Lakes approaches (currently unusable in places) - Also affected by the 2021 flooding event; treat as a route-planning constraint unless confirmed reopened.

The main season is late spring through early autumn in southern British Columbia, when higher points on Okanagan Mountain are typically snow-free and the trestle section is most comfortable to ride.

Expect the busiest periods on fair-weather summer weekends around Myra Canyon. Key hazards are heat and sun exposure in the interior, wildfire smoke during bad fire seasons, and sudden trail closures or detours after storms or rockfall work - and, for longer itineraries, the documented flood damage near Princeton.

For the best-known riding, most visitors base themselves in Kelowna and head south onto Okanagan Mountain to reach the Myra Canyon Trestles. That makes an out-and-back day ride straightforward, without needing a shuttle.

Longer point-to-point plans depend on which sections you want to link. The historic corridor mentioned for the railway ran between Midway and Penticton, but some western areas around Princeton have had severe washouts (see current conditions) which may affect through-riding. Many riders choose to ride the Myra Canyon section in either direction and return the same way.

Check local park rules and notices; some sections that pass through provincial parks or other protected areas may have specific access rules or permit requirements.

The riding surface is generally an old rail grade, which usually means a steady, relatively gentle climb and descent, but often on gravel. The Myra Canyon structures have been restored and had safety improvements added, including handrails and planking. Bike hire and e-bikes are commonly available in larger centres such as Kelowna and Penticton; for point-to-point rides, look for local shuttle options where available.

For a trestles-focused trip, staying in Kelowna is the simplest option, with a wide range of accommodation and easy day-ride access to Myra Canyon. If you want to include southern sections, Penticton is another practical base.

On multi-day rides, you will generally overnight in towns along the corridor or near access points rather than on the trestle section itself. In peak summer, book ahead in the Okanagan if you want specific bike-friendly lodging, especially on weekends.