Kettle Valley Railway - Kelowna
Link
to www.monasheeadventuretours.com
Photo
by Monashee Adventure Tours
Hike or Cycle through
scenic Myra Canyon at Kelowna
High in the mountains immediately south of Kelowna is a
picturesque trail resulted from the abandonment of the rail line
and removal of the tracks in the early 1980’s. This section
of the rail bed passing through Myra Canyon is part of the Kettle
Valley Railway (KVR) completed in 1916 and connects with the CPR
lines at Hope and Midway to provide a direct rail link from the
southern interior to the coast. This 12 kilometer long section is
popular for hiking and cycling.
Photo
by Monashee Adventure Tours
A level grade makes
it a comfortable ride or walk along a rail bed carved into the
mountainside presenting many beautiful viewpoints. Trestles are
covered with a boardwalk and have railings. Eighteen trestles and
two tunnels in a horseshoe loop allow breathtaking views of the
Canyon and the City of Kelowna below. There are two gravel forest
service roads, leading off McCulloch Rd, that go to either end of
the railbed that passes through Myra Canyon. There is parking in
both spots. (Shuttle service, bike rentals and guided tours are
also available; see the advertisers “Monashee Adventure
Tours”, “Sparkys” & “Tykes Can
Tour”). For short tours where you may walk partway and back,
use the Myra Forest Service Rd for access. Pack water, lunch,
snack and wear sturdy footwear. Routes to KVR are active logging
roads.
