Kettle Valley Rail Trail Extended

The Kettle Valley Railway was completed in 1915 to link the mining towns of southern British Columbia, threading through mountain terrain that engineers of the era described as the most difficult railway construction challenge in Canadian history. The railway closed in stages through the twentieth century, and the grade has been converted to a multi-use trail that now forms one of the most rideable long-distance gravel routes in western Canada.

The route follows the railway grade from Hope east through the Coquihalla Canyon, over the Myra Canyon trestle section, through the wine-country town of Penticton, and continues through the Okanagan highlands to the Kootenay region. The railway engineering principle — no grade greater than 2.2% — means the route climbs and descends with a consistency that feels unnatural compared to modern road cycling. You gain elevation for hours without noticing, then descend into valley bottoms on a gradient that's just steep enough to be engaging.

The Myra Canyon section near Kelowna is the most famous stretch: 18 trestle bridges and 2 tunnels on a ledge route above the Okanagan Valley, with views that justify the trip independently of any bikepacking agenda. This section is extremely popular and should be ridden early in the morning during peak summer to avoid foot traffic.

The trail surface varies from smooth converted rail bed to rough ballast and overgrown sections that require attention. The Hope to Princeton section has the roughest surfaces; the Okanagan sections are better maintained and more tourist-oriented. The Kootenay sections east of Grand Forks are the most remote and least maintained.

Services are good throughout the Okanagan Valley sections — Kelowna, Penticton, and Oliver are full resupply towns. The Kootenay sections are more remote, and the small towns (Grand Forks, Greenwood) have limited supplies. Water is available from streams throughout but treat everything from the agricultural sections.

Most riders take 8-10 days. The route is suitable for riders who want a long multi-day trip without the navigation complexity or technical challenge of a remote mountain route.