Ultimate guide to cycling the Myra Canyon Trestles in Kelowna
When I moved to BC my obsession with trestles began. So far I’ve ticked off the Ladner Creek trestle and now the Myra Canyon trestles. I’d tried to visit these last November but the snow had already fallen and the road was closed so we had to postpone it.
This summer I returned with some friends and we cycled the Myra Canyon bike trail before indulging at some of Kelowna’s best wineries.
If you’re also a little in love with trestles, wine or just great views, then make sure you check out this Myra Canyon trail!
Read more: Best cozy cabin rentals in the Okanagan.
The history of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR)
The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) was built between 1910 and 1916.It’s the longest rail trail network in BC running from Hope to Castlegar. It was built to connect the Kootenay region with the coast to make the most of the mineral wealth there.
The KVR ended up being 325 miles (500 kilometres) long and passed through three mountain ranges. passenger service had ceased and in 1989, the last freight train rode the rails.
The Kettle Valley railway carried both freight and passengers through until passenger service ended in 1964. The last scheduled train went through in 1973 and the tracks were removed a few years later in 1980.
Nowadays the KVR is an extensive recreational trail providing almost 650 km (400 mi) of connected pathways throughout the region. Other popular parts of the KVR besides the Myra Canyon section are the Othello Tunnels near Hope and the Ladner Creek Trestle to name a few.
About the Myra Canyon trestles
The Myra Canyon trestles in Kelowna make up part of the Kettle Valley Railway. In January 2003, this section was even designated a National Historic Site.
However with this accolade came disaster. A forest fire ripped through Myra Canyon and destroyed 12 of the trestles. It took several years but all the trestles were restored and the Myra Canyon bike trail opened in 2008.
The Myra Canyon section of the KVR runs along a very deep canyon and was originally hand built.
The Myra Canyon bike trail features two tunnels and 18 trestle bridges. It’s incredible!
This section of the Kettle Valley Railway runs between Ruth station and Myra station for 12km one-way, 24km round trip. It’s a super flat trail too which makes cycling the Myra Canyon trestles super easy.
Getting to the Myra Canyon trestles from Kelowna
The Myra Canyon trestles are roughly 18kms southeast of Kelowna. The best way to get to the trestles is to take McCulloch Road and then the Myra Forest Service Road to the Myra Station.
Myra Station is the east end of the trestles. It’s where the majority of the trestles and both the tunnels are, but I’d argue the trestles on the west are the best. They’re longer and some are curved which makes them super fun to ride!
You can also access the Myra Canyon trestles from the west via June Springs Road and the Little White Forest Service Road. This road is rougher but it’s not too bad. If you’re staying at Myra Canyon ranch or have just visited the Myra Canyon adventure park, then you’ll probably be accessing the trestles from this side.
Both roads are gravel once you reach the Forest Service Roads but easy enough for all types of car between spring and autumn.
Myra Canyon bike trail stats
Length: 12km one way
Time: Allow 2-3 hours for photo stops and a lunch break
Elevation: Basically none existent
Difficulty: Easy
Can I rent bikes near the Myra Canyon trail?
Yes! You can rent a bike from the Myra station at the Myra Canyon bike trail. Myra Canyon bike rental can be found in the parking lot. They’re the only company offering bike rental actually at the Myra Canyon trestles.
This is super convenient since you then don’t have to transport the rental bikes to the start of the trestle trail.
They have bikes in all sizes and all rentals include a helmet. An adult half-day bike rental costs $39 + tax.
Where to stay nearby
We stayed at the Myra Canyon ranch A-frame huts. These were super budget friendly (just $25pppn) and also super cute.
If you’ve got a bit of a bigger budget then definitely check out the luxurious looking rooms at the Myra Canyon ranch.
If you’d prefer to stay in downtown Kelowna then check out these hotels and B&Bs.
- Budget: Samesun Kelowna
- Mid-range: The Summer Hill Estate
- Luxury: Kelowna Bed & Breakfast or Delta Hotels if you prefer hotels
Want more Kelowna travel ideas?
How to get to Kelowna
From Vancouver
By Car
Getting to Kelowna from Vancouver is easy. Simply follow the 1 eastbound out of Vancouver until you reach Hope. From here take the 5 northbound and switch to the 97c signposted to Kelowna.
Total drive time is about 4.5 – 5 hours.
By plane
You can also fly from Vancouver to Kelowna. Flight time is around an hour if you fly direct.
FlairAir tend to do the best deals. Make sure you’re signed up to their mailing list.
From Calgary
By car
The journey from Calgary to Kelowna by car is longer (6-7 hours). But you’ll pass through Banff and other stunning places.
By plane
West Jet and Flair Air offer the cheapest flights from Calgary to Kelowna. Flight time is around an hour.
Canada Travel Planning Guide
Should I buy Canada travel insurance?
100% YES! — You should have travel insurance for all your trips. Though Canada has “free” healthcare, it’s only for residents. If you’re just visiting, you’ll need travel insurance should you need medical care. It also helps you claim for delayed flights or lost/stolen baggage. We use SafetyWing for our travel insurance!
Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?
Yes — Renting a car is a good idea in most of Canada as public transit isn’t the best!
Car hire is usually quite reasonable, especially compared to some other countries and they’ll all be automatic so you shouldn’t have a problem driving it if you’re used to manual transmission.
I personally use a mix of DiscoverCars and RentalCars to find the best deal that works for me when I rent a car. I used them in Norway, Italy, and Canada when we first moved, and have never had an issue. For RV rental I recommend Outdoorsy.
What’s the best way to pay/exchange money for Canada?
Wise (formerly Transferwise!) — I use my Wise card everywhere these days. I fill it with a certain currency and then I can spend it in countries across the world, online and even for direct debits. Wise has the best currency exchange rates (and they’ll even tell you when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!). When you pay in another currency through chip and pin or tap/wireless, they’ll automatically convert it for you – it’s easy! This link gets you a fee-free transfer.
Do I need a visa for Canada?
Many countries do not need a visa to travel to Canada — However, you may need an ETA which costs $7 (you need this if you’re from the UK). You can buy them online and they usually take a few hours to come through though it can take longer. Only ever buy from this official website otherwise you’ll end up paying more money necessarily. If you want to move to Canada, check out my guide to the Working Holiday Visa which is how we first moved there! Always check the official Canadian Immigration website to see whether you need a visa to travel there.
Will my phone work in Canada?
It depends — Some American and European companies work in Canada for a certain amount of data or time but many will not work at all. Getting a Canadian SIM card will help you get around with Google Maps and stay in touch with people back home. There isn’t much free WIFI in Canada so you can’t really rely on that, especially if you’re heading outside of major cities.
Where can I book my Canada accommodation?
I always check Booking.com for hotels or Hostel World for hostels. If I’m looking for something for a bigger group of people, or a bit more unique (cosy cabins, luxury beach houses) then I use VRBO.
When we first moved to Canada we used Trusted Housesitters to get free accommodation!
What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?
I only ever use Skyscanner to find cheap flights no matter where I’m travelling!
Last Updated on August 8, 2024 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
Is it possible to bike from the Myra canyon to the Othello tunnels ?
Hello, they’re very far away and so not something I’d recommend as I don’t believe the old railway is still in place the entire journey. They’re both great as separate trips though! Here’s my post on Othello tunnels: https://thatadventurer.co.uk/explore-othello-tunnels-hope-bc/