FAQs

This website is provided by Paula Sheridan, owner & operator of KVR Outfitters Bike Rentals & Tours. It is designed to help give you the information needed for a day or multi-day trip on the KVR which is a large and complex trail. The aim here is to cover a variety of communities/regions with one website rather than having to piece a lot of information together. You can also contact us for information on having a planned/self-guided or supported tour itinerary for yourself or a group.

Trails BC is a fabulous resource for this and many other trails and adventures to be found in British Columbia – we wish you a lifetime of happy trails!

No – Myra Canyon is about midway through the Carmi Subdivision section of the KVR.  The official start, or “Mile 0” of the KVR is in Midway, BC.  The Kettle Valley Museum is the former Railway station of the trail.  Please note, the Station is a Museum, not a cycling information centre.  We do update the staff at the museum as much as possible with current conditions.

If you are starting at Mile 0, traditionally you have been able to park your car at the Kettle River Museum – please check with them first for any updates before planning to do so, and be sure to leave a donation and let the staff know when you plan to return.

For a multi-day trip, we recommend not earlier than June and not later than end of Sept-early October.  Although the Okanagan Valley is generally hot and sunny, the higher elevations before and after this area are prone to snow and flooding.

Typically the ride is broken down into sections – the most common, or area we recommend the most, is a 4-7 day ride from Mile 0 in Midway to Penticton.  This is known as the Carmi Subdivision.  This takes about 4 days comfortably and adding 2-3 days layover time to explore Naramata, Penticton and cycling south to Oliver is highly recommended.

Yes, this is known as the Columbia and Western Trail and is also part of the TransCanada Trail.  The Columbia and Western Trail ends at Midway where the KVR begins.

We now have maps available for the KVR – designed and printed locally they are 100% KVR – with detail on how to get into places off the trail such as Beaverdell, Rock Creek and Naramata – these 11 x 17″ full colour maps are 2-sided.  Midway to Beaverdell, Beaverdell to Myra Canyon, McCulloch to Chute including Myra Canyon and Chute Lake to Penticton comprise the Carmi Subdivision  – or the popular Midway to Penticton route.

Add the city of Penticton plus the Southern Spur Route to Oliver & Osoyoos for a set of 6 – there is also a one-sided “overview map” of the KVR.

Have them shipped to help you plan your route or email us for information kettlevalleyrailtrail@gmail.com

or place an online map order

We have “hibernated” our tours for the past two summers – 2020 & 2021.  We have many cyclists who were already booked, for both seasons, and we are delighted to be “rolling them over” to 2022.

We are limiting our upcoming season to ensure that we can cater 100% to our guests as we always have done.  The KVR is challenging in itself, and we want you to feel safe and looked after, so will be limiting our departures for the coming season.

At this stage we are NOT accepting overseas bookings, other than ones already in place.  This is mostly due to further restrictions/complications and the fact that we are already nearly 100% booked for 2022 with prior bookings and wait lists.

If you are not already booked, or have not already contacted us for 2022, we can put you on a “wait list” and contact you once our current inquiries are confirmed to see if there are any places left.

Myra Canyon is the busiest section of the KVR but it is a relatively short section of trail – about 12 kilometres out and back.  As we cater predominantly to multi-day tours, we do not rent bikes for this section alone.  There is another operator who sets up seasonally at the Canyon for this purpose.  For more information please contact the Kelowna Information Centre.

Yes, we can arrange bike rentals for you in Penticton, Naramata, Rock Creek and Midway.  We have storage and drop off centres in these areas and can deliver bikes to your accommodation or an arranged meeting point on the Trail.  We only provide rentals for 3 day minimums and are ideally suited if you are planning your own KVR bike-packing trip.

Please contact us to get the latest information on your desired trip or check out our Tours on this website – we have multiple options from 4-6 day tours.

Wear whatever is comfortable. It is recommended to have a sturdy pair of broken-in trail shoes, boots, or sneakers. It is preferable to dress in layers and wear clothing that will wick away perspiration and keep you dry and comfortable

Not much, remember our trips are all inclusive. We do suggest you bring appropriate clothing to fit the season and a day pack to carry extra snacks and water.

We now have maps available for the KVR – designed and printed locally they are 100% KVR – with detail on how to get into places off the trail such as Beaverdell, Rock Creek and Naramata – these 11 x 17″ full colour maps are 2-sided.  Midway to Beaverdell, Beaverdell to Myra Canyon, McCulloch to Chute including Myra Canyon and Chute Lake to Penticton comprise the Carmi Subdivision  – or the popular Midway to Penticton route.

Add the city of Penticton plus the Southern Spur Route to Oliver & Osoyoos for a set of 6 – there is also a one-sided “overview map” of the KVR.

Have them shipped to help you plan your route or email us for information kettlevalleyrailtrail@gmail.com

or place an online map order

Much of the KVR is what we would call a “wilderness trail” so yes, you need to have a good awareness and be prepared to take precautionary measures.  Wildlife you may encounter includes cougars, coyotes, deer, moose, elk, wolves, bears, badgers, marmots, rattlesnakes as well as insects – mosquitos can be prolific from May to July and most importantly wasps in August and September when they can become aggressive. Be sure to take a good first aid kit with you including anti-histamines.  You may want to consider carrying bear spray, but making noise and staying together is your best way to avoid unwanted contact with wildlife.  This helps to let the animals know you are approaching and gives them time to move away.

The KVR covers 455 kilometres and over that distance you can expect every different type of trail surface imaginable! from practically paved hard packed surfaces (particularly near major centres where trail upgrades have been achieved and in provincial park areas such as Myra Canyon) to single track sections, detours due to rock fall/wind blown trees/slides, standing water particularly on the upper sections around McCulloch Lake and Myra Canyon to Chute Lake, as well as soft, sandy conditions and some rocky areas.

Standing water is generally found up to the end of June and sometimes the end of July depending on snow pack and spring/summer rains.

Sandy conditions become more apparent as the summer heats up and the moisture evaporates from the ground. If you have booked a tour with us, we will let you know of any extreme conditions just prior to your tour, but please keep in mind that the KVR is predominantly a wilderness trail and conditions can change at any time – be prepared! We recommend riding with a minimum width of 1.9″ knobby tires and ideally front suspension.  We include Giant Sedona Trail bikes with all of our tours, but you are also welcome to bring your own.  Please check with us first if you are bringing your own bike – you will need a rear rack as well and will receive a reduction off the price of the tour.

The KVR is about 455 kilometres in length with numerous access points. To help facilitate multi-day trips, we have chosen to be a “mobile operation”. This means we can deliver bikes to you at various points along the trail to start your journey and pick them up at your finish point.

No – Myra Canyon is about midway through the Carmi Subdivision section of the KVR.  The official start, or “Mile 0” of the KVR is in Midway, BC.  The Kettle Valley Museum is the former Railway station of the trail.  Please note, the Station is a Museum, not a cycling information centre.  We do update the staff at the museum as much as possible with current conditions.

For a multi-day trip, we recommend not earlier than June and not later than end of Sept-early October.  Although the Okanagan Valley is generally hot and sunny, the higher elevations before and after this area are prone to snow and flooding.

Typically the ride is broken down into sections – the most common, or area we recommend the most, is a 4-7 day ride from Mile 0 in Midway to Penticton.  This is known as the Carmi Subdivision.  This takes about 4 days comfortably and adding 2-3 days layover time to explore Naramata, Penticton and cycling south to Oliver is highly recommended.

We now have maps available for the KVR – designed and printed locally they are 100% KVR – with detail on how to get into places off the trail such as Beaverdell, Rock Creek and Naramata – these 11 x 17″ full colour maps are 2-sided.  Midway to Beaverdell, Beaverdell to Myra Canyon, McCulloch to Chute including Myra Canyon and Chute Lake to Penticton comprise the Carmi Subdivision  – or the popular Midway to Penticton route.

Add the city of Penticton plus the Southern Spur Route to Oliver & Osoyoos for a set of 6 – there is also a one-sided “overview map” of the KVR.

Have them shipped to help you plan your route or email us for information kettlevalleyrailtrail@gmail.com

or place an online map order

Much of the KVR is what we would call a “wilderness trail” so yes, you need to have a good awareness and be prepared to take precautionary measures.  Wildlife you may encounter includes cougars, coyotes, deer, moose, elk, wolves, bears, badgers, marmots, rattlesnakes as well as insects – mosquitos can be prolific from May to July and most importantly wasps in August and September when they can become aggressive. Be sure to take a good first aid kit with you including anti-histamines.  You may want to consider carrying bear spray, but making noise and staying together is your best way to avoid unwanted contact with wildlife.  This helps to let the animals know you are approaching and gives them time to move away.