Vineyards and Rail Trails in the Okanagan Valley

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW

Parts of the Okanagan, in British Columbia, Canada, have been likened to the vine covered rolling hills of southern France and Northern Italy.  In conjunction with the extensive decommissioned rail trail system throughout the entire Okanagan Valley and the stellar accommodations in hotels plus our rolling hills scenery, they all combine to deliver a series of day rides that is second to none in joy and ease of visiting "Tuscany on a budget."

This is a partial fixed base tour in which we will be staying in upscale hotels, spending the first 4 nights in Kelowna, then 3 nights in Penticton and 3 nights in Osoyoos, then cycle back to Penticton for another night prior to cycling back to Kelowna for the last night to finish our tour.  There are 4 mandatory ride days between the locations.

We will be spending a few days in each of these locations, riding rail trails, visiting wineries and vineyards, cycling secondary paved back country roads with little traffic and stellar paved surfaces.  

Our three separate days cycling on the hard packed gravel surface of the famous Kettle Valley Railway / Myra Canyon trail systems - off road - will be the highlight rides of an amazing adventurous 12 day tour of our Wine Capital of BC.  

We also throw in a couple of hill climb days to whet our appetites for serious thrilling descents through the grasslands and Ponderosa Forests, cattle ranches and lake country.  Bring your swim suits every day as we are alongside very enticing lake opportunities. 

(Note: Detailed itinerary follows the sign-up information below)

 RIDE RATING

This ride is a 2B.  There are 4 mandatory cycling days and 7 optional days.  Based on the 4 mandatory days the average daily distance is 70 km (45 mi) and the average elevation of 535 m ( 1755 ft ) 
Optional days that are above the 2B rating are:
Day 2 (120 km/75mi and 178m/583 ft elevation )
Day 6 (75 km/46 mi and  1263m / 4143 ft elevation)
Day 9 (90 km/56 mi and 982m/3221 ft elevation)
Day 10 (35 km/ 22 mi  and 866m/2841 ft elevation)

Riders will have 2B or less ride options on 3 of the days.

Riders are expected to be comfortable riding on a multitude of surfaces, including compact dirt, loose dirt and bike paths, along with riding up to 18 km (11 mi) on a busy highway between Kelowna and Penticton, a required ride day.  It is important to carry sufficient water on the rides, there may not always be a water stop nearby.

WEATHER

September weather in the Okanagan is usually great with little precipitation, but plan on rain anyway...you never know.  Temperatures range from average lows of 43 F (6 C) to average highs of 74 F (23 C). Be prepared at all times of year by bringing rain and wind gear and a dry change of clothing.

LODGING and MEALS 

The tour includes 12 nights accommodation in 3 upscale hotels, 11 breakfasts,  snacks, one winery lunch, 3 group dinners (including transportation to restaurant), 12 social hours with snacks and beverages.

We will begin and end the tour for a total of 5 nights at the upscale Best Western Plus in Kelowna, 4 nights at the conveniently located, recently renovated Ramada Inn in Penticton, and 3 nights at the luxurious beachside Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos.

VAN SUPPORT

The  trailer will transport your luggage on the 4 mandatory ride days. Participants are expected to ride the entire route on those mandatory days and will be transported only in the case of emergency. Riders should be able to handle their own bike repairs - and at a minimum, know how to change your tire. 

BICYCLES 

Your bicycle should have tires with some tread, that are a minimum of 28-32mm width!  Smaller size tires are not recommended due to the rail trail surfaces not being paved, with some short loose sandy parts.  E-bikes and tandems may be used, after consulting with your tour leader.  There is a bike shuttle during the tour which may not be able to accommodate e-bikes and tandems.  The bike shuttle will transport riders and bikes 25 km (16 mi) uphill (12% grade!) to Myra Canyon to start the 72 km (45 mi) ride through the mountains at a 3% grade.  Participants needing to rent a bicycle will need to make their own arrangements.  Ask your tour leader for source suggestions. 

LOGISTICS

The tour starts and ends in Kelowna, BC.  Riders can fly or drive there.  Major airlines that fly into Kelowna International Airport (YLW) are Westjet, Air Canada, and Alaska Airlines.  A complimentary shuttle to the hotel may be available at certain times, please check with the Best Western Plus before you arrive.  The ride starts with a social hour at 5 pm at the hotel on Sept 12,2022  and ends in Kelowna on Sept 24, 2022, after breakfast. 
   
You may ship your bikes ahead to the Best Western Plus Hotel in Kelowna, and you may also leave your empty bike boxes at the hotel during our bike tour, because we will be spending the last night there. Riders are asked to bring two small carry on bags (able to carry on plane) each weighing less than 25 lbs, rather than larger suitcases that are hard to lift and pack on to the trailer.  Larger luggage can be stored at the hotel in Kelowna during the tour.

Free parking is provided at the hotel for those travelling by car.

Bike rentals are the responsibility of participants.  Ask your tour leader for suggestions.

Should any forest fire risk become a specific concern, the ride leader will review the situation with tour participants.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION

The estimated cost of this bike tour is $2500  plus the $50 BAC registration fee.  The tour includes 12 nights accommodation, 11 breakfasts, winery tour and lunch, snacks, 3 group dinners, 12 social hours with snacks and beverages, shuttles to restaurant and shuttle from Kelowna to Myra Canyon, RideWithGPS tracks which provide downloads to gpx tracks, and to smart phones.

Initial tour deposit is $1500 plus the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $50 is due by credit card when you sign up.   As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.

Second and final payment of $1000 is due no later than June 30, 2022.

Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment

SINGLES AND SOLO POLICY

It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until January 31, 2022 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $1500 solo supplement and stay on the ride. 

If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by June 30, 2022.  Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. They should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY

Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, members should review their medical coverage and assess whether what you have is sufficient. If it isn’t, you should purchase additional travel medical coverage. BAC maintains a policy that provides coverage for expenses related to medical emergencies and repatriation when members are on tours outside the US and their home country. The policy ceases to be applicable if a member makes a personal deviation (e.g., makes a side trip not related to the planned BAC tour), has limits on expenses covered for family members and only applies for 45 days following departure from home. There is also limited coverage for medical expenses associated with accidents incurred by US residents when on tours within the US. None of the policies maintained by BAC will cover costs associated with self-quarantines that may be government mandated. Members should also ensure that vaccinations are up to date (e.g., annual influenza, tetanus, etc.). If travelling outside your home country you may wish to consult with a travel physician or nurse to ensure that the appropriate vaccinations are up to date.

COVID

If we still have a Covid 19 risk, we will follow all the necessary rules, and change activities as needed to remain Covid compliant, and can keep the tour as safe as possible. We will invite participants to a Zoom meeting prior to June 30,2022 with a possible followup 45 days prior to the tour start date to finalize our COVID protocols. You may be asked to wear PPE in public, maintain social distance in public and limit social gathering in public according to the state's mandate.

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description.  After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee and Tour Deposit by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Leader by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.

DAILY ITINERARY
  
DAY 1  - Arrival day
Arrival at our centrally located, upscale Kelowna BC hotel.
Dinner is on your own this evening.  Our hotel is central to a wide variety of great restaurants.

DAY 2  Out and back cycle Kelowna-Vernon on rail trail and secondary roads
After breakfast (included), we will hop onto the Kelowna to Vernon Rail Trail which starts about 400 m from our rooms.  Flat and mixed surface riding for 120 kms return ( 60 miles ).   There are some paved roads sections to navigate but primarily you are on hard packed, small gravel or paved rail trails route the entire day.  Tonight we will arrange transportation for us all to have dinner together at Masa's Grill at the Harvest Golf Club just outside of the town centre.

DAY 3  - Backcountry cycle Myra Canyon area  
Today is different. We take a shuttle service from our hotel up 700 m ( 2130 feet ) vertical to the start of today's Rail Trail ride through the famous Myra Canyon trestles.  Small gravel surface, low grade change, vistas, forests, tunnels and sweeping trestles over many canyons is your start for the day.   You can continue further into the forest over to Highway 33 past the Hydraulic Lakes, and then a thrilling downhill run on a paved secondary Highway 33 back to our hotel.   If you want a shorter ride, you can return to where the shuttle dropped us off and  cycle downhill through the small hobby farm neighbourhoods back to our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.

DAY 4 -Local Kelowna ride options    
Today we will offer options to cycle many different City routes and sites.  You will obtain a feel for the city of Kelowna and its lake shore living.  

DAY 5  Required cycle Kelowna to Penticton     
Today, we'll be cycling from Kelowna to Penticton. The route today is a very mixed bag of surfaces and road conditions , so please follow the provided route(s) instructions closely.  You will check in to the very comfortable well equipped Ramada Inn, which has an excellent restaurant and pub, or you can choose to go downtown where there are many choices of fine restaurants and popular brewery restaurants.

DAY 6   Local Penticton ride options    
Today we do elevations on mostly secondary country paved roads starting from our hotel, cycling uphill towards Apex Mountain. You'll wind your way back to Penticton through paved secondary roads and grasslands , then through the hamlet of Kaleden to connect with the good gravel surface of the KVR, and back to your hotel for dinner on your own.

DAY 7 Local Penticton ride options morning   
This morning we offer some local ride options, or you can choose to  explore the beachside community of Penticton.  At 12:15 we have arranged for a local wine tour, pickup at hotel, then starting the 3 winery tour at the Poplar Grove Winery for lunch.  After our arranged activities, you can take your swim suits and towels to the in house pool, or walk / ride to the sandy Okanagan Lake beachfront for an early evening swim and ice cream cone before you settle in for the evening.

DAY 8  Required cycle Penticton to Osoyoos    
Today is a mixed cycling day leaving Penticton to cycle south to Osoyoos, where you will check in to your condo style suite at the Watermark Beach Resort on Osoyoos Lake.   We ride the rail trail through the city of Penticton, then meander south alongside Skaha Lake and various vineyards and wineries, through the town of Oliver, advertised as the Wine Capital of B.C.  We pickup the rail trail once again here, which is mostly paved.  Most all of our day is cycling alongside vineyards and rural settings.  The hotel has an excellent restaurant and here are many quality restaurants nearby.

DAY  9  PASSPORT needed - local Osoyoos ride crosses USA border
Today's ride takes you up Richter Pass with lots of hill climbing to start.  A few kilometers from the top, you make a hard left turn south to Nighthawk border crossing.  You'll cycle alongside the Smilkameen River; a stunning paved side road into Washington state alongside  lakes and creeks.  Bring your passport - that is mandatory today.    

DAY 10 Local Osoyoos ride options      
Today we offer a few local ride options, with an opportunity to visit a Native cultural museum at Spirit Ridge   OR   you can challenge yourselves by starting very early in the morning to ride up Anarchist Mountain.  This is a very popular route for the bicycling community to challenge strength and endurance. The afternoon can include a Hop on Hop off wine tour on your own if you so desire, or just relax at your hotel with swimming pool, spa and hot tub.  This evening, we will transport the group up the hill to have a superb group dinner on the patio at NK'MIP Cellars, with views of the valley below.  It is another stunning setting for the evening.
         
Day 11   Required ride Osoyoos to Penticton  
Your return route today, takes you on delightful back country paved roads alongside ranches, vineyards and orchards with little traffic.  We'll stay at the now familiar Ramada Inn and enjoy a group dinner at the Hooded Marganser on Okanagan Lake.

Day  12  Required ride Penticton to Kelowna   
Today is your final cycling day. You will experience an iconic cycle from the Ramada Inn, along the lakeside, on to the rail trail to pass through the Little Tunnel to Chute Lake Resort, on the KVR.  There are amazing views of Penticton and Okanagan Lake, especially at the Little Tunnel.  Chute Lake is a good place to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on along the KVR to Myra Canyon and an exhilarating cycle down to Kelowna where you will check in to your Kelowna Hotel one last time.