The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Vineyards and Rail Trails in the Okanagan Valley

September 12th to September 24th

Ride Director: Margaret Slack
Ride Co-Director: David Pacey
Report by: Maria Nelson

This was a 12 day modified fixed base tour exploring the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.  The tour started and ended in Kelowna with stays in Penticton and Osoyoos. The daily rides highlighted the Kettle Valley Rail trail (KVR) and Myra Canyon routes.  The tour included spectacular scenery every day with mountain views and the sparkling Okanagan Lake, and other lakes in British Columbia and the northern US.  We rode on a variety of surfaces from packed gravel, city streets, multi-lane highways and challenging rustic back road trails. The ride leaders often took us on charming side roads along lake fronts to avoid highway riding.  We saw many vineyards along our daily rides and visited a few wineries as a group.  The wine industry is booming in the Okanagan Valley.  Breakfasts were included each day, along with well supplied happy hours and three group dinners.  Ride participants were grouped into teams to help manage the happy hour food/drinks.  Two mandatory Covid tests were conducted (days 1 and 5) with no positive results. Ride participants were advised to have wide bike tires; those without them experienced challenging rides as a result. Recommendation for future tours:  riders should have gravel or mountain bikes, or road bikes with 32mm tires. Bring replacement tubes for tires due to the “goat head” thorns on the ground.  Margaret and David were very attentive in making sure we all enjoyed ourselves. Summary: Great tour, great participants, great ride leaders!

Kelowna:  Day 2 was an out and back cycle from Kelowna to Vernon including rail trails.  That evening included a group dinner at the Cactus Club, an enjoyable restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

Day 3 included a shuttle to a rail trail ride through the amazing 18 Myra Canyon trestles. 

Day 4 was an “optional” day and many of the participants rested or rode the local ride options around Kelowna.

Penticton:  Day 5 from Kelowna to Penticton, our first “required” ride - 46 miles along the western shore of Okanagan Lake along many different road surfaces including a major highway.  We stayed at a centrally located Ramada Inn.

Day 6 – Many of the riders rode Green Mountain uphill to Twin Lakes.  Lots of climbing and beautiful back roads. A catering friend of Margaret’s provided a sumptuous happy hour banquet for us.  Another friend provided a history of the KVR.

Day 7 – Rode the KVR 12 miles up a 2.2% grade on a packed gravel trail through the “Little Tunnel.”  Headed back downhill into the lakeside town of Naramata.  Steep climbing up two separate hills to get back to Penticton.  The group shuttled to four wineries for tasting and a group dinner at the Poplar Grover winery.  Fun!

Osoyoos:  Day 8 included a required ride from Penticton to Osoyoos alongside vineyards and rural settings. Our rooms (apartments) were at the Waterside Beach Resort.  Again, many restaurants and shops nearby.

Days 9 and 10:  Optional rides that took us across the US border, along the Osoyoos Lake, Similkameen River, Palmer Lake, Oroville and a challenging ride up Anarchist Mountain.  A strong north wind provided an additional challenge.  A memorable group dinner at the NK’MIP Native Cultural Center and Cellars.

Day 11:  Required ride from Osoyoos to Penticton.

Day 12:  Required ride from Penticton to Osoyoos.  The provided route included over 40 miles of unpaved roads/trails, many of them not in good condition and difficult for all riders.  Some riders opted to be on the highway, some took shortcuts.  Margaret has indicated she will not offer this route on future tours.