Kettlevalleytrestles
Perry Mack
They said ‘walk your bike across the trestles’. I stopped walking bicycles the same time the training wheels came off. Now I wished I had got off my bike and walked. I was 150 feet above the ravines base as my bike wheels bounced in between the railway ties spaced far enough apart that I could look between them to valley bottom. A wrong bounce, a twist of the tires and my bike and I would be making a quick trip to oblivion, but what a view. It was 1993 and my first trip to the Myra canyon section of the Kettle valley railway. I’ve been every year since often more than once and the old rail line has become a time line of my life.
Since that first ride the Myra canyon trestles have been upgraded and restored with wooden boardwalks and substantial guard rails. Now anyone can enjoy the spectacular views from the 16 wooden trestles and an old railway tunnel in complete safety. It’s not often that history rises from the ashes inspiring you to lift your eyes to the heavens while your imagination flies back in time to imagine the pioneers who literally risked their lives to build this line.
So awe-inspiring are these trestles, tunnels and rock cuts that in 1973 CBC used the location to film a segment of Pierre Burton’s ‘National Dream’.
The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR), an abandoned railway bed that winds through south central British Columbia between Midway and Hope. As a typical railway bed the grades never exceed 3% so it makes for a leisurely ride or walk. The entire route is an astounding 600 kms of travel routes but with multiple access and egress you can enjoy as small or large a portion as you like.
In June 1973 the Kettle Valley Railway section in the Myra Canyon, with its wood-frame trestles, tunnels, rock cuts, and awe-inspiring mountainous terrain, was used by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as a location for filming a segment of Pierre Berton's "National Dream" television film on the construction of the CPR through the mountains of British Columbia.
The Myra canyon section of the trestles was completely destroyed by the Okanagan Mountain Park fire in 2003. Before we were evacuated, I looked southwest from my deck as the fires came within 2 kms of my house, fireballs exploding two hundred feet into the air from the 80 ft ponderosa pines and I knew the trestles were doomed. Strangely enough I wasn’t too worried about my house as everything was insured and it was just ‘stuff’. But the trestles weren’t, who would care enough to rebuild a historical treasure who’s financial reason for existence had long ago ceased.
As it turns out a lot of people cared enough. The Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society was formed shortly after the fires and with thousands of donated volunteer hours and dollars all trestles destroyed by the fires were rebuilt to historical specifications using British Columbia wood and labour on Sunday June 22, 2008. If haven’t brought bikes with you on your trip you can rent them for $29 for the day at Sports Rent at 2936 Pandosy Street in Kelowna ( 250) 861-5699 or www.sportsrentkelowna.com.
My sons first hike on the trestles was from the pack on my back and my mothers last memories of BC before Alzheimer’s took them. These trestles are part of my home, my family a railline who’s history enriches the timeline of my life and i encourage you to make it a part of yours.
The world-famous Myra Canyon is located just 18 kilometres southeast of downtown Kelowna. To access Myra Canyon by vehicle, take KLO Road to McCulloch Road, follow McCulloch Road past Gallagher's Canyon Golf Course, until you reach Myra Forest Service Road. It is marked with signs. Follow that road 8 ½ kms to the rail bed and the Myra parking area. Avid cyclists may wish to access from the June Springs entrance on the west side of the Canyon. The paths are relatively clear of snow by end of April depending on the size of the snowpack. http://www.myratrestles.com
If hiking or biking isn’t your forte ( and even if it is) you can still take an entertaining ride in Summerland with the Kettle Valley Steam railway. Special events include a dinner and entertainment, you may even experience a train robbery with the antics of the Garnet Valley Gang. http://kettlevalleyrail.org
Myra Canyon area Parks
Holiday Park Resort
1-415 Commonwealth Road
Kelowna, BC (800) 752-9678
www.sweetlife.com
Hiawatha RV Park
3795 Lakeshore Road
Kelowna, BC V1W 3K3
(250) 861-4837
www.hiawatharvpark.com