Contact
Great Explorations
(800) 242-1825
(604) 730-1247
“We found the people we met made the trip so special. Several of us have already been talking about which trip to go on next year.”
– Kay & Jim D,
Burlington, VT
Particulars
Tour Dates:
2008
June 25-28*
July 17-20
August 21-24
September 11-14
Custom trips also available and can start any date. Call or email for details.
2009
July 16-19
August 20-23
September 10-13
This tour can be combined with our Stage 2 which precedes.
Trip Size:
8-12 participants in July, August, Sept.
June departure will have a maximum of 24.
Total Days:
4 days/ 3 nights
Arrive/Depart:
Coalmont/Hope
Accommodations:
Activity Level:
Moderate
20-36+ miles daily
van supported
Terrain:
The railgrade has a maximum grade of 2%
Cost:
Land Cost (current year):
CAD$495/US$495 (June departure)
CAD$695/ US$695 (July, Aug, Sep departures)
Includes all meals
Bike Rental:
CAD$70/US$70
Mountain bike
Transfers:
Vancouver/Hope to Coalmont: CAD$35/US$35
Hope to Vanouver: CAD$35/US$35
Kettle Valley Trail, Biking
Stage 3: Coalmont to Hope
*The June 25-28 tour is a special departure as it will be the third of a 3-stage tour to celebrate the re-opening of Myra Canyon trestles. Dan Langford, author of 'Cycling the Kettle Valley', is expected to be on this trip, and we have planned festivities along the way to make it special.
For a short get-a-way from the city, this section of the trail makes for an ideal sampler (or finisher if you have done the other stages)! Our ride starts in Coalmont, a mining town with restored turn of the century buildings; we follow the verdant Tulameen River Valley, stopping at idyllic Otter Lake before reaching the Coley Creek Ranch of Burt Sharkey. Here, we’ll enjoy an evening ‘out of the wild west’ as guest of this banjo playing cowboy. On the next evening, we’ll overnight on Coquihalla Lakes where home-made pie never tasted as good. Sunday, we’ll ride downhill through perhaps the most spectacular section of all, the Coquihalla canyon through to Hope.
Itinerary
DAY 1:
For those that have booked transportation from Vancouver, we transfer by van to Coalmont, stopping in Hope (to pick up those who prefer to leave their cars there). After a welcome dinner, we’ll enjoy a restful night on Granite River.
DAY 2:
Coalmont to Coley Creek 33 km / 21 miles + options
Our ride start will be through the lush Tulameen Valley past Otter Lake en route to Coley Creek to a backcountry ranch, where we’ll be hosted by fiddle, guitar and banjo playing Burt Sharkey. Burt may have his buggy and horses available to take you for a ride you’ll never forget and afterwards, our guides will prepare a backcountry cook-out.
DAY 3:
Coley Creek to Coquihalla Lakes 34 km / 21 miles + options
We’ll continue to Brookmere, with probably the best preserved railroad heritage buildings on the KVR. From here, we’ll loop south to the summit at Coquihalla Station and Coquihalla Lakes where a wilderness campsite awaits.
DAY 4: Coquihalla Lakes to Hope 58 km / 36 miles
It’s pretty much all downhill to the Ride finish. We take a mid-day hike up to Ladner Creek trestle, to a lunch site you won’t soon forget. Afterwards, you’ll visit Bridalveil Falls and then at Othello Station, one of the most famous sites of the entire KVR, the Quintette tunnels. The horseshoe path carved by the Coquihalla River (90 m deep) required engineering a route that must be seen. From here, the lush trail descends to a Ride Finish celebration at the Hope Museum.
Bus transport will leave from Hope at 4:00 p.m. for Vancouver for those that have booked.
Map of the Area
Penticton Weather
What's Included in the Cost of Your Trip?
- services of one or more experienced Great Explorations guides and support vehicle
- 3 nights camping
- all breakfasts, lunches & dinners (appetizers daily, gourmet meals, lots of variety, vegetarians gladly accommodated)
- entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
- detailed map, route instructions and Great Explorations Travel Guide
- all baggage transportation
- all transportation from initial meeting point to final drop-off (see arrive/depart cities)
Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% must be charged on trips in Canada.
Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by telephone at 604.730.1247