Fall Outing: KVR Railtrail, BC

Thanks to the old Short Notice Signup List members of the Mt Baker Club were able to form a fall outing to explore the KVR (Kettle Valley Railtrail) in the Tulameen Valley, northwest of Princeton, BC. This is one of the three most fascinating sections of the trail in our area and possibly in the nearly 1000 km trail.

The weather cleared beyond Manning Park and the fall colors were vibrant and golden. Eventually, the entire group settled at the riverside Granite City Rec Area, adjacent to the gold mining ghost town of Granite City. From here we could bike the short distance to Coalmont and ride the trail either north to Otter Lake or south towards Princeton.

Riding north the first day was a sunny trip along the entire length of Otter Lake into the ranchland stretching all the way to Merritt. One memorable event occurred during this ride. We were just rounding a bend in the trail when suddenly a group of young cyclist (later we learned that they were from Vancouver) frantically biked past us shouting “Bear! Bear! There’s a Bear on the trail!” One of our members bravely (some might say foolishly) slowly and noisily biked ahead. There, at a mere 300 yards distance, was a huge black bear apparently sleeping in the middle of the trail. Cautiously he approached and with a loud shout drove the beast from the trail. The only response was a bellowing Moooo as the “Bear” wandered off to join the rest of the herd under the trees. This made interesting conversation at the Coalmont Hotel & Pub afterward and around our cozy campfire that evening.

The next day dawned brilliant. The morning light lit up our camp through the canopy of golden cottonwood and aspen leaves. The blue sky welcomed us as we cycled south. The canyon quickly narrowed but due to the frequent north-south orientation, provided us with warm sunlight for nearly the entire day.

Passing quiet river pools, beaches, and pleasant picnic sites we eventually reached the tunnel and copula viewpoint.

Here the river became a raging flow as it sped around the bend and through great boulders which had forced the construction of the tunnel. As if to emphasize the drama of this place, a yellow canoe could be seen, impaled on the rocks below us.

From here the group separated, some returning, while others continued past rocky outcrops, hoodoo formations, and the famous (soon to be designated a World Heritage Site) vermillion cliffs. The final section of trail sped through a lighted tunnel and into downtown Princeton. A fine day was had by all.

The next day, the group disbanded with various plans for the drive home: exploring more ghost towns, searching for pictographs, visiting historic cemeteries, and enjoying the many viewpoints and short hikes along the way. We all felt that we wanted a return trip next year.