Biking the Myra Canyon Trestle Trail

• AllTrails link: Myra Canyon Trail
• Distance: 11km one way, 22km out and back
• Grade: essentially flat
• Points of interest: 18 trestles, 2 tunnels, and expansive views down the canyon towards Kelowna
• Access: 9km of Myra Forest Service Road, which is a gravel road with small potholes. It’s navigatable with carefully driven city cars
• Starting point: Myra Station Parking Lot (this is where the bike rental shop is located)
• Turn around point: Ruth Station Parking Lot (this can be an alternative start point if you don’t need bike rental, with a shorter 4km gravel road for access)

The Myra Canyon Trestle Trail

Myra Canyon Trestles have been on my to-do list for more than a decade. Ever since my dad saw it on some travel brochure back when we were younger, he had been waiting for a chance to bring us here. Tourism Kelowna describes the trail as ‘one of the region’s most popular and scenic outdoor experiences. Designated a National Historic Site, this former railway route features 18 wooden trestle bridges, two rock tunnels, and dramatic canyon views.’

For logistical reasons, we haven’t found a chance to visit. The trail is located just outside Kelowna at about 5.5 hours drive from Vancouver, so it’s in a bit of a trip planning dead-zone: it’s outside the typical travel distance for a short weekend trip, but longer week-long trips usually took us well past the Okanagan and into the Rockies.

Years later, we organized a group camping trip in Kentucky Alleyne Lake and seized the opportunity to drive the extra 2.5 hours to visit this famed trail. And of course we invited my dad to come along to finally check this one off his list.

Some of our group needed to rent bikes from Myra Canyon Bicycle Rental, so we set our starting point at Myra Station. The parking lot here is much bigger than Ruth Station and it’s well laid out with new gravel. The 9km of Myra Forest Services Road to access this trailhead was littered with small potholes, but nothing too daunting for even a city car. We had no trouble with a fully loaded minivan with a bike rack.

The first 6km from Myra Station was the most action-packed. It features both of the tunnels, 12 out of the 18 trestles, and the best views down the canyon. If you had to cut the trail short, do the half from Myra Station.

Bike Rental

Bike rental is offered by Myra Canyon Bicycle Rental, operating conveniently right at the parking lot at Myra Staion. Rental is by half days, either morning (9-1pm) or afternoon (1:30pm to 5:30pm). Since the rental shop is right at the trailhead, there’s no rush to arrive right at 9am. Our large group arrived between 10am to 10:30am, and had no trouble picking up the bikes since we had reserved the bikes the day before.

The 22km trail takes about 2 hours to complete by bike, depending on how many photos and video you take. And you will likely stop and take a lot of them. This means as long as you can start biking before 11am, you should have no problem returning the rentals by 1pm.

Younger riders can also make use of the rental company’s bike trailer or tag-alongs, but you have to rent their adult bikes to make use of their bike attachments.

The Ride

Given the very large group of 6 families biking together, we set off at different times. Our two older boys are expert riders who would have no trouble riding the flat 22km, but Baby Bro just started pedaling a few months ago. Our plan was to have Grandpa and I lead the two older boys to complete the trail ASAP, turn back to meet Tina and Baby Bro, then Tina can bike more with me while Grandpa stays with the boys.

We set off with intermittent drizzles and comfortable cool temps. Much preferable over a hot Okanagan sun.

We were soon treated to some well maintained trestle bridges and rock tunnels.

The tunnels are short and before you lose all vision, the end of the tunnel would appear. However, turning on some lights would make you much more visible and safer.

Tina took her time with Baby Bro. At just 3 years old, he was the youngest rider on the trail this morning.

There were sections of the trail with steep drop-off on one side, and due to the popularity, the trail can get busy with walkers and bikers. Extra care should be taken for less confident riders. Tina would get off the bike and walk with Baby Bro when there’s any sign of danger or congestion.

Our plan worked out well since Tina and Baby Bro only managed about 2.5km by the time Big Bro and I finished the trail and returned. We hung out with Baby Bro while Tina biked ahead to see the best views of the whole trail around Trestle #6.

The rain got heavier towards the end of our ride but we still thoroughly enjoyed it. All in, with a lot of break including hanging out with Baby Bro at a storm shelter, we finished the trail in just over 2 hours. Baby Bro set a personal record of biking more than 4km, and the older boys should also be proud of riding 20km in 2 hours.

This was reminescent of our trip to Kinsol Trestles a few years ago, but instead of one giant trestle with not much else, the Myra Trestles provide much more variety, more expansive canyon views, and a more substantial distance for a bike ride.