Mountain Hiking Trails South Western and Okanagan regions British Columbia, Canada

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Penticton Mountain Trails- Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake

Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake: Elevation 368 meters (1203 feet)

Approximately 19.6 KM (12.2 miles) from Penticton, British Columbia. Biking time round trip- 3 to 3.5 hrs allowing for stops. Round trip roughly 17 KM (10.6 miles), elevation gain-26M (86 feet). Best time is usually May to October.

Directions: From Penticton drive south to Okanagan Falls. Just before the bridge into Okanagan Falls turn right onto Green Lake Road. Continue roughly 0.85 KM (0.53 miles) on Green Lake Road. Watch for a road on the left to a small parking area by a footbridge over the Okanagan River. Turn left down this road and park. This is the first parking area. There is another parking area about 2 KM (1.25 miles) further south. From here one can bike down the service road on the west side of the river channel to the gate leading into the marsh north of Vaseux Lake. One can choose to go through the marsh and get back on the KVR from the marsh or take a narrow trail a bit to the west of the gate. This trail which may be part of the KVR runs along the west side of the marsh. The marsh is a bird sanctuary and the ride through here is quite scenic. Note: The South Okanagan does have rattle snakes so it is wise to stay well clear if one comes across a snake irrespective of its size. It is best to stay on the trails. If the marsh route is taken about 4.2 KM (2.6 miles) south from the first parking area a narrow path intersects the service road on the right. Heading west on this narrow path will lead out of the marsh and onto the Kettle Valley Railroad rail bed. There is a gate at the end of the path and an opening at the side one can lift a bike through. The path may be wet in some spots depending on the time of year. Once on the KVR there is a gate a short distance to the south. Note: In 2011 this gate was closed and there is now a "No Access" sign posted. When access was allowed past this gate it is a fairly level ride on the KVR rail bed along the west side of Vaseux lake. At the south end of the lake the bridge is gone, only a few timbers are left on the far side. There is an old road that continues along the west side of the river and seems to head south towards McIntyre Bluff. The local First Nation band history tells of a battle that was fought on top of McIntyre Bluff centuries ago. The photos below show the route. The 2011 photos show the route bypassing the marsh from the second parking lot. The 2010 photos show the route from the first parking lot through the marsh.

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Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake GPS GPX format-Zipped.   Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake GPS TXT format.

Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake 2011/08

The further south Parking Area, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. Entrance to the further south Parking area, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. Looking north, first parking area is 2 KM (1.25 miles)north, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08.
The trail ahead heading south bypasses the marsh, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. Alternate trail through the marsh starts here, see 2010 photos, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. Trail bypassing the marsh is narrow in spots, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08.
Bypass Trail widens in spots, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. This part of the bypass trail looks like the KVR rail bed, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. On the bypass trail looking east towards the marsh, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08.
Further south looking SE into the marsh, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. At the point where the marsh route comes out to the KVR, notice the new No Access sign, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08. This gate on the KVR is now locked with a new No Access sign, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2011-08.

Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake 2010/10

First Parking Area, there is a second one about 2 KM (1.25 miles) further south, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. First Parking area and start of the marsh service road, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Gate at start of the marsh service road, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Heading south on the service road towards Vaseux Lake, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Into the marsh, road is somewhat overgrown, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Near end of service road, path on right leads to the KVR rail bed, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Beaver house in the river channel, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Path leading west out of the marsh to the KVR rail bed, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Low spot on the path west out of the marsh, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Out of the marsh onto the KVR rail bed, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. On the KVR rail bed heading south looking back at the trail, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. KVR rail bed follows the west side of Vaseux Lake, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
South end of Vaseux Lake in the distance, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. South end of Vaseux Lake, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Only a few timbers are left of the KVR bridge here, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Path leads to an old road heading south, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. The old road follows the west side of the river, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Old road winds around a small bay, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Looking across the bay to McIntyre Bluff, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Heading back on the old road to Vaseux Lake, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. An island in Vaseux Lake with some cabins, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Heading back (north) on the rail bed, a deer watching from the brush, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Heading back, losing the light on the west side of the lake, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10. Heading back into the marsh, looking south, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.
Heading back into the marsh, looking north, Kettle Valley Railway Okanagan Falls to Vaseux Lake, 2010-10.


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