In celebration of the Kettle Valley Railway’s 110th birthday, amateur historian Kelly Pearce will lead you on a mountain bike tour along the Coquihalla Summit.

We’ll travel by vehicle to the Coquihalla Summit, allowing you to ride your bike downhill 25 kilometres, following much of the original rail bed of the Kettle Valley Railway. You’ll see the ruins of magnificent trestles, tunnels, and snowsheds, and Kelly will share with you his photo collection, revealing what the railway looked like in its heyday.

 

When we complete the bike ride at Portia Station, a shuttle bus will take you back to your vehicle while staff watches over your bike.

Historical Highlights:

• Collapsed tunnels near Coquihalla Summit

• Intact section of the historic Hope-Nicola Valley Trail (1876)

• Ruins of the Bridal Falls railway trestle/bridge and photos of its heyday

• Ruins of the massive Slide Creek bridge

• Remnants of the dozens of avalanche sheds that once protected the KVR

• A nifty piece of engineering called the “Hole in the Wall” where water was diverted away from the KVR

• Kelly will also share some of the tragic tales that befell KVR employees and members of the public during the railway’s 45 years of operation

   

We are aware of the nearby Dewdney Creek fire and are actively monitoring its status. We will assess conditions as the program date approaches and determine at that time whether it is safe to run the program.

Itinerary:

Saturday, October 3, 2026

9:00 AM – Meet at Hope Recreation Centre 1005 6 Ave, Hope, check-in, sign waivers, organize vehicles

9:15 AM – Depart Hope, participants drive their own vehicles (carrying their bikes) up Highway-5 to the Coquihalla Lakes Rest Area – Northbound (site of the former Toll Booths, now a public washroom and rest stop)

10:30 AM – Group begins riding down the KVR right of way toward Portia with short stops for 25 km total distance.

12:00 PM – Lunch on the trail. Please bring your own lunch and snacks!

5:30 PM – Arrive at Portia Station on Highway-5, where Coquihalla River and Boston Bar Creek join.  Shuttle bus takes drivers back up to Coquihalla Summit to retrieve their vehicles.  Staff/volunteers guard bikes at Portia until drivers return in their cars to load bikes and head home.

Be aware that times are approximate! Start and end times may vary slightly depending on speed of the group, weather and road conditions, etc. 

What to bring:

Whenever you are out in nature, you should always carry The Essentials

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For this trip participants will need the following items below:

• ​Mountain bike or hybrid bike capable of trail riding. Your bike should have multiple gears for trail riding, and durable tires and rims for riding on gravel roads and single-track forest trails. Suspension/shock absorbers are optional.

• Backpack or panniers for carrying supplies

• Lunch, snacks, min. 2 litres of water

• Clothing for all weather

• Tools for bike repair/adjustment

• Extra inner tube

• Inner tube repair kit

• Camera

• Sunglasses

• Riding gloves

• Toilet paper and hand sanitizer

• Head lamp

While we love animals of all kinds, we ask that you please leave pets at home.

Price includes:

• Shuttle bus

• Historian Kelly Pearce

• Bike mechanic Eric Laeback

• First aid backup and emergency communications

   

Physical demand:

All participants must be in good health and have average physical fitness. Must have previous cycling experience on uneven gravel roads and single-track forest trails. Riding grades will be moderate and mostly downhill on most of the 25-km route. There will be a 100-metre section at Needle Creek where cyclists must push their bikes UP a steep section of single-track trail. There is also a short section where you may have to walk or carry your bike downhill.

Meet Your Guides:

Kelly Pearce/Trip Leader:

Kelly is a Hope resident and former Program Director for the Hope Mountain Centre. He has taught ecology and human history in the North Cascades for 20 years.

Cancellation:

Sorry NO refunds! However, you can pass on your spot to someone else who meets the physical demand of the program, just please let us know, as we need registration information from everyone.

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A program may be cancelled at the discretion of HMCOL. If a program is cancelled by HMCOL, participants will receive a full refund. Please be aware that our programs run regardless of weather conditions, unless HMCOL determines that it will affect the safety of participants.

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Hope Mountain Centre reserves the right to change the location of a program for everyone’s safety. As much notice as possible will be given. No refund will be provided if the location is changed. 

Additional information:

Liability Waiver

Everyone ages 19 & over must sign a liability waiver form in order to participate in this program. Please take the time to read this form because you must understand and agree to it when you sign it. By signing it you are waiving certain rights, including the right to sue. These forms will be available to sign when you check in. Please seek legal counsel if you have any questions. 

Informed Consent Form 

Everyone, age 18 & under must have an informed consent form signed by their parents or legal guardian in order to participate. Please contact us if you need this form prior to arrival at this program.