Welcome to the Myra Canyon Trestles - one of the gems of the Okanagan, and a great place to both go for a hike, and learn about the history of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR). The shortest route to this virtual cache will be from the Myra Station parking lot via the Myra FSR, but if you want a longer hike, you can also park at the other end at Ruth Station, accessed from June Springs Rd. If you start from Myra Station, expect an approximately 2km hike to the virtual cache. Please note that although this virtual cache is technically available all year round, during the winter months you will need a good high-clearance vehicle as the roads to the trestles and the parking areas are not always maintained, and you may encounter deep snow.
A bit of history
The construction of the Kettle Valley Railway line through the spectacular Myra Canyon was an outstanding Canadian engineering achievement. Between 1912 and 1914, engineers used conventional technologies in ingenious ways to construct the railway through the rugged, mountainous terrain, where workers faced the dangers posed by blasting and rock slides. The completion of this section of the railway helped provide a vital all-Canadian link between the West Coast and the Southern Interior of British Columbia.
Opened on May 31st, 1915, the railway was the primary transportation and communications route across the breadth of southern B.C. for many years. Though parts of the KVR lasted until 1989, when this portion of the line closed in 1978, the most direct rail link to the Coast was broken.
After abandoment of the rail line, the area became a popular spot for hikers and bikers due to it's gentle grade and scenic views. However after the trestles started to fall into a state of disrepair, the area became a hazard due to large gaps in the trestles and the height of the bridges. In 1992, local enthusiasts established the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society, whose purpose was to maintain the corridor and make the trestles safer for walkers and cyclists. In 1995, the MCTRS began adding new decking and handrails to the trestles, making it a true tourist destination and bringing visitors from all over the world.
In late August 2003, disaster struck the south hills of Kelowna when forest fires raged through the area, destroying 12 of the 18 trestles. Only months earlier, this section of the KVR had been designated a National Historic Site, and after the fire, funding to rebuild the structures was secured at both the provincial and federal levels. The project was completed and the trails reopened to the public in June 2008.
In order to log this virtual cache, you must complete the following:
1) Please let me know in an email or message (NOT in your log) the answers to the following questions:
a) At waypoint # 1, what is the length and weight of of the rail displayed?
b) At waypoint # 2, who is trestle 12 sponsored by?
2) The posted coordinates will take you to the south entrance of the tunnel. Take a picture of either you, a part of your body, or a personal item in front of the tunnel entrance and post it with your log. Bonus points: draw a picture of a train and hold it up in your photo!
Any logs not meeting the logging requirements will be deleted.
I hope you enjoy your hike or bike along this historic trail!
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.