Boundary Country has a myriad of trails joining together many small communities as they weave through the region. Together, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and Columbia & Western Rail Trail combine to form a 200 km (124 mi) long section of The Trans Canada Trail of Canada, which itself is the world’s longest recreational trail.

With so much terrain to explore, you might have as many questions as kilometres on how to best experience the trail. This series of blog posts will get you out on the trail for your first time and when you’re back for more.

Although COVID-19 put a halt on many of Boundary Country’s signature events this year, I know I will appreciate events in future years all the more. One event that I recommend in future years is the KVR Localmotion Ride.

After hearing about the KVR Localmotion Ride in 2019, I immediately signed up. The event was a few weeks away but I was excited to experience another part of The Trans Canada Trail. I had cycled the KVR Trail from Kelowna to Penticton in a previous year and wanted to see where the trail would lead heading in the other direction. 

As the days came closer to the event, I had the same feeling of nervous excitement as I did before my Kelowna to Penticton ride. But something felt different about this bike trip. Although it was much longer, I knew I was in good hands with the KVR Localmotion Ride team planning ahead.

The KVR Localmotion Ride was organized by Trails to the Boundary Society and co-hosted by KVR Cycle Tours, two organizations with in-depth knowledge of the KVR Trail in Boundary.

Trails to the Boundary is a non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable development of the trail in West Boundary. Trails to the Boundary works with TrailsBC.ca to keep trail information up to date. Follow Trails to the Boundary on social media for trip planning inspiration and current conditions.

KVR Cycle Tours shuttled riders to the starting point and guided riders along the journey. The company plans self-guided tour itineraries and books accommodations. They are not operating in 2020 but their website, KettleValleyRailTrail.com, is a fantastic resource with extensive trip planning information available.

Riding with a group of people as part of the event made the ride that much more fun. There were riders from nearby Kelowna and as far as Kamloops. Some had ventured on parts or all of the trail before. Some had electric-assist bikes and some had cruisers (and somehow finished the journey before I did on my trail bike. Let’s just say I stopped often to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery…).

The next Annual KVR Localmotion Ride is scheduled for September 2021. Check back for updates on BoundaryBC.com/Events.

Feeling inspired to check out the Localmotion Ride?! Awesome! Make sure you navigate to the Maps Page to plan out the rest of your Boundary Country trip!

Chelsea McGonigal

Chelsea is a Kelowna resident who loves to explore Boundary Country, both in person and on Instagram. Chelsea spends her weekends exploring trails, rivers, and lakes with her tiny yet adventurous rescue dog, Rocky. Along the way, she loves to learn about the history of the land and culture of the local people. Chelsea hopes that sharing her experiences will inspire people to plan their own adventures along Highway 3 and 33.