I decided to do a solo bike packing trip to BC with everything going on with Covid it was a time for solitude and getting my thoughts in order. The place I I first thought of doing was the kettle valley trail which consists of an old railway line that's been converted into a multi use trail system.
The system is extensive but I only wanted to do a short trip so I decided to start at Rock Creek BC unlike most people who start at Midway mile 0 as it would be called for this loop. I instead got lift to Rock Creek and ended at Pentiction BC.
My first day was a 72km trip from Rock Creek to Arlington Lakes Campground which gave me my first nights rest. The trail was fairly decent most of the way with a mix of gravel sand and chunky sections. I stopped at Beaverdell for a short food stop and continued from there. The camp site at Arlington lakes is basic with only a toilet no water except the lake itself which is pristine. Also looks like an amazing fishing lake as I saw many many fish jumping - $12 for a camping spot I think for cyclists which get the day visitor spot away from Car campers - this was Aug 2020.
In the morning I set off for Chute Lake. I rode past Hydraulic lakes to find the ATVs are crazy going through there and have made the riding pretty bad with ATV not slowing down and making it tough on cyclists. I keep riding through to the most famous part of the Kettle Valley Trail - Myra Canyon and all the trestles that have been reconstructed after fires over the years. Its the busiest place as many people get shuttles to this location to hike walk bike with bike rentals available at entrance to Myra. It is also one of the best kept trail as its smooth fine gravel almost easy to ride with no hands ! but don't do that as there are many people on the trails and many can't ride a bike as they swerved all over the trail!!
Once you leave towards Chute lake Lodge the road is a mix of good bad ugly.
Arlington lakes to Chute Lake lodge is 75km
The lodge was full so I went and camped at the free BC campsite just up the road. I went had a good meal enjoyed the fresh BC craft brews that were available. This is a gem of a place and highly recommend stopping at Chute Lake Lodge for the food drink and friendly people there. I even went back and had breakfast in the morning before heading on the trail towards Naramata. The trail from Chute Lake lodge has again rutted trails from Atvs and sandy loamy parts like quicksand. You eventually get back on trails where there is no longer ATVs and the trail is back to gravel and good downhill riding. Great views all around as well. You can stop by Naramata at many of the wineries that are there one that's off the trail is Hillside Winery. They have a great patio where Ive enjoyed many lunches in the past just riding around Naramata trails. There is the newly renovated and opened in summer of 2020 Naramata Inn which has a great restaurant run by Ned Bell who has run many great restaurants . Although I haven't been many of my food and wine friends have enjoyed it greatly. This could be the place to end the trip and a night in a comfy bed. I continued on to Pentiction 30km from Chute Lake Lodge where my friends live and had driven me with my car to Rock Creek. This ended my trip with a nice swim in Lake Okanagan.

This trip is not hard but it would be best the way I did it for the intermediate cyclist which is ok with 75km a day riding on rough terrain. Its not okay for an occasional rider to do this in the time I did which was 2.5 days. Mainly because the rough areas and ATv's that can be hard on most people.

The Kettle Valley Trail system is pretty extensive and lots of places to ride on it. Here is a link to their website https://bcrailtrails.com/trip-planning/

My setup for this ride was going to be different as I was building a special bike packing bike for rougher terrain but the bike build parts etc during Covid didn't happen.
My kits
2018 Jamis Renegade Explore
WTB Riddler 700 x45 tires
one person cheap tent, sleeping pad, Kelty sleeping bag
one seat bag , frame bag and a camelback
Food kit Stanley pot cup
Small titanium burner attaching to a propane bottle for cooking.
Bike tools basic kit extra tubes, lube
light puffy jacket for evening morning and extra if cold at night
light toque for my head
2 jerseys, shorts, socks
small pack towel and bathroom kits basics toothbrush etc.

Filming gear Insta360 One X and Iphone editing FCPX

Im a professional photographer videographer based in Canmore Alberta Canada
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