Trestle number three of the popular Myra Canyon trail south of Kelowna is out of commission and will be for a while after a rock slide came down, knocking out some of the support beams — compromising the structure.
The slide happened last week and was witnessed by a group of tourists from the UK. They called Rolf Von Andrian who operates a nearby bed and breakfast. He says the slide put a scare in them.
“They decided it was scary and they would like to be picked up.”
With a section of the Trans-Canada trail cut off, what happens next to the trail is not yet clear. There’s talk of creating a detour around the trestle but that’s just talk at this stage.
In the past, Mother Nature has been unkind to the Myra Canyon Trestles. It was back in 2003 when most of the original bridges burned to the ground as a result of the Okanagan Mountain wildfire.
But they were considered a valuable tourism asset for Kelowna and were rebuilt shortly after with the help of $17 million in government and donated cash.
Von Andrian says he’s been informed by BC Parks that officials are looking at two options.
“They will decide if it needs just a basic reconstruction of the trestles or even the cliff behind it. The cliff might come down a little bit more with the rain and the weather.”
It’s believed that because all of the trees above the trestle burned in 2003, there’s nothing to support the rocks from coming down.
Officials are concerned there could be more slides as the peak of spring run-off season approaches.
Meantime, the Myra Canyon trail between June Springs Road and the Myra forest service road remains closed until further notice.
“BC Parks has closed Trestle #3 on the Myra Canyon Trail until further notice. The public can still access the trail at both the Myra and Ruth Station parking areas and ride or hike portions of the trail. Trestles 4 through 18, which offer the best viewing opportunities, will be accessible from the Myra Station site. The public should also be aware that there will continue to be some snow on the trail for a couple of more weeks,” says Kelowna-Mission MLA, Steve Thomson.
“Once conditions allow, BC Parks staff will conduct a geotechnical site assessment and assessment of the structure itself. Until this evaluation is complete, the costs required to repair the trestles and the reopening date for the trail are unknown.”
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