Perhaps the best known historic feature of the Okanagan, GeoQwest takes you to the stunning views 3000 feet above the lake on the Kettle Valley Railwaybed. The trip passes through the heart of the 2003 Okanagan Wildfire. Your host will show you first hand why this fire was the best thing ecologically that could have happened to our valley.

Where most people tour the Kettle Valley Railway on bicycle, we travel in the comfort of GeoQwest's Excursion. We idle over a significant section of the railbed with a stop at a wilderness lodge and it's antiques warehouse, pass through "Little Tunnel" and enjoy some of the best views in the Okanagan.

The lodge at Chute Lake is a wilderness stop with a surprise. Behind the main building is a large shed overflowing with regional antiques of the KVR era. And Doreen makes the best apple pie in the region!

We drop into the outskirts of Penticton before climbing up into the Okanagan Highlands and over the top of the Okanagan range into the West Kettle Valley and historic silver district of Beaverdell. The mountains above the small town are honeycombed with tunnels that produced rich silver ores at the turn of the century. An optional hike to the top of Goat Mountain is rewarded with an unparalleled view of the Okanagan Range and the Monashees.

A complete history of both the railway as well as the geological evolution of the Okanagan landscape is provided by your guide. The view from high above the valley makes what can be an abstract story into a living istory. No other vantage point gives you the overview as does this portion of the KVR.

Your tour through the Okanagan Highlands give you the opportunity to spot the wide range of native wildlife thriving in the forests. This area is one of the most productive forestry regions in the area. Modern harvest practices and forest regeneration are both part of the trip.

A stop at the oldest hotel in BC for a quick pint is in order before ascending the hieghts of Wallace Mountain. Rich in silver, lead and zin ores, this mountain is honeycombed with adits, portals, shafts and tunnels. The last mine permanently closed in 1989. Now only the ghosts of miners can be heard in the hills.

On reaching the hieght of land, a short hike takes you to the top of Goat Mountain. From the forest service wildfire spotting hut on top, the view to the Monashees and Cascades is without parallel.

Combine the best views in the area with local insight and this safari will give you a better understanding of our region than that of people who have lived here all their lives!