Wild Horse Traverse Cancelled for 2021
WHT is a challenging point to point destination trail running race that traverses through Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, rocky canyons, along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and past vineyards.
Due to the remote and rugged terrain in OK Mountain Provincial Park, regular trail maintenance is mandatory in order to keep our racers safe and received our annual permits. With the Provincial Park closures around COVID-19 and high fire risks in the park in 2020, trail maintenance was not approved and this has resulted in the trail becoming increasingly overgrown, which limits our access and poses a safety risk for runners.
DEFERRAL OPTIONS
- Those runners who were registered for our 2020 race will now have the option to defer into the 2022 or 2023 Wild Horse Traverse 50km.
- 2020 registered runners who wish to defer will receive a 60% coupon code to use towards their 2022 or 2023 race entry fees.
- 2020 registered runners will also have priority registration for the year they choose to defer, which allows registration a week before registration opens to the public.
- An email will go out to all 2020 registered racers with full details before November 15th. Please make sure the email address you use in Ultra Signup is current. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Due to the remote and rugged terrain in OK Mountain Provincial Park, regular trail maintenance is mandatory in order to keep our racers safe and received our annual permits. With the Provincial Park closures around COVID-19 and high fire risks in the park in 2020, trail maintenance was not approved and this has resulted in the trail becoming increasingly overgrown, which limits our access and poses a safety risk for runners.
DEFERRAL OPTIONS
- Those runners who were registered for our 2020 race will now have the option to defer into the 2022 or 2023 Wild Horse Traverse 50km.
- 2020 registered runners who wish to defer will receive a 60% coupon code to use towards their 2022 or 2023 race entry fees.
- 2020 registered runners will also have priority registration for the year they choose to defer, which allows registration a week before registration opens to the public.
- An email will go out to all 2020 registered racers with full details before November 15th. Please make sure the email address you use in Ultra Signup is current. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Our Story.
Growing up in Kelowna, I am extremely proud to showcase so many of the things I love about this region... rugged landscapes, grasslands, spruce-fir forests, lake views and vineyards. This park has become a very special area throughout the years and holds a lot of really treasured memories. Before it became a race in our series, it was an "epic run" that friends and I would run every year.
Since 2013, we have been hosting charity runs along the Wildhorse trail, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. The feedback from these runs was so positive, that it was only natural for us to consider adding it to our series, so we could share the raw beauty with more people across the land. In 2017, The Wildhorse Traverse was born.
Wildhorse Traverse is a challenging point to point destination trail running race that starts on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, BC and finishes on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Naramata, BC. It traverses through Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, rocky canyons, along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and past vineyards.
Runners will need to comfortable being self-sufficient for long periods of time, in remote terrain, as most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat - as motor vehicle access is restricted.
Our finish area is celebration central and offers wine tastings, craft beer and locally roasted coffee, along with a gourmet lunch that will showcase as much local, organic and sustainable produce from the area as we can. Including gluten free & vegan options.
Wildhorse Traverse is also a great opportunity to make a fun get away with friends and/or family. This area boasts nearly 82% of the total vineyard acreage in the province and 120 wineries within the Okanagan Valley, alone. Not to mention, the road riding and mountain biking is also world class - so if you have any matches left to burn in your legs the next day, be sure to bring your bike!
Since 2013, we have been hosting charity runs along the Wildhorse trail, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. The feedback from these runs was so positive, that it was only natural for us to consider adding it to our series, so we could share the raw beauty with more people across the land. In 2017, The Wildhorse Traverse was born.
Wildhorse Traverse is a challenging point to point destination trail running race that starts on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, BC and finishes on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Naramata, BC. It traverses through Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, rocky canyons, along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and past vineyards.
Runners will need to comfortable being self-sufficient for long periods of time, in remote terrain, as most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat - as motor vehicle access is restricted.
Our finish area is celebration central and offers wine tastings, craft beer and locally roasted coffee, along with a gourmet lunch that will showcase as much local, organic and sustainable produce from the area as we can. Including gluten free & vegan options.
Wildhorse Traverse is also a great opportunity to make a fun get away with friends and/or family. This area boasts nearly 82% of the total vineyard acreage in the province and 120 wineries within the Okanagan Valley, alone. Not to mention, the road riding and mountain biking is also world class - so if you have any matches left to burn in your legs the next day, be sure to bring your bike!
Course
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52km. 2000m ascent. 2000m descent.
Starting at Bertram Creek Park, runners start off with a steady uphill out of the park that will pop them out on Lakeshore Road. From here, we will have a controlled start for the first 2.5km, on a rolling road that parallels Okanagan Lake & provides stunning views all the way to the start of Boulder trail, in OK MTN Park. Boulder Trail is filled with technical, steep terrain and incredible single track that sweeps racers around the mountain with the most spectacular views! Boulder Trail will lead runners to Wild Horse Canyon trail, where they will start their journey through the stunning canyon before taking a sharp left at the famous "Commando Tree" where they will proceed to the first aid station. The descent to aid #1 leads racers down approx. 200m over 1km to Lake Okanagan, where we will have boated in supplies and our volunteer team due to the remoteness of this area. This aid station is 21.5km into the race, meaning runners will need to be comfortable being self supported to this point. After climbing back up from the aid station (it is an out and back) runners will turn right and continue their traverse through the heart of the park filled with heaps of climbing. This section of the course is really challenging and lacks a lot of flow, due to the rugged terrain. It's tough! Runners will reach the south end of the park and aid #2 at 35.5km. in this section of trail, there are running streams where, if runners are comfortable, they can filter or treat water if they bring tablets along with them. From aid #2, runners will descend on a FSR (chute lake road) for a few kilometers before reaching the turn off where chute lake meets up with historic KVR before hitting aid #3 at 46.5km. From here runner will descend past vineyards, through the village and into the finish line at the most remarkable stunning lakefront property. |
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Schedule
Coming Soon!
Details
Coming Soon!
Registration
Coming Soon!
