Canada | August 2023 |
South-central British Columbia is a world-renowned riding paradise. And here, one of the many amazing routes is from my hometown Salmon Arm (Columbia-Shuswap) to multiple destinations in the Kootenays in the south-east part of the province. I am trying to do all possible rides in these areas and this was a new one for me.
Starting in Salmon Arm, I rode to Revelstoke, over the Rogers Pass, then on to Golden, Radium, Invermere and Canal Flats, where I stopped at Black Sheep private campsite. The Rogers Pass is world-renowned and well-traveled by tourists; less explored, but equally stunning, is the road south of Golden, especially though The Bugaboos, a premier back-country climbing and ski destination, a historical place (Skook Davidson, who shares my surname, being one figure of note). It runs parallel to the mighty Columbia River, the source located Canal Flats, from where it then runs north (and then goes on to ultimately end near Portland, Oregon).
On day 2, from Canal Flats I rode onwards through Skookumchuk, Cranbrook, Kimberly (stunning) and Creston, where I swung north to catch the ferry across Kootenay Lake at Crawford Bay (where, unlike BC Ferries at the coast, it is free and runs on time - or even just runs!). Stayed the night at Toad Rock Motorcycle Campground, a legendary place in the Kootenays, where the proprietors have developed a unique gathering site for moto-nuts, and at $20 a night it is the best deal around. Just up the road is Ainsworth Hotsprings, a great place to unwind after a long day of riding (though it was full of tourists and kids when I stopped by, so I didn't proceed for a soak).
Day 3 I rode along Kootenay Lake to Kaslo, a truly stunning heritage town. Most people ride from Kaslo to Nakusp, west. But I went north to Trout Lake. A highlight of the segment was stopping at a river viewing platform and discovering a black bear up a berry bush close to me and totally indifferent to my presence (me being "different" to its presence, but there was a 5-meter drop between bear and I). From Trout Lake I caught another ferry onwards to Revelstoke and back to Salmon Arm.
The map below includes the route by days traveled, click on the "window" top left for more details.
Ride: 1,025 km / 13.5 hrs
Stay: BC Campground $20 / 5/5