Howe Sound

Cariboo Region

Rocky Mountains

Halcyon Hot Springs Village & Spa

Okanagan Valley

Come join us for our 5^th British Columbia summer motorcycle tour. Enjoy some of the most spectacularly scenic and, perhaps, challenging roads in western Canada. The route extends from sheltered Pacific Inlets to the majestic Rocky Mountains traversing the Coast, Cariboo, Kootenay and Okanagan regions of this beautiful Province. Some of the top rated destination roads⁽¹⁾ in BC await you. The tour highlight is a two-night stay at the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort overlooking Upper Arrow Lake. Enjoy the Resort amenities and relax in pampered comfort while swapping ride tales with fellow travellers, all without a thought to moving on.

Saturday; officially the ride begins at 9:00am from the John Valk BMW Ducati dealership. Leaving the vista of Vancouver Harbour behind the route heads northward on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, past picturesque Howe Sound and its islets, past the internationally renowned Whistler Village, and onward over the Duffey Lake Road (DH#3) through the Coast Mountains. From Lillooet the change in scenery and climate is dramatic, out of the cool rain forests and onto the warm, dry, Cariboo Plateau. First stop, 100 Mile House, a historic waypoint on the old Alexandria/Barkerville gold trail.

Sunday; the route follows the Little Fort Highway eastward to the Thompson River then south, along the river valley, to Kamloops and the Shuswap Lake district. Connecting with the Trans-Canada Highway, the days destination is Revelstoke, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains on the majestic Columbia River.

Monday; a relatively short ride through three of Canada's most magnificent National Parks; Glacier, Yoho and Banff. This is, more or less, a Parks day and an opportunity to enjoy the scenic splendour offered by the Rocky Mountains. Ascending the Kicking Horse Pass, at 1,643 metres (5,390 ft), the highway then makes a brief dip to the town of Lake Louise, Alberta, within Banff National Park, and the days destination.

Tuesday; returning to British Columbia the route heads southward, skirting Kootenay National Park, into the Columbia River Valley between the Rocky Mountains and Purcell Range. Destination, Kimberley, once home to the largest lead-zinc mine in the world (Sullivan Mine, 1917-2001). Kimberley identifies itself as the "Bavarian City of the Rockies" and has now become a destination ski resort catering to the tourist industry.

Wednesday; destined to be warmly remembered. The "Adventure in the Kootenay's" begins with a departure from Kimberley, crossing the Purcell Mountains to Creston. From Creston the route heads north on the DH#1 ranked highway in the Province, alongside Kootenay Lake, to Kootenay Bay. A brief ferry ride across the lake to Balfour, a short ride north, then onto the DH#5 ranked highway between Kaslo and New Denver. Heading northward again to Nakusp the route then follows the scenic Upper Arrow Lake shoreline to the premier destination of the tour, Halcyon Hot Springs. The perfect way to end a perfect day.

Thursday; a free day. After a scrumptious hot breakfast (included for both Thursday and Friday mornings), reserve time for a day-ride north to Revelstoke or south to Nakusp, or simply relax weary muscles at the hot spring pools. To round off the day there will be a group cocktail party and western style barbeque hosted by Patrick and Phebe.

Friday; the route carries on westward over the Monashee Mountains, pausing briefly at Fauquier for a ferry ride across the Lower Arrow Lake. The route now follows the DH#2 ranked highway, from Fauquier to Coldstream, into the Okanagan and BC's wine country heartland. Passing through the natural beauty of the regions rich ranch lands, orchards and vineyards the route then heads south from Vernon to the days destination at the Okanagan lakeside community of Westbank.

Saturday; the final day dawns and the route leads further southward in the Okanagan to connect with the Crowsnest Highway. Then westward, following the Similkameen River, onto the Hope-Princeton Highway through the Cascades, and descending to the Fraser Valley at the town of Hope. Homeward bound.

Eight exciting days with fond memories of British Columbia's beautiful and diverse treasures could be yours.

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Destination Highways (DH); A Motorcycle Enthusiast's Guide to the Best 185 Roads in Southern BC, Twisted Edge Pub.