Selkirk and Kootenay Bike Tour

The Selkirk Mountains range (pardon the pun) into eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and southeastern British Columbia. After a 1.5-hour shuttle from Spokane we begin riding in Colville, Washington heading north through mixed forests to the banks of the Columbia River. Continue upriver into Canada to spend the night in the small mountain town of Rossland, famous for its winter skiing as well as summer mountain biking. Rest up at the Prestige Mountain Resort for the night.

Ride from Rossland along the border to the artsy cultural center of Nelson, British Columbia. Once a silver mining town, then a logging town, then a haven for well-educated draft-dodgers from the U.S. who were willing to put down roots, it is now considered one of the prettiest small towns in Canada for it’s heritage buildings and storybook setting. Surrounded by Provincial Parks offering a veritable playground of recreation opportunities, the result is a smart, hip and extremely fit population. Enjoy the waterfront setting at Prestige Lakeside Resort.

From Nelson we veer east then northeast following rivers to crystal clear Slocan Lake, 25 miles long and almost 1000 feet deep. Pass through history in Slocan City at the foot of the lake – once a boisterous boomtown packed with hotels, saloons and miners hoping to strike it rich, it has mellowed into a peaceful town of gold-rush era architecture filled with people in pursuit of the new “gold in them thar hills” – recreation. Enjoy a lakeside pedal to New Denver (yes, it was named after the “old” Denver in Colorado) in the afternoon. Soak up the views from town at the Valhalla Inn or New Denver Lodge.

Today we follow a historic mining route through thick forests over a relatively low pass (3600ft) through the Selkirk Range that separates Slocan Lake from Kootenay Lake – one of the largest lakes in British Columbia. Snow-capped peaks rise to the north and south as you pedal through thick forests past a handful of mountain lakes, eventually descending to the lakeside town of Kaslo. Today’s ride is shorter, giving you the afternoon to settle in, relax, and shake out the legs for tomorrow’s cycling. We’ll be at the Kaslo Hotel for a couple of nights.

You have a tough decision to make today – ride or relax? Since we return to Kaslo at the end of the day, there’s really no reason to do … anything. That said, we do suggest you consider a ride up to the end of the Kootenay Lake and back. If it makes any difference in your decision, a regional bike and ski shop calls this “the most stunning out and back you will ever ride.” High praise in a region with world class scenery for sure. Since it’s an out and back route, and lunch and dinner are on your own today, you can go as far as you choose.

Shuttle a half-hour to catch a ferry across Kootenay Lake at Balfour in the morning. Various claims have been made that pedaling the east side of Kootenay Lake is actually the most spectacular ride in the region, or anywhere in Canada for that matter. All we know is that the route has been on our Selkirk tour itinerary for years now and is always a guest favorite! Try not to go off the road while you pedal the lakeshore for over thirty miles admiring the views. Fans of roadside attractions will likewise want to contemplate the Glass House constructed from over half a million embalming fluid bottles. (We urge you not to ask where they came from!) Overnight in Creston at the Ramada Inn.