8 day Road Trip to the Kootenays
- Jeremy
- May 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Embark on a unique week-long road trip in British Columbia. Discover the desert of Osoyoos, Canada's only desert. Continue into the Kootenays visit historic towns, each with its own charm. Drive along the shores of immense lakes, where the beauty of nature unfolds along some of the most scenic roads in British Columbia. Marvel at the Columbia Mountains in Revelstoke, then discover the lakeside tranquility of Salmon Arm and Vernon. before heading back to Vancouver via the backroads of the Nicola Valley.
Drive : 1,564 km Scenery : Mountains and lakes Season : Spring-Summer-Fall
Day 1 Vancouver to Hedley
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Vancouver
Directions
highway 1 to Hope 1 hr 45 min
Crowsnest Highway to Hedley 2 hr 2 min
Ending Point
Hedley
Things to do
E. C. Manning Provincial Park
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park
Lightning Lake at Manning Park
Alpine Meadows at Manning Park
Cascade Lookout at Manning Park
Day 2 Osoyoos
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Hedley
Directions
Hwy 3 to osoyoos 1 hr
Hwy 3 to Rock creek 40 min
Ending Point
Near Rock Creek
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Spotted lake
Osoyoos
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Osoyoos Desert Centre
Grist Mill & Gardens at Keremeos
Keremeos Columns Provincial Park
Day 3 Crowsnest Highway to Castlegar
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Rock Creek
Directions
Hwy 3 to Castlegar 2 hr
Ending Point
Castlegar
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Zuckerberg Island Park
Christina Lake Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park
Greenwood
Cascade Trestle
Day 4 Kootenays
Directions and driving time
Hwy 3A to Nelson 35 min
Hwy 31 to Kaslo 1 hr
BC-31A to New Denver 1hr
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Kaslo
Shopping and Dinning in Neslon
SS Moyie National Historic Site
Ainsworth Hot Springs
Sandon Ghost Town
Kokanee Creek Provincial Park
Day 5 Arrow Lake and Revelstoke
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
New Denver; Nakusp
Directions
Hwy 23 to Galena 1hr
Ferry to Shelter Bay 30 min
Hwy 23 to Revelstoke 40 min
Ending Point
Revelstoke
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Revelstoke Museum & Archives
Shopping and Dinning in Revelstoke
Meadows in the sky pkwy
The Pipe Mountain Coaster
Enjoy the ferry ride across Arrow lake
Nels Nelsen Historic Ski Jump
Day 6 Revelstoke to Vernon
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Revelstoke
Directions
Hwy 1 to Salmon Arm 1 hr 15 min
Hwy 97B and 97A to Vernon 45 min
Ending Point
Vernon
Recommended campgrounds
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Things to do
Historic O'Keefe Ranch
Davison Orchards Country Village
Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park
Salmon Arm Wharf
Kalamalka Lake
Day 7 Nicola Valley
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Vernon
Directions
Hwy 97 and Hwy 1 to Kamloops 1 hr 25 min
Hwy 5 to Merritt 1 hr
OR
Hwy 97 to Westwold 45 min
Douglas lake road to Merritt (scenic gravel road) 1h 45 min
Ending Point
Merritt
Recommended campgrounds
Things to do
Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park
Kamloops Heritage Railway
Shopping and Dinning in Kamloops
Pioneer Park Beach
Drive the scenic backroads of the Nicola Valley
Day 8 Coquihalla Highway to Vancouver
Directions and driving time
Starting Point
Merritt
Directions
Hwy 5 to Hope 1 hr 15 min
Hwy 1 to Vancouver 1 hr 45 min
Ending Point
Vancouver
Things to do
Coquihalla Summit
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park
Cultus Lake Park
Fort Langley
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park
Othello Tunnels
Harrison Hot Springs
Kilby Historic Site
Tulip Festival at Lakeland Flowers (April-May)
Sunflower Festival at Lakeland Flowers (August)
Explore the interactive map
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