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Visit the Kootenays

Discover the Endless Adventures

the Kootenay region of BC

map of the Kootenay region of BC

Southeast British Columbia has endless attractions to experience

Things to see

Things and places for your eyes.

Places to eat

Eat here. get full.

places to stay

for when you need to rest.

places to drink

Quench your thirst.

things to tour

No shortage of things to do.

Do your homework

Travel Resources

Visitors’ Centres 

Yes, the venerable Visitor Centre is still around! And useful. I know these days you normally just grab your phone and start Googling away. And that can be pretty informative, specially if you’re using the online portal for that Visitors’ Centre. But you know what? The physical location is awfully handy. Parking, bathrooms, WiFi and an actual human you can ask questions to and stave a ton of time with online dead-ends. So here’s a map of where all the actual Centres are, and below are all the links to the various online resources. Happy planning!

Tourism Resources 

Nelson, Balfour, Crawford Bay

Cranbrook and Radium

Cranbrook Tourism

Discover Nelson

Tourism Revelstoke

Grand Forks Tourism

Nakusp BC

Kimberly BC

Fernie, BC

Creston, BC

Castlegar, BC

Rossland, BC

Kaslo, BC

Invermere, BC

Radium, BC

In the Heart of the West kootenays

The International Selkirk Loop – BC/WA/ID

Bonus Linkage

S2S Gold Rush – Nelson

the Sea to Sky is coming to Nelson!! Thursday ride from Sunshine Coast to Osoyoos (possibly through WA), stay at Osoyoos Hotel & Suites.Friday & Saturday stay at Baker Street Inn in Nelson.Sunday stay at Premier Best Western in Vernon.Monday

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Toad Rock

There may be no other place quite like Toad Rock. It holds a special place in the heart of any Rider who has laid their head there… Toad Rock is located in the small B.C. town of Balfour and in the middle

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map of kootenay pass motorcycle route

Kootenay Pass Loop Route

Ok folks, this one is a classic! A paved, smooth, flowy cruise, it takes the rider through some spectacular scenery. Along the North Shore of Kootenay lake, across the longest free ferry in the world, through the twisties on the

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Kootenay Rockies North

There sure is a heck of a lot to explore in the Kootenay Rockies North area!  Sooooo many jagged peaks and mountain streams…. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial on using files This area is the

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Fernie BC is a destination hub for cruiser ADV and dual sport motorcycle adventures to ride paved and gravel routes.

Fernie

Welcome to Fernie! You’ll find a thriving cultural scene, the enthusiasm of a vibrant youthful population and a scenic, tranquil location in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Located in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada (maps), Fernie is a 3-hour

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Red Rock Garage

A Small Coffee Shop with a Motorcycle Addiction  Click here to learn more CONTACT info@redrockgarage.ca  Hwy 33 Beaverdell, BC – Canada V0H1A0

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Wanduro

Wanduro is a motorcycle navigational rally based in the East Kootenays. Teams of 2-4 scour 8000 square kilometers for over 100 hidden waypoints! When:August 12-15 2021. Where:Based out of Canal Flats, 8000 square kms. Who:Anyone with a street legal dual-sport

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Digital downloadable map of Fire Tower Lookouts in BC

Fire Tower Lookouts

Fire Lookouts Who doesn’t like a epic view? They put fire towers on the tops of mountains for a reason. But we get to enjoy the view! Some of these locations still have a tower you can climb and really

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Map of Radium Motorcycle Routes

Radium

Welcome to Radium! There is so much amazing riding here to be had, both on and off-road. Here’s a selection of things you can ride, destinations to visit, and places to eat/drink/shop. Everything is rideable in either direction, and with

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motorcycle riders resting travelling on Kootenay Lake ferry

Kootenay Lake Ferry

The Kootenay Lake ferry runs across Kootenay Lake, 35 kilometres east of Nelson on Highway 3A, between Balfour (west side) and Kootenay Bay (east side), 70 kilometres from Creston on Highway 3A. Capacity of the M.V. Osprey 2000 is 80

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Get Lost, Find Yourself – 2025

“Get Lost…Find Yourself”  Adventure and Dualsport Motorcycle camping weekend. Welcome to the Third Annual “Get Lost…Find Yourself” Adventure & Dualsport Motorcycle campout, taking place on beautiful northern Vancouver Island. This event is a charity fundraiser for HeadsUpGuys.org.  https://headsupguys.org/ Download .KML for

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Map of Trail Motorcycle Routes

Trail

Welcome to Trail! There is so much amazing riding here to be had, both on and off-road. Here’s a selection of things you can ride, destinations to visit, and places to eat/drink/shop. Everything is rideable in either direction, and with

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map of Moyie River FSR motorcycle route

Kid Creek / Moyie River FSR

A gravel shortcut from Kitchener to the North end of Moyie Lake! The Route follows the Kid Creek and Moyie River FSRs and cuts off a whole lot-0-slab! Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial on using

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Bulldogish

What’s Bulldogish? Well, for lack of a better name, it’s the network of roads and trails that wander around the Bulldog Tunnel. Encompassing a loose circle that includes Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks and Edgewood this area has a ton

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Get Lost – Find Yourself

“Get Lost…Find Yourself” Adventure and Dualsport Motorcycle camping weekend. Critter Moto is excited to announce the first annual “Get Lost…Find Yourself” Adventure & Dualsport Motorcycle campout, taking place September 15-17, 2023 on beautiful northern Vancouver Island. This event is a charity fundraiser

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Get Lost, Find Yourself – 2024

“Get Lost…Find Yourself”  Adventure and Dualsport Motorcycle camping weekend. Welcome to the Second Annual “Get Lost…Find Yourself” Adventure & Dualsport Motorcycle campout, taking place September 5-8, 2024 on beautiful northern Vancouver Island. This event is a charity fundraiser for HeadsUpGuys.org.  https://headsupguys.org/

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map of Glacier motorcycle route

Glacier Route

Riding the loop around the Kokanee Park is a must do! Travelling through Nelson, Balfour, Kaslo, New Denver and through the Slocan Valley. It has some of the most flowy twisties anywhere. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia

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map of Farnham Glacier Motorcycle route

Farnham Glacier

Just West of Radium is the hidden gem that is the Farnham Glacier. Easily accessed most of the way by FSR, the last little bit gets a little spicy! There is a creek crossing that although isn’t extreme, it’s not

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a picture of a frozen summit lake with motorcycle

Ride Report – Trout Lake Loop

As part of my mission to bring you’all the most current and detailed info about riding in the Kootenays, I braved the cold and headed out. Found myself with a 3 day window, so headed out to basically do the

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Rated 5 out of 5
Wait, what? We did that and didn't die? I guess that's a win!
Craig Luke
Rated 5 out of 5
You're damn right we didn't die! Takes a lot more than that!
Vera Horsman