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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

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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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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Gaia map of the Kootenay Boundary motorcycle routes

Kootenay Boundary

It’s amazing how varied the terrain and communities are in the Kootenay Boundary region. You can travel through completely different environments all in the same day! And it’s all here to download in one PACK. Get the .gpx or .kml

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a map of the Buchanan Lookout tower motorcycle route

Buchanan Lookout

The Buchanan Lookout stands tall at 1,912 m (6,272 Ft) and offers stunning views of the Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Goat Range Provincial Park and the Purcell Mountains. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial

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Riders Ranch

Tucked in off the highway just East of Kitchener BC. The Kootenays region of British Columbia incorporates the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3), which winds its way through the Monashee Mountains and Selkirk Mountains between Grand Forks and Creston, Slocan Valley

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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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Map of Revelstoke Motorcycle Routes

Revelstoke

Welcome to Revelstoke! 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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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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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 Koch Creek Pass Motorcycle Route

Koch Creek Pass

The trip up over Koch Creek Pass is a local classic. Can be used as as a fun shortcut between Fauquier Ferry and Highway 6 in the Slocan Valley. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial on

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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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Yahk to Kikomun Rd

So you say you need a route to connect between Yack and Jaffery? Well, here it is! If you’re going between Creston and Fernie, or up into the Bull River, this is the way! The is a sneaky back way

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

Grand Forks

Welcome to Grand Forks!  Located just North of the US Border and is the gateway to the Granby, there is so much amazing riding here to be had, both on and off-road. Here’s a selection of things you can ride,

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

Kimberly

Welcome to Kimberly!  A little bit of Bavaria tucked into the mountains of BC.  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

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Map of Castlegar Motorcycle Routes

Castlegar

Welcome to the Castlegar! 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

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Map of Trail Motorcycle Routes

Rossland

Welcome to Rossland! 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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West Kootenays

So much amazingness in the West Kootenays to explore! Smooth, twisty roads and stellar backcounty. It’s all here to download in one PACK. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial on using files So, here’s how the

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