
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 East shore, and over the highest year-round open pass in Canada. Not too shabby…
The Kootenay Pass
Kootenay Pass, known locally as “the Salmo–Creston” is a mountain pass in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. The pass summit divides the drainage basin of the Pend d’Oreille River on the west from that of Kootenay River/Kootenay in the East.
The Kootenay Pass is one of the highest highway-served passes in Canada that is open year-round, although it is frequently closed in bad weather for avalanche control and clearing of debris

The Kootenay Lake Ferry
The 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.
The main waterbody is 104-kilometres long and travellers take a 35-minute ferry crossing between the Kootenay Bay and Balfour in what is described as the longest scenic free ferry crossing in the world.
Capacity of the M.V. Osprey 2000 is 80 vehicles and 250 passengers. The M.V. Balfour can accommodate 28 vehicles and 150 passengers.


Backroads Brewing
Occupying a prime, central location on Baker Street, Backroads has fit in seamlessly beside the many cafes, restaurants and crystal-selling stores of downtown Nelson, the counter-culture capital of BC’s Interior. Without its name emblazoned on the tall windows, you’d have no idea there was a brewery tucked into the back
Bonus Linkage

Creston Valley
Welcome to the Creston Valley! There is so much amazing riding here to be had, both on and off-road. Here’s a selection of things you

Darkwoods
What is Darkwoods? Well, its 63,000 Hectares of Conservation land just outside of Nelson. It’s a MASSIVE hunk of preserved wilderness, but lucky for us,

Rockies ARC
What’s the Rockies ARC? Well, its the corridor of awesomeness that runs North/South along and near the Canadian Rockies. And boy is it a special

Ride Report – East Kootenay Exploration
Continuing in my mission to bring you’all the most current and detailed info about riding in the Kootenays, I again braved the cold and headed

Old Cascade Highway
Old Cascade Highway is a gravel road sightseeing highway exploring the switchbacks, trails and wilderness scenery in the Monashee Mountain Range. The scenic highway goes

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