Kootenay Pass Loop Route

August 20, 2020

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…

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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

missvelocity in motorcycle armour by kootenay lake

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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.

Kootenay Bay Ferry Schedule

motorcycle riders resting travelling on Kootenay Lake ferry

BC Ale Trail - West Kootenays

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