The Rock Creek Loop

One of the areas favorite rides is the Rock Creek Loop. You should fuel up in Kelowna before heading up highway 33. This highway heads up past Big White Ski resort and is generally traffic free but is known for having a high deer population. At about the halfway point to Rock Creek you will pass through Beaverdell, there's a historic old Hotel, a Cafe, a private gas bar and not much more. The road carries on winding through until you hit Westbridge, here you will turn right over the bridge and cross the Kettle River. Just before you reach Rock Creek there is a good Provincial Campground on the river. As you enter Rock Creek you will pass the Prospector Hotel on your left. It doesn't look like much from the road but this Pub has character, good food and a great patio. There's gas and couple of tourist shops at the intersection of Hwy 33 and Hwy 3.

From Rock Creek you turn right on Hwy. 3 and head up over the pass towards Osoyoos. As you begin your decent into Osoyoos the road really tightens up and some of the turns are quite sharp and narrow. You will want to look over the valley but keep you eyes on the road, the best view is at the hairpin on the upward leg but you have to go down to Osoyoos and turn around as you can't stop on the downward leg.

The town of Osoyoos located just north of the border is a typical Okanagan desert town with all services. From here you take highway 97 North through wine country to Oliver (which claims to be Canada's wine capital). If you want to take in a winery along the route Burrowing Owl is my personal favorite. Watch for signs as you leave Oliver. Another popular stop is Tickleberry's for ice cream just before you reach Okanagan Falls. In OK Falls most people stay on 97 but the back route is a better motorcycle route. At the flashing light go straight through and turn right on Eastside Road at the lake, this will take you up the back side of Skaha lake and into Penticton. Eastside Road will turn into Main Street in Penticton, stay on Main Street until you reach the lake. Turn left on Lakeshore and you will pass the Casino and numerous beach front restaurants (not a bad stop for people watching in the summer). Lakeshore hooks up with 97 at the bottom of Lake Okanagan.

Heading north you will pass through Summerland, if you're adventurous enough (and skilled enough) take a ride up Giant's Head Mountain this is not an easy climb but the view is incredible from the top. If you're riding a chopper this is not the road for you. Continuing on up Highway 97 the next town is Peachland take the exit and ride through the town the road follows the lake and you will eventually connect back onto 97 North. You're not likely to make it past the Gasthaus restaurant in Peachland if you like German food. Once you are back on 97 you can detour around Westbank and miss the traffic if you turn off at the overpass onto Gellatly Road S. this winding route takes you through rolling vineyards and past another favorite local winery Mission Hill. You will hook up with 97 north past Westbank where you can continue into Kelowna over the floating bridge into town. Plan to spend about half a day if you keep riding, if you make the stops I've mentioned plan on riding for the whole day. If you're pressed for time just take Hwy 33 to Rock Creek and back. Remember watch for deer.

By Jeff Kumagai
Freelance Motorcycle Rider

Westside Road

Westside road is legendary with the local sport bike crowd. It runs up the westside of Lake Okanagan and ends in Vernon. The road starts off wide and the first few kilometers are smooth and wide then it narrows and follows the shoreline of the lake with many sharp curves and narrow lanes. The road gets rougher and narrower as you travel north, there's little room for error.

From our shop take Hwy 97 south after you pass over the floating bridge and climb towards Westbank, Westside road exits to the right. There's no fuel until you reach the northern section near Vernon, if you want to stop for food Lake Okanagan Resort is about half way, A better choice is Historic O'keefe Ranch on the left just before you connect with Hwy. 97 near Vernon. Turn right on Hwy. 97 to head back to Kelowna.

If you want to avoid the traffic in Vernon when reach the point on Hwy. 97 where it veers about 90 degrees left take the cut off (to the right) on Old Kamloops Road. This will take you behind Swan Lake and into Vernon's town centre. When you hit 30th Avenue you will have to turn left, 30th Avenue will intersect with Hwy 97, turn right again and stay on 97 back to Kelowna. For a better bike route you can turn right off 30th on 34th Street you'll know your heading the right way if you pass an ESSO station and climb a steep hill. This leads to a nice twisty section of road that heads toward Predator Ridge Golf Course. When you come to a three way intersection turn left on Bailey Rd. back to Hwy 97. At 97 turn right to head back to Kelowna.

Jeff Kumagai
Freelance Motorcycle Rider

Salmon River Road

A good day ride is to take the back way to Salmon Arm via Salmon River Road. From our shop you head north towards Vernon on Hwy. 97. Take the Bailey Road exit off the highway (At the large Predator Ridge Sign). Watch for it because there's not much room to stop and make the turn left onto Bailey. You will come to a three way intersection turn right on Commonage Road, a smooth winding road that will take you into Vernon.

As you come down into Vernon go straight through the intersections until you see 30th Avenue. Turn left and go past the traffic circle, turn right shortly after on Alexis Park Drive. Alex Park will turn into Old Kamloops Road. This is a great section of road that travels along a ridge above the valley overlooking Swan Lake.

When you reach Hwy 97 turn left, you will pass Historic O'keefe Ranch (not a bad food or coffee stop) and Sun Valley Speedway. Watch for Salmon River Road on your right. Follow Salmon River Road to Hwy. 1 and Salmon Arm. Salmon Arm is a full service community if you need a break there's a nice wharf on Shuswap Lake that's worth a look. From Salmon Arm take Hwy. 1 to Hwy. 97B south back to Kelowna.

An interesting alternative route is to take the Black Road exit as you head South on 97B. This will take you up past Larch Hills Winery (specializing in cool climate wines). Black Road leads to Grandview Bench Road after a couple of nice switchbacks it intersects with Hwy. 97A. Turn right and you can take the highway back, turn left and few kilometers up the road is the Grindrod Riverfront Pub a popular stop for motorcycle riders and hot rodders. If you continue over the river and and make the first right (onto Enderby-Grindrod Rd.) this will take you the back way into Enderby.

On you're way back you will pass through Enderby, Armstrong and Vernon. A popular food stop as you approach Vernon from the north is Squire's Pub watch for it on your left.

Jeff Kumagai
Freelance Motorcycle Rider

Coalmont

Here's an interesting ride to a small semi-ghost town on the KVR (Kettle Valley Railway) about 16 kms from Princeton. Coalmont was established in 1912 and as the name suggests it was a coal mining community. There are still a handful of residents and a few buildings remain, the most prominent is the Coalmont Hotel.

It's an easy ride south on Hwy. 97 when you reach Penticton stay on 97 and follow the channel between Lake Okanagan and Skaha Lake. When you reach Skaha Lake you will have to turn right at the lights. You'll follow Hwy. 97 as it rises above Skaha Lake take the the Hwy. 3A cutoff to Keremeos and Princeton. This is a great section of winding two lane highway as the road climbs and eventually drops you back down into Keremeos, a small fruit growing community. There are a number of good fruit stands and a historic Grist Mill in Keremeos (In case you were wondering Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff?).

To reach Coalmont you take Hwy. 3 west towards Princeton, don't be surprised if you are pushing a heavy headwind, the wind really howls through this valley. The road is great with smooth sweeping curves and excellent scenery. The next town on the route is Hedley, as you aproach town you will see the Gold Dust Pub on your left, this is a good lunch stop and it's a popular stop for motorcycle riders. The Mascot Mine looms overhead in Hedley, you can take a tour but you need an entire day. If your on a dual sport there is an incredible climb up Hedley-Nickleplate Road, it's all gravel, narrow and steep but the view from the top is impressive. This road will take you back to Penticton via Apex Ski Resort.

To reach Coalmont you have to continue on Hwy. 3 until you reach Princeton. There are signs indicating the way to Coalmont, it's not a long ride in but if you're low on fuel fill up in Princeton. The road into Coalmont is narrow and only one lane wide in some places, watch for rocks. It's paved all the way to town but turns to gravel shortly after that. The only business that's open (on occasion) is the old hotel. If you're on a street bike you will probably prefer to return to Princeton and take 5A north and then 97C back to Kelowna.

If you're on a dual sport you can continue past Coalmont through Tulameen eventually you will intersect with Hwy. 5A just south of Hwy. 97C near Aspen Grove (No Services). This highway is commonly referred to as the "connector" and will take you back to Kelowna. This trip will take you the better part of a day to complete.

Jeff Kumagai
Freelance Motorcycle Rider

Needles Ferry

The ride from Kelowna to the Needles Ferry and Fauquier is famous in the BC motorcycle community for it's tight curves and generally low traffic. From the shop you take Hwy. 97 north, you can avoid going into Vernon if you take the Coldstream exit on your right just past Okanagan College. This road winds down to Kalamalka Lake, one of the ten most beautiful lakes in world according to National Geographic, you will pass the beach and through the community of Coldstream. The road will eventually intersect back with Hwy. 6 East. You stay on Hwy. 6 all the way to the Needles ferry. If you need fuel you should fill up in Lumby. A good food stop is the Blue Ox Pub it will be on your left as you leave town.

It's about 135kms from Vernon to the ferry and the farther you travel the better the road gets from a motorcyclist's point of view. When you reach the ferry the wait time is usually around 15-30 minutes (the ferry is free). You don't have to cross unless you need fuel but if you don't you will miss the Mushroom Addition Restaurant, a favorite motorcycle stop serving coffee, lunch, pie, gas, all the necessities. Time the return trip right and you won't have to wait long for the return ferry. Bikes are usually allowed on first so you will have clear road ahead. If you want an alternate route back try the Westside Road route. Stay on Hwy 6 until it intersects with Hwy 97 North (32nd. Street) in Vernon. Turn right and stay on Hwy. 97, as you pass Swan Lake on your left take the Kamloops exit follow Highway 97, not 97A. Watch on your left for Westside Road. This will bring you back to Kelowna on yet another favorite BC motorcycle road.

Jeff Kumagaibr /> Freelance Motorccycle Rider

Chesaw USA

There are many great motorcycle rides in the Okanagan area one of my favorite day rides is just south of the border in Washington. The roads are great and there are a couple of interesting stops along the way. The town of Chesaw (apparently named after a Chinese settler) makes for an interesting destination ride through some great back country.

This is the route I like to take. From Kelowna take Hwy. 33 over to Rock Creek. Take Hwy. 3 East until you reach Midway, there's a small border crossing at Midway that's open (9:00 AM � 5:00 PM). There is also a great campground in Midway. Once you cross the border (you will need a passport) the road follows the Kettle River south, you want to follow the signs to Curlew on West Kettle River Road. Once you reach Curlew take Highway 21 South to the town of Republic, a small western themed town with all services. Watch for the HWY 20 West signs in town and head for Wauconda. Don't be looking for a large settlement at Wauconda, there isn't one, but this is where you exit and take Toroda Creek Road to Chesaw. You will pass by the ghost town of Bodie where a few log buildings remain and shortly after make a left onto Oroville-Toroda Creek Road toward Chesaw. Follow this route and you will wind your way to the community of Chesaw. There's great old saloon and general store worth investigating. Chesaw hosts a major rodeo each summer.

As you leave Chesaw and head west there is one more interesting side trip (if you like old ghost towns). Watch for Molson Rd. on your right this leads to the ghost town of Molson (No Services) there's a great museum in the old school house. If your on a road bike you will probably return the way you came in as the road is paved. There appears to be a back way out on gravel if you're into a little exploring. Once you're back on Chesaw Rd. head west towards Oroville and Hwy 97 North back to Osoyoos and Canada.

There's another interesting route in Oroville. Watch for the road to Loomis (Orville-Loomis Rd.). The road loops around past Palmer Lake and will connect back on 97 south of Oroville.

Jeff Kumagai
Freelance Motorcycle Rider