Looking for recommendations for riding British Columbia

Nightmare · Nov 11, 2025

I'm just about to start planning a week long trip starting from Calgary, AB going through the interior of BC and I would love to hear about your "must ride" roads or routes that you have done.

So far I've had a few people suggest Creston -> Kaslo -> Nakusp -> Vernon

PS: If you have any suggestions on good sites/apps to plan your route or tips for accommodations (I am mainly planning on camping) I would appreciate them!

Valker · Nov 11, 2025

Banff area to Radium Hot Springs is a great road with stunning scenery. Most every road is though. Fraser (SP?) canyon is very nice, but it can be very hot and dry.

St-Gerard · Nov 11, 2025

All of them, my favorite's ,the 99 Sea to Sky, though to Cache Creek. Of course the Fraser Canyon," Trans Canada number One. Highway number 3 is also good, beautiful around Manning Park. Highway 12 between Lillooet and Lytton is also a good ride. Real question is do you like the twisty's or straights.Picture is from highway 12

Nightmare · Nov 12, 2025

I'm looking for the slower and twistier roads, last year I did an overnight "trial run" from Calgary, to Kananaskis village (highway 40), Longview, through the crow's nest pass then more or less south of Fernie to the border and came back up through Radium. I found the high speed (110km/h+) straightish roads really tiring, for example from Canmore back to Calgary (so I would normally take the 1A for a slower road with a LOT more turns and less traffic)

St-Gerard · Nov 12, 2025

When are you planning to go on this ride, and how many days?

Weaselinsuit · Nov 12, 2025

I would second the road from the TransCanada down through to Radium. The road from Radium up to Golden is nice; full of sweepers that run alongside the river. Highly recommend on a gorgeous sunny summer day.

The portion of Highway 5A that runs south from the Connector running between Kelowna and Merritt (97C) down to Princeton is also nice.

If you get over to the Island, Victoria up the Malahat to Cowichan and over to Port Renfrew and back around to Victoria is also nice, depending upon traffic (though coming south from Port Renfrew, people were putting good about slowing down and waving me past). The section running from Cowichan to Port Renfrew is twisty and a good chunk runs through forest with not as much traffic.

Nightmare · Nov 12, 2025

I don't have a set date yet, but I am looking at summer, probably July or August (trying to pick the months with the least amount of rain) and I am planning on 7 days.

From my test run this last season, I'm trying to keep my riding to 4-5 hours a day (6 at the extreme max), that's with the stock seat so I'm hoping when I pick up a Sargent Cycle seat I might be able to increase that time. With that kind of time limit I doubt I can make it to the island and back in a week.

Snowdreamer · Jan 15, 2026

I would plan a northern route to Lilloet going west, and then a southern route return from Lilloet - both can be great if you steer away from the main routes. Route 99 from Lilloet to Pemberton / Whister / Squamish is one of the very best - I'd run it out and back from / to Lilloet instead of the mess of Vancouver. Better yet = two awesome campgrounds (Cottonwood and Cinnamon Provincial Parks) are on top of the mountain along this route, I'd make for one heading west, the next day ride to Squamish and then backtrack to the other. They are on a great fast clean river and, at higher elevation in July / Aug, will be much better camping than other spots. Each will have Park Ranger coming around at dark to collect the overnight fee ($25 ish I remember). Very few people using those spots especially mid-week. West through Golden and Revelstoke is ok to make distance. Return through Vernon, Needles, Nakusp, Nelson, Balfour. AVOID the LAKEVIEW STORE & CAMPGROUND - the actual motorcycle site was fine, but you had to park bike 150 feet away and walk down to site on shore.

drrod · Jan 15, 2026

If you get to Kaslo, then if you have time, take a run up and back on 31 to Meadow Creek. It is a great road! If you are up to it, the road continues on to the Galena Bay ferry terminal. However it is gravel/dirt from Meadow Creek to Galena Bay.

Nightmare · Jan 16, 2026

Thanks for the suggestions! I have family in a few of the stops below which influenced my route (free place to stay with showers!)
Here is what I am thinking so far:

The overall route, google maps limits the number of points/stops so this is approximate:
Total Route: 2172km, 26hours

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Day 1: 5hr 10min 480km Calgary to Grasmere, BC (via Highway 40)

Calgary to Grasmere

www.google.com

Day 2: 4hr 35min 321km Grasmere to Kaslo, BC (via Balfour Ferry Terminal)

Grasmere to Kaslo

www.google.com

Day 3: 5hr 22min 379km Kaslo to Vernon, BC (via Howser and Nakusp)

www.google.com

Plan B-Day 6: 4Hr 10Min 374km Prince George to Jasper, AB

Prince George to Jasper

www.google.com

Plan B-Day 7: 4Hr 32min 412km end at Calgary

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Nightmare · Jan 16, 2026

I am planning on fine tuning the route if/when I find better (quieter and more twisty) roads also adjusting depending on where I find accommodations. The destination towns were mainly used to point google maps in the right direction.

Chris09 · Jan 16, 2026

a big problem right now in southern bc are the deer; as far as I know, the sea to sky remains a good route through Squamish and all the way to Pemberton which is a cool ride east from there, not so sure, the duffey lake trail I'd have to imagine would be at your peril, I think I'd just rip all the way back again

drrod · Jan 16, 2026

I see that you are planning on going from Kaslo to Shelter Bay via 31. Couple of things that I should remind you of:
1. Meadow Creek to Shelter Bay is gravel/dirt. OK on an ST with street tires if you are confident in your ability and it is DRY. Otherwise.....
2. Kaslo to New Denver via 31A is one of the best motorcycle roads in BC IMO. Be a shame to miss that.

I would suggest you go to Meadow Creek and then backtrack to Kaslo and then on to New Denver and Nakusp.It wont take you any longer and, as much fun as MC to SB is on a DS bike, it may be not so much fun on the ST (assuming you are on an ST).

Nightmare · Jan 21, 2026

That is great info to have, thank you very much! I've done my fair share of gravel roads on my ZX14 which was unpleasant at best but on the ST1300, a bike with 100lbs more weight plus my camping gear, I would very much rather avoid gravel! I'll amend my route to go via the 31A, as I've been looking around the side roads it makes me yearn for a dualsport, so many fun looking gravel and dirt roads out there.

I'm still looking for more roads similar to the Westside Road, between Vernon and Kelowna, I've camped on the Okanagan Lake just off of Westside road and it was a great ride on the motorcycle (pre-fires, but most of the road is still beautiful). I like this particular road because it is quieter, slower, scenic and more twisty than the highway. If you know of any similar roads on my approximate route I would love the feedback!

WingriderKev · Mar 26, 2026

Sounds like you have your route planned now. I rode from Ontario to BC for a 21 day trip in August 2025. I enjoyed every roads very much. Some of my highlights were Creston up to Crawford Bay where I took the ferry to Balfour. I then rode to Kaslo, across to New Denver, and up to Nakusp for the night. If you are looking for a hotel in Nakusp, The Lodge at Arrow Lakes in town was great. Good price and refreshingly newish. Then the ride to Fauquier for another ferry to ride 6 to Vernon was great. I rode just north of Vernon a few minutes to catch Westside Rd to come down Okanagan Lake to West Kelowna. You can get away from traffic by riding down 33 from Kelowna to Rock Creek. Highway 3 from here to Hope is fantastic. I love Osoyoos.

I liked it all so much that I'm planning on returning this summer. Taking in some old favourites and then riding some new ones. Ones you mentioned in your plans. Banff to Jasper. Miette Hot Springs. Mount Robson. I want to ride down to Clearwater on the way to Cache Creek. Then down to Whistler and back. I want to ride down to Hope on 1 (I rode part way up from Hope last year to Hell's Gate). On my way back this year I plan on going up by Salmon Arm and across to Revelstoke before heading down to Nakusp on highway 23. There will be a ferry from Shelter Bay to Galena I have not taken. Then I plan on coming back down from Nakusp in reverse from last year to Creston before heading home again.

I've heard good things about Toad Rock Motorcycle camp ground in Queens Bay near the ferry at Balfour. But I don't camp so I did not stay there.

Nightmare · Mar 26, 2026

Oh cool! Most of the stuff you are recommending is already on my route, I'm staying further north so I won't be going down to Hope on this trip and I have my night booked at Toad Rock motorcycle campground already!

If you end up going out this summer and want some company shoot me a message on here and I might be able to join you (assuming that my current trip goes well and isn't hell on wheels)
Also, I am hoping to post an update to the trip, pics, detailed route, etc after I complete the ride in mid to late June.

ReSTored · Mar 26, 2026

drrod said:
I see that you are planning on going from Kaslo to Shelter Bay via 31. Couple of things that I should remind you of:
1. Meadow Creek to Shelter Bay is gravel/dirt. OK on an ST with street tires if you are confident in your ability and it is DRY. Otherwise.....
2. Kaslo to New Denver via 31A is one of the best motorcycle roads in BC IMO. Be a shame to miss that.

I would suggest you go to Meadow Creek and then backtrack to Kaslo and then on to New Denver and Nakusp.It wont take you any longer and, as much fun as MC to SB is on a DS bike, it may be not so much fun on the ST (assuming you are on an ST).

I have limited back road experience in BC, but I've done 31A Kaslo to New Denver and it's a great road.

WingriderKev · Mar 27, 2026

Oh, if anyone is in the Osoyoos area and take a motel/hotel for the night... I can't say enough good stuff about "The Orchard at Oliver Motel and RV Park". This motel is totally redone and the room I had more resembled a full cabin inside. They have a games room and a nice relaxing "back yard" from the games room. And you can meander around their orchard and are allowed to pick an apple from the trees and enjoy. About $135 I think. Oliver is about 10 minutes north of Osoyoos. If I make it back as planned this year, I'll stay here a couple of nights and just enjoy the Osoyoos area.

WingriderKev · Mar 27, 2026

Nightmare said:
Oh cool! Most of the stuff you are recommending is already on my route, I'm staying further north so I won't be going down to Hope on this trip and I have my night booked at Toad Rock motorcycle campground already!

If you end up going out this summer and want some company shoot me a message on here and I might be able to join you (assuming that my current trip goes well and isn't hell on wheels)
Also, I am hoping to post an update to the trip, pics, detailed route, etc after I complete the ride in mid to late June.

Mid to late June is about when I think I'll head that way again myself. I'll send a message when I go that way regardless. Hope you found an extra tidbit of info in what I said that might help you for your travels.

Nightmare · Mar 27, 2026

ReSTored said:
I have limited back road experience in BC, but I've done 31A Kaslo to New Denver and it's a great road.

I was originally going to take Highway 31 north of Kaslo until drrod pointed out its gravel... I swear the number of great looking gravel and forest service roads I've seen in BC has made me seriously consider getting a dual sport to sit next to my ST!