 Columbia River Classic |
Dates: (10 days, 9 nights; Fri-Sun) |
Assembly Point: Spokane |
Tour Cost: $2,995 |
ItineraryWe at Timberline are in the business of creating and staging bicycle tours and we are always searching for intriguing new programs. Every once in awhile, a program comes together that we recognize as something really special, and our pulse quickens at the prospect of launching this new adventure. Our Columbia River Classic has defined this level of excitement for us for the past five seasons.
In the course of this 10-day program, we'll ride through the heart of the Colville National Forest and climb to the crests of the Selkirk and Kettle River Ranges of northeastern Washington, the Purcells and Monashees of southern British Columbia. We'll trace the course of the Columbia, one of the world's great river systems, as we ride north from Spokane into Canada through the Kootenays and the beautiful Slocan Valley. We'll cross the Monashees into the magnificent Okanagan, trace the glacial lakes of the Okanagan south, ultimately climbing beyond the Kettle River Range along Highway 20, perhaps Washington's most picturesque, yet lightly traveled scenic byway.
The Columbia River Classic assembles in Spokane and we'll ride north on Day 1 to Colville, where we'll spend the evening. Early the following morning, we'll ride to historic Kettle Falls, believed to be one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the Northwest. We'll ride the course of the Columbia north into British Columbia, climb into the Monashee Mountains to historic Rossland in the heart of BC's gold country. We'll then return to the Columbia Valley and an overnight in Trail and great dinner at the Colander.
We'll continue our northward course along the Columbia on Day 3 to Castlegar, the "crossroads of the Kootenays", at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Elegant Nelson, on the western shore of Kootenay Lake, is an excellent opportunity for lunch, and we'll continue north along the lake's shoreline for an overnight at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Lodge. On Day 4, we'll ride to Kaslo and then climb above Kootenay Lake into the Selkirks before descending into the beautiful Slocan Valley. We'll explore New Denver on Slocan Lake and then head north to Nakusp, on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake.
We're almost midway through our adventure at a point where you likely are convinced that the scenery can't possibly improve. Wrong! Day 5 is absolutely incredible as we ride south along the Arrow Lakes and then board a ferry at Faquier to cross Lower Arrow to Needles. From Needles, we'll climb among the high snowcaps of the Monashees to Monashee Pass and then begin our descent into the Okanagan Valley. Following an overnight in Cherryville, we'll ride into the heart of the Okanagan to vibrant Kelowna, on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake.
A layover day is planned for Kelowna in an area that offers a wide range of recreational activities, including a relaxing scenic cruise on the lake, and several hiking options, including a visit to the reconstructed trestles of Myra Canyon.
We'll tour the Okanagan as we ride south on Day 8. The glacial history of the Okanagan is so apparent as we ride the shorelines of the region's many lakes, whose deep basins were carved by the glaciers of the past. We'll spend the night in Osoyoos on the shores of Osoyoos Lake and return to the U.S. the following morning. On Day 9, we'll turn east toward historic Republic as we return to the Colville Forest. We'll spend our final overnight in Republic, climb awesome Sherman Pass early on our final day before returning to the Columbia Valley. We'll call it a tour at Colville and van shuttle back to Spokane.
Total Mileage — 610
E-Mail: timber@earthnet.net
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