Kootenay Ride Loops
These are some shorter ride loops in our area of the West Kootenays in south central British Columbia. I have started many of the ride loops from the city of Trail but as I add more loops they may originate in other cities or communities to keep them located to that loop. Each of the three riding seasons in the West Kootenays has different beauty to enjoy.
The Bombi Loop is a 90 kilometer ride that is a composition of slow meandering to a fairly fast open highway ride. Starting in Trail you will find a speed limit mixture of 50 to 80 km/h heading east on highway 3B. You will pass through the communities of Montrose and Fruitvale and a stretch of main 90 km/h highway till you reach the junction of highway 3 and 3B. From here it is a 100 km/h heading west over the Bombi pass that climbs to 1215 meters at 6 to 7 percent grade then descends into Castlegar BC. Leaving Castlegar you then head south at 90 km/h back to Trail on highway 22.
The Nancy Greene Lake ride loop is about a 90 km ride. You can start in Trail, BC head north on highway 22 at a consistent elevation along the Columbia River till you come to Castlegar BC. Heading west from there on highway 3 there is a slow steady climbing at 100 km/h till you reach the junction of highways 3 and 3B at Nancy Greene Lake. Heading east again a steady climb over Strawberry pass with a summit of 1539 metres. From the summit it is a slow decent into Rossland BC. And continuing down the 6 kilometer hill from there we end up back in Trail.
Pass Creek Loop is about a 50 km ride that starts in Castlegar BC. Coming out of the north west corner of Castlegar you cross the Columbia river and turn east on Broadwater Road for less than a half a kilometer along the village of Raspberry then turn north on the Pass Creek Road. From there it is a 60 km/h winding road that takes you through small villages of Gibson Creek, New Settlement and Krestova. (my favorite ride through this winding highway) You will then cross the Slocan River enter onto highway 6 heading south through the community of Crescent Valley. A short drive from there brings you to Playmor and the junction at highway 3A. From there you head south increasing speed to 80 and 90 km/hr following the Kootenay River passing through Thrums and ending back in Castlegar.
Syringa Park ride from Trail is an approximately 55 km ride one way. Two thirds of that distance at 90 km/hr and one third at around 60 km/hr. This is basically a scenic ride that follows the Columbia River from Trail through Castlegar to the southern end of the Arrow Lake.
Nelson Loop is about a 150 kilometer journey beginning at Trail. Heading north along highway 22 following the Columbia River until you come to Castlegar. Here you turn onto highway 3A heading north east until you come to Nelson. From Nelson turning east you travel down highway 6 until you come to Salmo where you turn west onto highway 3. From here you travel until you come to the junction of 3 and 3B where you take 3B and continue on to Trail.