Whistler / Gold Rush Trail

Route Summary

Whistler Gold / Rush Trail
Kelowna-Spences Bridge Hwy 97C/5/8 (BC DH9 or DH9)
Spences Bridge-Lytton Hwy 1/12 (BC DH40 or DH40)
Lytton-Whistler Hwy 99 (BC DH13 or DH13)
Whistler to Vancouver Hwy 99 Sea to Sky Hwy  (BC DH34 or DH34)
Vancouver-Kelowna Hwy 1/3/97 (BC DH44 or DH44)

- 960 km 3 days
- from the interior to the Pacific Ocean and all the beauty
  in between!

Highlights
- unbelievable roads and scenery
- ride the Fraser Canyon, Sea to Sky and the Hope Princeton
  highways
- lots of tourist and historical sites
- the famous village of Whistler
- see the Pacific Ocean!

You may want to consider taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island. It is highly recommended and we would be glad to help you plan the "Island" as part of your experience!!

Kelowna-Spences Bridge Hwy 97C/5/8 

(BC DH9 or DH9)

https://youtu.be/5oHAfJEikQI

A Clint Eastwood spaghetti western could have been shot in the dry, narrow, red rock canyon at the twisty western end of this lightly travelled trail. Running from badland to farmland, this DH traces the path of the Nicola River. The curves are usually good, rarely bad, and where a few blind and decreasing radius corners sneak up on you, downright ugly. As you get closer to Merritt, the valley gradually rises, softens its harsh tone, and widens out-- first to forest, then to field. The curves follow suit, gentling as you head east. So climb on your Harley, light up a cheroot, and grab a fistful of throttle.

Spences Bridge-Lytton Hwy 1/12 

(BC DH40 or DH40)

https://youtu.be/6iABXPTfWeo

If the whitewater thrill-seekers who raft and paddle their way down the Fraser River took a moment to look up at the piece of pavement tracking the eastern shore, they’d trade in their wet suits for a set of leathers. True, the straight middle third of this lightly trafficked DH is dead calm, but the waves of twisties at either end more than make up for it. As do the impressive row of mountains that tower along the entire length of the Fraser Canyon’s west side. Whether you’re cruising down low in the gorge, sweeping across the semi-desert, or edging along a single-lane track high above the river, you’ll be happy you left your kayak at home.

Lytton-Whistler Hwy 99 (BC DH13 or DH13)

https://youtu.be/YdHU2E0DzvI

As far as many northbound travelers are concerned, the Sea to Sky ends at Whistler. And that’s a good thing, too, because it means the traffic finally lets up. For many Vancouverites on a weekend bike trip, the real riding begins once most of the tourist throngs are left to dally amid the resort’s cobbled village walkways, chichi boutiques, and overpriced restaurants. Wide shouldered with excellent pavement, this DH dips and climbs in the shadow of surrounding glaciers. Starting beside the milky waters of Green Lake, you trace the Green River north, sweeping effortlessly into an area of extremely mountainous terrain. Although developers are trying to turn this town into a suburb of Whistler, this DH is still the finest ride within easy reach of Vancouver.

Whistler to Vancouver Hwy 99 Sea to Sky Hwy  

(BC DH34 or DH34)

https://youtu.be/gRRY9qk0klc

The southernmost section of the Sea to Sky highway is where you’ll find one of southern B.C.’s best and most scenic motorcycle roads. Unfortunately, it’s also where you’ll find five star golfing, skiing, rock climbing, as well as Vancouver’s most desirable suburb. Can you say traffic? Up to 20,000 cars travel this highway every day. And sometimes it seems they’re all in a line ahead of you, led by some petrified day-tripper in a Volvo for whom, "Slower Traffic, Please Use Pullouts," may as well be written in Swedish. Three people die each month on this notorious stretch of road—usually a result of some weekend warrior having a snooze in the oncoming lane. While the outrageously beautiful scenery on this DH is the stuff of travel posters, the real reason to ride the road lies in the excitingly engineered and smoothly paved curves which ess along its sheer ocean-side cliffs. Want to split hairs? Better mountain views going north. Better water views going south. Bumper sticker viewing is excellent either way.

Vancouver-Kelowna Hwy 1/3/97 

(BC DH44 or DH44)

https://youtu.be/-TiiQBfq1yc

In the spring, speed tax collectors emerge from hibernation, and, if donuts are scarce, can be seen foraging along the extended straight and sweepy sections of this westernmost section of the Crowsnest. Once considered one of B.C.’s most treacherous pieces of highway-- and therefore one of the province’s best motorcycle roads-- it has been straightened to a mere shadow of its former self. This wide, smoothly paved DH climbs evenly on a series of long, gentle sweepers out of the Fraser Valley into the Cascade Mountains. Then, it traverses a long straight through Manning Park before winding down into the Similkameen River valley. Now a leisurely ride, it’s still the best road in the province if you want to experience the striking transition from B.C.’s cool, wet, green coast to its warm, dry, golden interior. Although most of the traffic has been lured to the neighbouring hunting ground of the Coquihalla (Hwy 5), this highway is still a major STC habitat. So be sure to watch for wildlife.