Cycle Touring
Spin your way through our valleys. Cycle touring is a great way to explore Arrow Slocan.
The recipe for great cycle touring and bike packing trips is simple – quiet roads, inspiring scenery, backroad connections, convenient amenities and surprising discoveries along the way. Riding in Arrow Slocan ticks all the boxes and then some.
Bike Packing Journeys
For bike travellers looking to get off the pavement and explore more remote routes, the Arrow Slocan region offers plenty of adventure cycling options.
The area is rife with off-the-beaten path overnighters, engaging out-and-backs and scenic bikepacking loops that traverse dirt and gravel backroads as well as historic rail trails and wagon roads.
Even the most remote bikepacking routes boast an abundance of natural water sources to stay hydrated and cool off on a hot summer’s day, while an array of well-situated BC Recreation Sites make for great places to stop for a snack or pitch up for the night.
Part of the draw to bikepacking in these more remote environments is the explorative, challenging and self-sufficient nature of the adventure. While many routes in the area pass through quaint Kootenay communities, not all have opportunities to resupply food, camping gear or bike parts.
It’s best for cyclists to prepare for these sometimes long, limited stretches by taking advantage of main points of resupply such as Crescent Valley, Winlaw, Slocan, New Denver & Nakusp before heading out on remote routes.
As with any outdoor recreation, please play your part in keeping wild areas pristine by packing out what you pack in and doing your best to leave the places adventured to better than they were found.
Off road cyclists enjoy the Nakusp & Slocan (N&S) Rail Trail, Galena Trail and others – check local trail reports on Trailforks for the latest conditions.
Cycle Touring from Nakusp
Nakusp makes a great base for out-and-back rides to Fauquier (114 km round-trip), Galena Bay (96 km round-trip), and towards Slocan Lake (70 km round-trip or more). Challenge yourself to a 400 meter climb on the 30 km round-trip journey to the soothing waters of Nakusp Hot Springs. All routes are paved and feature rolling hills, big views, and little traffic.
Slocan Valley Cycle Touring
Other great day trips include the rewarding climb from New Denver to Retallack (20 km one way, 570 meter elevation gain) with the option to continue on to Kaslo and back (92 km round-trip). The Slocan Valley also features a lovely 40 km cycle touring loop between Passmore and Appledale using the quiet back road and the main highway, with great food options at the halfway point in Winlaw.
Long Distance Road Journeys
If longer distance cycle touring is more your speed, you’re in the right place. Pack your panniers and choose from out-and-back rides through the heart of Arrow Slocan or create a cycle touring loop. The popular “Silver Triangle” loop runs 230 km, while a more ambitious trip through Trout Lake includes a long gravel road as part of the 400 km loop. Both routes pass through New Denver, Nelson, Kaslo and the Slocan Valley, providing plenty of opportunities to restock and relax.
What else to explore?
Those packing tents will find campgrounds conveniently located throughout the region, including spectacular waterfront sites in New Denver and Summit Lake. Charming inns, unique vacation rentals and cozy hotels provide great indoor options, while a variety of independent cafes, restaurants and grocery stores cater to your calorie fix. Museums, galleries, heritage sites, public gardens, beaches and beautiful rest stops offer plenty of surprises and discoveries along the way.
From day trips to multi-day cycle touring missions, there’s no better way to discover Arrow Slocan than on two wheels.
