Mountains & Vineyards

Mountains & Vineyards

Featuring the Kootenay Rockies and the Thompson Okanagan

This panorama tour connects the Kootenay Rockies and the Thompson Okanagan regions. The loop is rich in heritage sites, vineyards/wineries, cultural events and outdoor adventure opportunities. Calgary AB, Vancouver BC and Spokane WA are the international gateways for this circle tour and the regional airports include Castlegar, Cranbrook, Trail and Kelowna.

Day 1:
Golden to Radium (105 km, 1.5 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Radium Hot Springs, Invermere or Fairmont Hot Springs

The community of Golden, set on the banks of the Columbia River and it’s known for its backcountry lodges and outdoor adventure opportunities, including whitewater rafting, hiking and a multitude of snow sport activities.

Enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River or a quiet retreat bird-watching on the world-renowned Columbia Wetlands. Ride the gondola to the top of Kicking Horse Mountain for panoramic mountain views and enjoy a memorable meal at Canada’s highest restaurant, the Eagle Eye. The resort’s great hiking, mountain biking and ‘champagne powder’ skiing may entice you too.

Just east of Golden is Yoho National Park, with astonishing landscapes of 28 peaks over 3,000 m high, glacial lakes and Canada’s highest waterfall, Takakkaw.

Lake O'Hara - Yoho National Park

Or, take the circle trail around spectacular glacier-fed Emerald Lake, visit the Natural Bridge, or take a short drive to view the Spiral Tunnel. The train tunnel was carved in 1909 to avoid steep descents on the treacherous ‘Big Hill’. Stop for a few minutes and you may see the front end of a locomotive emerging from the upper portal, while the back end of the train enters the same tunnel below.

Lake O'Hara is accessed by special transportation or you may hike in (13 km/20 mile trail). The high peaks, rock basin lakes and alpine plants attract many visitors who wish to experience this area's unique beauty.

Following the Columbia River, drive south on Hwy 95/93 for stunning Rocky Mountain views. Play golf against the dramatic backdrops of many top rated 18-hole championship courses near Radium Hot Springs, Invermere, or Fairmont Hot Springs. And stop for a steamy soak in either hot springs (Radium or Fairmont) rejuvenating, mineral-rich pools.

Day 2:
Radium to Cranbrook (140 km, 2.0 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Fort Steele or Cranbrook

Drive south to Fort Steele Heritage Town, a restored Northwest Mounted Police Fort located on Hwy 93. Today, over 60 restored or reconstructed homes and buildings are waiting to take visitors back to the 1890’s. Take in the live street dramas, visit the blacksmith, ride a horse drawn wagon or steam train, or take in a Wild Horse Theatre show.

In Cranbrook, explore the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, featuring the only complete set of rail cars from the luxurious ‘Trans-Canada Limited (1929)’, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Cranbrook's Canadian Museum of Rail Travel

Canadian Museum of Rail Travel - Cranbrook

Day 3:
Cranbrook to Nelson (250 km, 3.5 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Nelson

Continue southwest on Hwy 3 to the orchard town of Creston and stop at the Creston Valley Wildlife Centre, a bird and waterfowl refuge for more than 250 bird species. Take the boardwalk trail to a three-story birding tower or enjoy the nature programs at the Interpretive Centre.

Once you reach Salmo, drive north on Hwy 6 to historic Nelson. Be sure to take the free, self-guided walking tour of 350 restored heritage buildings and homes. Ride Streetcar #23 along the waterfront, stroll down Baker Street and tour the studios and galleries of Canada’s finest small town arts community.

Columbia Garden Vineyard & Winery - Trail

Day 4:
Nelson to Osoyoos (265 km, 3.5 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Osoyoos

Head west on Hwy 3A to Castlegar. This community has a strong Russian influence, which can be seen at their interesting community attractions including the Doukhobor Museum and Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park.

Within a short drive from Castlegar is the community of Trail. Explore the history of the Cominco and Smelter that has operated in Trail for more than 100 years.

The Trail Interpretive Centre is a great place to begin your visit, their hands-on educational exhibits will appeal to the whole family. Or visit the Trail Sports Hall of Memories, a museum that is filled with displays and artifacts. Learn more about the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey team that won the World Championships in 1939 and 1961!

While visiting the Trail area, be sure to include a stop to the Columbia Garden Vineyard & Winery, just south of Trail (on Highway #22A). Wine tours and tasting are available.

Then take an excursion on Hwy 22A to the 19^th-century town of Rossland for a tour of the famous Le Roi Gold Mine. Follow in the footsteps of underground miners who drilled, blasted and hand-mucked this mine (128 km/80 mi of underground crevasses).

Continue west and you will reach the community of Christina Lake. The clear, beautiful tree-lined lake is one of British Columbia's warmest. Christina Lake is the perfect family destination, offering non only 'sun and sand', but also many outdoor pursuits. The Columbia & Western Railway lines connects Castlegar to Christina Lake, it's the perfect mountain bike trail. The route (2% grade) takes you down into Christina Lake, the Cascade Station and from there it turns into the Kettle Valley Railway.

Highway 3 will take you to Osoyoos and the communities of Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Rock Creek and Bridesville.

Osoyoos is Canada's only desert town, with a unique Desert Interpretive Centre to experience this phenomenon. The desert extends past Osoyoos Lake to Vaseaux Lake and west up the Similkameen Valley towards Keremeos, approximately 24 kilometres (15 miles).

Osoyoos is surrounded by an abundance of orchards and vineyards. Most sell fruit or wine, so take a break and stop. The vineyards offer tasting and some of the specialty orchards offers tours as well.

Desert Interpretive Centre - Osoyoos

Day 5:
Osoyoos to Vernon (175 km, 2.5 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Vernon

The drive to Kelowna (from Osoyoos) is also known as the 'Golden Mile'; it is the site of the Okanagan's Valley most productive vineyards. Be sure to stop along “the mile” for a Wine Tour and/or Tasting.

Just north of Osoyoos is the community of Oliver is known for the many orchards. These orchards supply many of the grapes to the region Wineries. While, Penticton is famous for its beaches and water sports. Penticton’s Okanagan Lake Park and Marina has a walking pier with children’s spray-play park and offers boat & jet ski rentals, parasailing and water-skiing lessons.

And climb aboard the vintage Kettle Valley Steam Railway transporting you on a 10 km (6 mi) route along the Thompson River in Summerland. And be sure to play a round of golf at one of the area's numerous championship golf courses; the holes are as spectacular as the scenery.

Okanagan Orchards

Peachland is home of Ogopogo, the Okanagan valley’s spiritual sea serpent. And Kelowna has long been the Okanagan’s largest urban centre and is known as the City of Summer. It is one of the prettiest cities, bright and airy, a lakeshore community with downtown lakefront parks and sandy beaches.

Continue north on Highway 97, to Vernon, where you will pass one of the largest markets, Gatzke's Farm Market in Oyama (located between Kelowna & Vernon).

Day 6:
Vernon to Revelstoke (175 km, 2.5 Hour Drive)
Overnight - Revelstoke or Rogers Pass

Before departing Vernon, be sure to stop at the O'Keefe Historical Ranch. The Ranch was home to the first pioneer families to the valley and highlights early life of farming and ranching in the area. Continue on Highway 97A to Sicamous and the Shuswap Lake area. Enjoy a cruise in a houseboat on Shuswap Lake, with 1,000 km (620 mi) of shoreline you'll find ample place to play, whether your love is swimming, camping, fishing, boating, hiking or biking.

Follow the TransCanada Hwy 1 to historic Craigellachie. In 1885, the ‘Last Spike’ was driven into Canada’s first transcontinental railway, joining the west to the east. Stop in the alpine city of Revelstoke and tour the Railway Museum, a tribute to the workers that built the nation’s transcontinental railway through the difficult mountain passes.

Day 6:
Revelstoke to Golden (150 km, 2.0 Hour Drive)

Continue heading east on the TransCanada Highway; drive through Rogers Pass, one of BC's great mountain crossings between Revelstoke and Golden. Marvel at the engineering feat that forged a path through the mighty Selkirk and Purcell Mountains, making way for the railroad and the highway. This route also passes through two national Parks, Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier.