A fun alternative to Grey Creek is the Rose Pass route just to the north. Not sure what you're riding, but pretty much any thumper with reasonable knobbies would be fine on it. PM me with your email if you'd like a GPS track for it.
I will be the heretic and say Redding Creek is overrated - but I grew up in Marysville and was riding up there in the late 60's and early 70's when the Rose Pass was better than Redding Creek, so screw you guys who can't say the same. Get to Crawford Bay however you choose. Ride south down the lake to Creston. From Creston go to Moyie - it's slab, but nice riding. From Moyie take the Forest Service Roads to Newgate/Lake Kookanusa. Go for a swim. Look at lithe young women in bikinis with less material than your air filter. Gas up. Ride to Elko on either the slab or Caven Creek Road (take the slab, Caven Creek road at that point ain't much). Cross the Elk River at Elko. Take either Harvey Creek (more to the north) or Ram/Cabin Creek (southerly route) into the Wigwam/Flathead. Stay at Butts Cabin if it's midweek - it will almost certainly be empty. Ride up Corbin Creek to come out at the Coal Mountain mines road just west of the BC/Alberta border. Or, make your way across the border down by the mines and then up to Coleman/Blairmore. Redding Creek/Gray Creek is nice, but it ain't great when compared to all the other riding around here. In fact, it's downright mediocre. It just happens to be the best known dirt road route between the east and west kootenays by the tourists passing through. I have probably spilled the beans and will now be hunted down and crucified by local dual sporters who know where I live, but the fact remains that where spectacular local riding is concerned, Redding/Gray Creek is pretty average. I mean... last time I was over it a few weeks ago, I met a guy coming from the west to play bocce at Julyfest pulling a 26' trailer with a big assed SUV... On the other hand, there's worse riding as well. If you're truly lost and looking for inspiration, email or PM me and I'll put together some local dual sport tracks that will get you into Alberta with maximum fun. Shibby can probably help you with the heavy danger routes... I'm on the wrong side of Freedom 55, mostly ride alone, and so stay away from that shit these days.
Saw some of the Flathed with a buddy from Mayook, but time was short and I had to cut and run. When I get back west we gotta hook up.
Non-local dual-sporters thank you! That's the kind of experienced writing I value... 'been there, done that many years ago - plus been there again a few weeks ago' which provides a great reference point for the rest of us. Thanks for your tips. One of these days I will get out there to take advantage of 'em!
Haha.. That's no reason not to! Kidding aside, you've probably done them all anyways. There are others I could recommend, but as stated you sometimes have to be careful what you recommend and to who. Some get very little use, others require a level of skill or determination. I'd hate to be the person responsible for getting somebody into the back country and not being able to get out. Also, without GPX tracks, directions can be difficult, especially when fuel range limits "exploring". The ones you mentioned are indeed fun rides with great views. I love B'C's back yard! My buddies will be thumping around S.E B.C this weekend but I had already made plans with a non-dual sporting buddy to go camping in the bush. I'm sure I'll have a great time, but I always wonder what I'm missing. If only...
Hmm ... I may be new to the area but I am getting a whole new perspective on this dirt riding bit... I know the Flathead mountain range well ... lived in Sparwood for a while and spent most of my time down past Corbin... Another suggestion is to leave the slab around Jaffrey or Bull River Siding and take those trails to the Ghost Rider mountain east of Fernie... I have not been there since they finished construction on the dam, but it used to be good trail. Anyone know of any Cabins still standing West of Creston? I am looking to do an alternative to Grey Creek trial and will be looking to stay at a cabin on the way back...
Same crew (including the dog!) that had the road closed when I was there a couple of weeks ago. We're hoping to return via GCP in early September so hopefully they will be done by then...
I went over the pass on Sunday Aug 7th. Got through okay although there was equipment parked. They were obviously still working in the area. Some landslide activity and washouts on the road here and there(mostly cleared). Don't believe I would have gotten through on Monday as I expect workmen would have been out. As it was I had a spill about 4 kms from the bottom at the west side. Did a little damage to the bike and the body. I was tired from riding all day and it was getting late when i went into the trail and being by myself it probably wasn't the ideal time to ride the pass but you know... <a href="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/18444202_VrnHrc#1422469512_CGsxW2W-A-LB" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/i-CGsxW2W/0/M/P1010122-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a> <a href="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/18444202_VrnHrc#1422472963_bPvnhvD-A-LB" title=""><img src="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/i-bPvnhvD/0/M/P1010124-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a> <a href="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/18444202_VrnHrc#1422472946_Q8P3WKP-A-LB" title=""><img src="https://jickmagger.smugmug.com/Travel/Vernon-to/i-Q8P3WKP/0/M/P1010126-M.jpg" title="" alt=""></a>
The track for both the main road and the powerline should anyone be interested. Gotta love DualSportMaps... <iframe src="http://www.dualsportmaps.com/embedMap.html?id=A82C603A-0ADD-49CA-877B-43730AD3AE7D" title="Redding-Gray Creek Pass" height="480" width="640"></iframe>
Talked to a guy yesterday who said he drove it. Said it was wide open. Still working on it but passable. Might give it a try this weekend with the powerline diversion on the way back maybe.
Went into Hall Lake yesterday to have lunch on top and enjoy the view. On the way going in the traffic coming out of Redding-Gray Creek was ridiculous. Obviously, the road is open. Should have left earlier as high cloud appeared to the north just as I got to the top, degrading an otherwise perfect day of getting pictures into the Purcell Wilderness area. The views in the other directions were still pretty awesome. Anyone doing Redding-Gray Creek who passes up diverting up Hall Mountain to the microwave site is really missing out. At least, when the skies are clear and visibility is high. The views from Hall Mountain easily beat anything the Redding-Gray Creek road has to offer. <iframe src="http://www.dualsportmaps.com/embedMap.html?id=05DE848D-5F25-440F-98F6-9A16D69CA145" title="Hall Mountain Microwave Site" height="480" width="640"></iframe>
Going to try on Sunday after the meet in Nakusp for Horizons Unlimited, hopefully the road crew doesn't work that weekend.
From early August, the road was closed but looking pretty good. Watch out for horses on the St. Mary's lake side!
I'm guessing mid July unless the weather gets really hot and stays that way. In that scenario I'll go with early July but road will be impassable due to washouts.
Excellent long weekend snowmobiling... I think you might be about two months too early - depending on what we get for weather next month, of course. Just a reminder, I think I might have been the first one to makee the first trip over the pass last year somewhere around the 16th or 17th of July. We've got lots of snow this year as well... I won't be bothering to even think about that ride until July.
