Ride: Vernon - Commonage - Carrs Landing - Okanagan Centre - Winfield - Oyama - Coldstream
A scenic ride along sometimes narrow twisty backroads - Commonage Road, Carrs Landing Road, Okanagan Centre Road W., Hwy 97, Pelmewash Parkway, High Ridge Road and Kalamalka Lakeview Drive. Beaches, parks, orchards, resorts and lakes: Predator Ridge, Kopje and Kaloya Regional Parks, Kekuli Provincial Park, Okanagan Lake, Wood Lake, Kalamalka Lake.
Last Ridden: June 8, 2023Province: BC
Region: Okanagan
Route Type: Paved Backroad
Riding surface: pavement (100%)
The route takes you from downtown Vernon through the hills overlooking Okanagan Lake. There are a few fun kms of curves along the way to Predator Ridge golf course and Sparkling Hill Resort. The speed limit is 60 km/h. The road runs past a few small lakes / ponds and then meanders through orchards and country properties. The road descends to Okanagan Lake and runs through Carrs Landing and Okanagan Centre. There are parks and beach access along the way. Kopje Regional Park is a nice stop, but the road down to the parking area is a bit rough with some loose gravel (it may have been improved since I was there last). There is a boat launch and beach area in Okanagan Centre that is quite nice. There are some traffic calming speed humps in Okanagan Centre which is also another nice area to stop, relax and soak up the atmosphere. South of Okanagan Centre the road climbs steeply and winds it way up and over the hills to Winfield. It is an enjoyable ride with great views of Okanagan Lake.
Once in Winfield you can access Hwy 97 or take Glenmore Road into Kelowna. If heading north back to Vernon, I suggest taking Pelmewash Parkway which exits Hwy 97 at the north end of Winfield. Pelmewash Parkway runs along the shore of Wood Lake and offers plenty of places to pull over and access the lake and the Okanagan Rail Trail. Another place to stop when in Oyama is Kaloya Regional Park (turn right / east after reaching the north end of Wood Lake) on the shore of Kalamalka Lake; it's a really nice park with some beach and picnic areas and shade.
After travelling north on Hwy 97 for several km (and past the turn-off to Predator Ridge), exit right onto High Ridge Road and then go right again (south) to Kekuli Bay Provincial Park (camping, beach, boat launch) if you like, or continue north on High Ridge Road (becomes Lakeview Drive) to Coldstream and Vernon. There are nice views of Kalamalka Lake and Coldstream along the way.