International Selkirk Loop
6 Days • 342 Miles • 22,000' • $2,895.00
North America's first and only international scenic byway! The International Selkirk Loop winds through Washington, Idaho and southern British Columbia, showcasing glacier-carved lakes and the lofty peaks of the Selkirks.
Named as one of the “Top 10 Scenic Destinations in the Northern Rockies", “Best of the Roads” by Rand McNally Road Atlas, and the “West’s Best Scenic Drive” by Sunset Magazine, our 6 day cycling tour takes us 370 miles over majestic mountains, beautiful lakes and rivers of this scenic byway.
Day |
Weekday |
Ride Day |
Selkirk Loop |
Elevation Gain |
Miles |
1 |
Sunday |
... |
Arrive in Spokane, WA |
--- |
--- |
2 |
Monday |
1 |
Newport to Colville, WA |
4,900' |
66 |
3 |
Tuesday |
2 |
Colville to Rossland, BC |
4,570' |
61 |
4 |
Wednesday |
3 |
Rossland to Nelson, BC |
4,700' |
68 |
5 |
Thursday |
4 |
Nelson, BC - Layover |
--- |
--- |
6 |
Friday |
5 |
Nelson to Creston, BC |
5,000' |
77 |
7 |
Saturday |
6 |
Creston to Sandpoint, ID |
2,800' |
70 |
.... |
.... |
... |
Shuttle to Spokane |
--- |
--- |
... |
.... |
... |
Total |
21,970' |
342 |
Day 1 - Spokane, WA - Meetup - Monday 8:00
This cycling tour meets on Monday morning at 8:00 am in Spokane, WA at the Hilton Garden Inn Spokane Airport. If you are flying into Spokane you should arrive by Sunday afternoon for an early Monday morning departure. After meeting in Spokane, we'll make introductions, set up bikes, have a brief orientation and then shuttle one hour to the start of our ride.
Day 1 Ride: Selkirk Loop - Newport to Colville
This tour follows quiet side-roads at every opportunity instead of following interstate roads. The maps on this webpage are deceptive.
We start our Scenic Byway Cycling Tour winding over rolling hills along the Pend Oreille River on the Panhandle Historic Rivers Passage section of the Scenic Byway. The river banks are a great place to watch for eagles, hawks and osprey. We start in Idaho but quickly cross over the Washington border.
After crossing into Washington we head west on the Flowery Trail into the Colville National Forest. This mountainous, scenic route will take us up and over one of the ridges of the Selkirk Mountain range. Get your camera ready.
After climbing over Flowery Trail Pass at an elevation of 4,046', we'll head downhill to the small community of Chewelah. The final leg of the day takes us through agricultural farms to Colville, one of Washington’s oldest cities. A walking tour through the historical downtown business district is a shear delight.
66 miles / 4,900 ft. elevation gain
Day 2 - Colville to Rossland
We start day 3 heading north along the shores of the beautiful Columbia River on scenic backroads. We then cross the border into British Columbia and begin our accent up to Rossland, BC. Don't forget your passports!
One of Canada’s highest cities at 4,000 feet, Rossland is enveloped in majestic mountain scenery and is often called Canada’s Alpine City. Roam the town and learn about the legendary LeRoi Gold Mine that produced phenomenal amounts of gold in its time.
61 miles / 4,570 ft. elevation gain
Day 3 - Rossland to Nelson
Not too long after leaving the alpine city of Rossland, we have a long 20 mile descent past Red Mountain Resort and Nancy Green Provincial Park. As we enter the community of Castlegar, watch for their amazing Sculpture Walk. There are over 20 sculptures placed all over town, many on the streets we will be riding on.
After leaving Castlegar we will be on roads less traveled as we wind our way toward the city of Nelson. Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer are common to the area. You can also cycle 50 kilometers on the Kettle Valley Railway Bike Route that takes you all the way to Christina Lake on an easy railway grade, passing through 4 tunnels and over 3 trestles. You may want to come back here on the Layover day in Nelson.
68 miles / 4,700 ft. elevation gain
Day 4: Nelson BC - Layover Day or Optional Ride
You will have plenty of options to fill your time during your layover in Nelson. The town is renowned for its arts scene, restaurants and a wide variety of outdoor recreation. It is also a great place to sit at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the view or wander through their unique shops.
Or if you wish to explore - visit the Touchstones Museum and other galleries, rent a kayak on Kootenay Lake, hike to Pulpit Rock, take a map-lead walking Tour of Historic Nelson, take a horse drawn carriage ride, soak in Ainsworth Hot Springs, or maybe rent a mountain bike and hit the trails.
Day 5 - Nelson to Creston
It's a 22 mile ride to the ferry landing at Balfour where we will catch a 35 minute free ferry ride across Kootenay Lake. Most of the rest of the day you will wind your way along the east shore of Kootenay Lake with its many beautiful vistas.
The Kootenay Lake Scenic Shoreline Drive make up the lake and steep mountainsides that have kept the area difficult to access and relatively undeveloped until the last century, preserving its pristine state. Sternwheelers plied its waters until the 1950’s, providing the main transportation to and from the communities along its shoreline. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that a paved road ran along its eastern shore, which now makes this spectacular region easily accessible. The mountainsides are heavily forested with towering trees, a testament to its Rain Forest classification.
77 miles / 5,000 ft. elevation gain
Day 6 - Creston to Sandpoint
On our last day we head south on The Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway, part of the International Selkirk Loop, crossing the border back into the US. The Scenic Byway follows the Kootenai Tribe’s historic path to fishing grounds at Lake Pend Oreille. The “Wild Horse Trail” became more than a path in 1863 when gold was discovered in “Wild Horse Creek;” 120 miles to the north of Bonners Ferry Idaho in British Columbia.
As we ride notice the hops and grain fields along the way to Bonners Ferry. They are grown for Budweiser. Just south of Bonners Ferry a stunning wide glacial valley comes into view. The rich soil deposits left behind as the glaciers receded formed fertile lands which even today support a wide variety of agriculture throughout the Kootenai Valley. Prepare for excellent views of the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountain ranges, which are now at their closest point. As we near Sandpoint, we will divert onto a paved bike path along Sand Creek before completing our Epic Scenic Loop!
After the ride we will shuttle back to the Spokane airport. Or if you don't have a late flight, plan to stay overnight and depart Sunday morning.
70 miles / 2,800 ft. elevation gain
Meals:
Lunch on ride days is always included, unless the ride is optional. On this Tour 2 group dinners are included and riders are on their own for the remaining, with suggested seating times for those wishing to dine with others. A continental breakfast is always included of Greek yogurt, a selection of natural cereals, Bagels, cream cheese, etc. Hot breakfasts are on your own and require eating early at local restaurants.