CCCTS BC’s Nicola Valley Grasslands Gravel Roads Hub and Spoke: June 9-16, 2024

by Maureen Angen

18 CCCTS Member cyclists spent 7 days exploring the beautiful grasslands of the Nicola Valley with the guidance of trip organizer George Zorn, helped by co-leaders Craig McBride, Pat Hutchins, Nancy Knight, Lorne Hunter and Judy Murray.

See the Ride descriptions on the CCCTS website Hub and Spoke Descriptions page for a detailed itinerary and links to GPS route maps.

Thanks to ride co-leaders, Craig MacBride and his cycling friends from Edmonton for their pre-trip recce of some of the cycling routes. They saved us from some unnecessary climbs. Thanks also go to George Zorn, Craig MacBride, Pat Hutchins and Lorne Hunter for daily support vehicles.

Thanks also to those who shared photos to a Google Photos group web album, to

enhance this trip report.  Here is a Link to the group web album:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iJm9X9gXqAYQ2k6a8

June 9th, Arrival dinner and orientation in the Moon Shadows Campground just outside Merritt, BC. Meal teams organized by Judy Murray. Participants provided some great dinners in a makeshift outdoor kitchen over the week. There was lots of socializing this first evening and enthusiasm about the rides to come. The 18 participants came from Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Lake Country, Sun Peaks, Nanaimo, Vancouver and Victoria to explore this area of BC.  A few participants took a Sunday evening drive out to Laurie Guichon Memorial Grasslands, 11 km from the campground, for an early glimpse of the area.

June 10th, Quilchena “V Route”: The first ride day was a through ride with support vehicles. Due to prior scouting, cyclists started the ride at a significant high point. We cycled the beautiful high rolling grasslands on the Pennask Lake road’s gravel section, dropping into the Douglas Lake valley via the Minnie Lake gravel road. We returned to the small historic settlement of Quilchena on Hwy 5A. Highlights included wildflower fields, a herd of wild? horses, a couple of frisky bulls and green grasslands. An enjoyable ride on a beautiful day.

 

June 11th, Nicola Valley – Glimpse Lake to Stump Lake. Fantastic views of the Nicola Valley were had as we cycled down pavement from a vehicle assisted highpoint near Glimpse Lake. The group then moved on to tour the gravel roads beyond Glimpse Lake to forested Peter Hope Lake, descending into the grasslands and riding north on the Old Kamloops Road to the north end of Stump Lake on a mostly gravel road. A highlight was a lunch stop at Peter Hope Lake Provincial Rec. Site and the views along the east side of Stump Lake.

June 12th, Quilchena, Douglas Lake, Rush Lake and Salmon Lake. This day was an out and part way back ride. Again, starting at a high point, the group enjoyed the scenery along the shores of Douglas Lake and the views and stops as we rode through the historic Douglas Ranch, along the shores of Chapperon Lake and Rush Lake, to a lunch stop at Salmon Lake. We cycled back to the Douglas Lake Home Ranch to load our bikes and return to Merritt.

June 13th, Laurie Guichon Memorial Grasslands. This vehicle unassisted circle route started off with an informative and entertaining discussion and walk with Mike Dedels, Professional Agrologist, Executive Director of the Grasslands Conservation Council of BC. Mike patiently answered all of our wonderings about the stunning Grasslands we had been riding through and introduced us to many species of grass and flowers growing right at the Interpretive Site. We then spent the day exploring back roads and beginner mountain bike trails on a route around the Sugarloaf Lundbom trails. A number of cyclists chose to ride down from the park on the scenic Nicola Cutoff gravel ride dropping 640 meters over 12 km into the Nicola Valley. We cycled back to the campsite via Highway 5A passing the historic Nicola townsite.

June 14th, Princeton via Coalmont Road. The 5th day of cycling was a change from open grasslands cycling to a backroad route (out only) to Princeton. The cycling along Otter Lake was a real highlight with a lunch stop in the little settlement of Tulameen. Another stop was made at the historic Coalmont Hotel before the final ascent and drop into the town of Princeton with scenic views across the valley where the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers meet. This route paralleled the Kettle Valley Railroad line from Thalia, south, which was unfortunately destroyed by the flooding in this area in mid-November 2021. A visit to the Princeton Visitors Centre with a virtual reality kayak tour was enjoyed by a number of cyclists before the return vehicle ride to the campground in Merritt.

 

 

June 15th, From Knutsford south on the Long Lake Road to Stump Lake – an assisted through ride. This was our only day of significantly poor weather with thunder, rain and hail at the midpoint on the ride. Vehicle assistance was greatly appreciated to avoid a slick, wet and cold downhill return to the north end of Stump Lake. Again, the grasslands and valley views were exceptional, with the stormy skies adding a new element. Dinner was moved to a restaurant venue for the final evening due to inclement weather.

All in all this grasslands and gravel roads tour of the Nicola Valley and beyond, was a great success and enjoyed by all. Participants came away with more understanding of the importance of grasslands to BC’s environment and a thirst to explore more of this beautiful area. Thanks again to our Lead Organizer, George Zorn, and to our co-leaders: scout and mechanic extraordinaire, Craig McBride and drivers, Pat Hutchins, Lorne Hunter and Nancy Knight along with meal organizing by Judy Murray.

Maureen Angen – a CCCTS member since 2019