The International Selkirk Loop is recognized by Rand McNally as one of only five routes to earn its “Best of the Road” title. This loop encircles the majestic Selkirk mountain range south of the border and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park in B.C. It promises spectacular scenery – beautiful lakes and rivers, stunning flora and big game animals.
From the ‘hip’ city of Nelson, BC, we’ll ride south across the border into Washington and follow the Pend Oreille River through Metaline Falls down to Newport, ride east into Idaho and up to picturesque Sandpoint. From here we’ll ride the Super Side Trip of ‘Lake Pend Oreille – Kootenai River’ which takes us into Montana for 2 days. Back in Idaho we’ll zip up the panhandle and cross the border back into BC. From Creston we’ll follow the Kootenay River north, cross the world’s longest free ferry and take another Super Side Trip of ‘North Kootenay Lake – Silvery Slocan’ taking us to the pretty little village of Kaslo, across to New Denver and Silverton where we’ll follow the Slocan River through the Slocan valley back to our starting point in Nelson.

This 12-day, 11-night tour begins on day 2 and is camping with a support vehicle carrying our kitchen supplies and camping gear. All tasks, including the driving, will be done by the participants. The rides will vary from 56 – 100 kms/day. Total distance is 812.3 kms with an average distance of 81 kms/day. There is one scheduled day off. Detailed daily route maps and cue sheets, elevation profiles and road condition information will be provided at the commencement of the tour.

This is a camping tour where accommodations will typically be in private or municipal campgrounds with hot showers available. The CCCTS camp kitchen and related equipment will be hauled in the rented van and set up and taken down each day by the riders.  Riders will provide their own tent, mattress, sleeping bag, eating utensils and lawn chair. Cook teams will be appointed to drive the truck, shop for provisions, cook breakfast and dinner, and set out sandwich making ingredients.

The route follows major and secondary highways or local paved roads and some bike paths. Most roads will include a paved shoulder or be of such low traffic volume to not require a shoulder. The terrain is varied with rolling hills and some longer and higher elevations in B.C. Total accumulated elevation gain/loss is +7641m/-7641m

Every effort is made to follow the quietest roads possible. The two longest days have minimal elevation gain. There are 3 days with longer climbs of 1100 to 1330 m.  This is a very scenic route on both sides of the border.  See itinerary below for details.

The tour fees include organization expenses, tour leaders fee, vehicle rental, camping accommodation and all meals on camping nights including cooked breakfast and dinner, bag lunch, coffee break beverages and snacks, and happy hour snacks, and a 10% contingency allowance.

Please note: Tour Fee is based on minimum number of registrants. If we get a full tour of 20, there will be a significant surplus which is returned to the participants after the tour audit. (there is often a partial refund even on small tours).

Transportation to and from the start and finish point, supply of bikes, personal camping equipment and parking of vehicle for 11 nights., any meals not noted above.
A non-profit beer and wine pool will be operated.

Day 1: Sun, June 16: Participants travel to the Whistle Stop Campground, Nelson, B.C. to meet your fellow riders, review route and prepare for a wonderful 11 days together.

Day 2: Mon, June 17: Nelson to Metaline, WA. Crosses the border (94.1 km) +1182m
Mt Linton Campground

Day 3: Tue, June 18: Metaline to Newport, WA (100.5 km) +533m
Albeni Cove Campground, Idaho (3 kms E of Newport)

Day 4: Wed, June 19: Newport to Sandpoint, ID (54 km) +379m
Springy Point Campground

Day 5: Thu, June 20: Sandpoint to Noxon, MT (87.8 km) +631m
Two Rivers RV & Campground

Day 6: Fri, June 21: Noxon to Troy, MT (78.4 km) +544m
Kootenai River Campground

Day 7: Sat, June 22: Rest Day

Day 8: Sun, June 23: Troy to Creston, BC. Crosses border (93.2 kms) +596m
Scotties RV & Campground

Day 9: Mon, June 24: Creston to Crawford Bay (76.3 km) +786m
Kokanee Chalets & Campground – Approximately 6 kms from Balfour ferry

Day 10: Tue, June 25: Kokanee Campground to Kaslo (79.6 km) +1101m
Kaslo Village Campground (option to cut 27 kms off by not taking lateral route)

Day 11: Wed, June 26: Kaslo to Slocan, (79 km) +1330m
Springer Creek Campground

Day 12: Thu, June 27: Slocan to Nelson (74.2 km) +832m
Complete the loop back to cars.

Open link to map:

MapPic Selkirk_L-Map

Registration will take place on the CCCTS website at the date and time noted above, with a $50 deposit.  A computer-generated lottery system will be used to assist in the selection of riders and waitlist in the event that the ride is oversubscribed. The lottery signup will run for 3 days, after which time a wait list is automatically generated and the leader will review the results.

The  registrants will be considered in terms of suitability for the tour according to the following criteria:

• fitness and riding experience relative to this tour
• safe riding habits demonstrated on previous rides
• acceptable social behaviour

The leader may contact registrants or others who know them to verify their suitability. The leader may select up to 30% of the candidates based on preference. The leader will contact registrants within 2 weeks of the close of lottery.  Successful registrants will be directed to make the second payment of $500 at that time. The final payment of $510 will be due on April 24.

If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will still be allowed up until the registration close date shown above.  Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless replacement person(s) are found.