How long is Kootenay Pass?
Canada, north-america
64 km
1,782 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, road trippers, buckle up for Kootenay Pass! This beauty is a high-altitude highway adventure sitting pretty at 1,782m (5,846ft) in British Columbia, Canada.
We're talking about Highway 3 (the Crowsnest Highway), a fully paved ribbon of road stretching 64km (40 miles) from Nelson Nelway Highway to Creston. You'll find it snuggled in the Selkirk Mountains, right inside Stagleap Provincial Park. Kootenay Pass marks the highest point on this route.
Heads up: this pass earns its stripes! It’s open year-round, but Mother Nature calls the shots. Expect closures for avalanche control and debris clean-up during bad weather. Seriously, this area is famous for early and late-season snow, with avalanches happening ALL the time. Winter tires or chains are a must from October to the end of April.
The drive itself? Budget about 45 minutes without stops to soak it all in. You'll be cruising through classic Rocky Mountain scenery – think massive lakes and ridiculously tall mountains. It gets about 1,600 vehicles a week.
Be prepared for some serious climbs! You'll find sections hitting a max gradient of 13%. Creston will require a 40km push, climbing 1154 meters. From Burnt Flats, you'll climb 1134 meters in just 23.1km. Once you conquer the summit, take a breather and check out the incredible Bridal Lake.
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 64 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,782 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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