
Why is it called Pennask Summit?
Canada, north-america
81.4 km
1,733 m
moderate
Year-round
Yo, road trip lovers! Let's talk Pennask Summit, a seriously epic mountain pass sitting way up high at 1,733m (5,685ft) in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Why "Pennask"? It gets its name from the nearby Pennask Creek.
You can totally drive it – it's all paved and part of Highway 97C, or as the locals call it, the Okanagan Connector. Heads up though, this pass is the highest point on the whole road!
It's not exactly a Sunday drive, though. You'll be facing some long, steep climbs, especially if you're heading west. But trust me, the killer views are totally worth it.
Good news, it's usually open year-round, but winter can throw a curveball with occasional short closures. And get this: it's the second-highest pass in BC!
The whole shebang is about 81.4 km (50.57 miles) long, carving through the Thompson Plateau. You'll cruise from Aspen Grove to Peachland, right in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake. Road trip goals, right?
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 81.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,733 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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