Trans Canada Trail over Gray Creek Pass: Gray Creek to Kimberley, 91 km

Travelling the Trans Canada Trail from Gray Creek to Kimberley is an extremely arduous journey in the wilderness for 80 km on a forestry road, plus an extra 10 km through Kimberley Nature Park with minimal amenities, no supplies and limited-to-no cell service until approaching Kimberley. Cyclists should carry spare brakes, chain links, tubes, tires and a comprehensive set of bike tools. If you are up to the challenge, you certainly will be glad you tried it!

The route follows active forestry roads and cyclists are asked to USE CAUTION along the way; the road’s poor visibility and heavily laden logging truck traffic can make this route a potentially hazardous journey if users do not remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Give all traffic – particularly logging trucks – extra room to pass.

Note: The Gray Creek Pass road is normally closed to vehicles through the winter, opening as late as early-mid July. Late snow and the occasional washout can delay the annual opening. Hikers and cyclists can often pass through these obstacles but do so at their own risk. Visit the Gray Creek Store’s website for the latest road conditions!

Here are some historical dates for the seasonal openings/closings:

The history of the route over Gray Creek Pass goes back to the 1950s, when Cominco (now Teck Metals) built a power line over the Pass. Cominco employees who had relocated from Kimberley to Riondel were keen to have a shorter route back to the East Kootenay, and at the time two roads were considered – one over Gray Creek Pass, and one over Rose Pass to the north. It wasn’t until the late ’80s when the push for the backcountry route finally gathered momentum. Rose Pass would have required a three-mile tunnel so that idea was abandoned. Gray Creek Pass was finally completed in the 1990s, and officially opened in July 1990. Since, the powerline has been abandoned – but the road remains a popular route for visitors to the area, particularly amongst RV enthusiasts. Curiously, publicity about the route draws many German tourists to the Pass each year.

The route described begins at the Gray Creek Store (not to be confused with the General Store further south). Its eastern endpoint is the “Platzl” pedestrian mall in Kimberley.

For hikers Trails BC has proposed a hiking alternative as shown on our map page for the part of the route from Gray Creek to over the pass and connecting to  the main Forestry Road. To read about a hiker who has done this section refer to this posted article.