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I don't come by here as often as I used to and thought I had posted this before so please forgive me if this is a repeat.
I've been riding the DLL for about 25 years now and am pretty sick of it. The worst part is getting in an out of Vancouver via Hope or Whistler. There are a few other roads that you can ride when you're out for the day that some of you have undoubtedly ridden but many other perhaps not. These can easily be ridden as part of a day ride.
On the way east to Hope, I normally take Golden Ears Bridge ( there are 2 exits that will get you onto the bridge ). More recently I have stayed on Hwy 1 to Exit 73 which is the 264th St exit. Take the cloverleaf north and then once over Hwy 1, turn right on 56th Street / Harris Road. It's a sometimes busy but pleasant ride that gets you almost to Mission.
Most of you probably take Hwy 7 from Mission to Hope but it's worth pointing out for those who may be new to the route.
Princeton to Merritt on Hwy 5A is pretty and not too heavily traveled.
Merritt to Kamloops also on 5A is much the same and avoids the Coq.
Merritt to Logan Lake on 97C is becoming more and more part of my day rides. Scenic, light traffic, easy to pass.
Not much in Logan Lake except gas. If you are hungry, go to the strip mall; you have to get into the center area and you will find a really nice little family run cafe.
Logan Lake north to Savona. Commonly called the Tunkwa Lake Road. I can't find a Hwy number for this. Very lightly traveled. This is a beautiful road although the southern 1/3 is a little rough. Make a point to ride this.
Logan Lake to Ashcroft on 97C is another road worth riding.
I found an old post from 2018 in the Ride Reports section on Hwy 12 between Lillooet and Lytton. I hadn't ridden that in 15 years but according to the report, it was resurfaced in 2018.
Merritt to Spences Bridge on Hwy 8 appears to have been resurfaced in recent years. I rode this road this summer for the first time in several years. It was getting pretty rough but now it's a real treat to ride.
Up Hwy 97 past Cache Creek, turn right at 70 Mile House and just a few Km's later, keep left to go around Green Lake. ( If you miss the turn, the road turns to dirt and gravel. ) This is a slow but fun road in cottage country. Watch the signs to get you back up onto Hwy 24.
Going a bit further north, but still day ride territory, stay on Hwy 97 to 93 Mile House and turn right on Hwy 24. There's a log restaurant in Lone Butte and used to serve great burgers if that's your thing. I haven't been there for a while. There is gas in Lone Butte too. Not much in Bridge Lake. I used to have a summer home there and it's really pretty . A nice camp ground if you want to stay.
One more for any of you that might have a dual sport bike. There is a dirt road from Lillooet south but on the opposite side of the river from Hwy 12. When you get to Lytton, there is ( or was ) a reaction ferry across the river. Or, keep going all the way down to North Bend and take the bridge across to Boston Bar. This is a fabulous road but tight and narrow and the locals drive like there's no oncoming traffic.
If I'm coming back to Vancouver via Hope, I take Hwy 7 to Mission but then cross over Hwy 1 and go south, almost to the U.S. border. Right on Vye Road. Going west, 264th Street is a T intersection. Either go north a bit and left on 16th Ave to reach Hwy 99. Or, south to Zero Avenue and west to Hwy 99. This will avoid Hwy 1 into the city but is slower but doesn't suck nearly as much even having to ride Hwy 99.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Hopefully for those of you who have not ridden some of these, you may now be inspired to try them. They are all worth making the time to experience (except maybe that dirt road on your new CBR). I'm sure others will chime in with roads that I've missed or their thought good or bad on some of the above.
With apologies for lack of brevity.
I've been riding the DLL for about 25 years now and am pretty sick of it. The worst part is getting in an out of Vancouver via Hope or Whistler. There are a few other roads that you can ride when you're out for the day that some of you have undoubtedly ridden but many other perhaps not. These can easily be ridden as part of a day ride.
On the way east to Hope, I normally take Golden Ears Bridge ( there are 2 exits that will get you onto the bridge ). More recently I have stayed on Hwy 1 to Exit 73 which is the 264th St exit. Take the cloverleaf north and then once over Hwy 1, turn right on 56th Street / Harris Road. It's a sometimes busy but pleasant ride that gets you almost to Mission.
Most of you probably take Hwy 7 from Mission to Hope but it's worth pointing out for those who may be new to the route.
Princeton to Merritt on Hwy 5A is pretty and not too heavily traveled.
Merritt to Kamloops also on 5A is much the same and avoids the Coq.
Merritt to Logan Lake on 97C is becoming more and more part of my day rides. Scenic, light traffic, easy to pass.
Not much in Logan Lake except gas. If you are hungry, go to the strip mall; you have to get into the center area and you will find a really nice little family run cafe.
Logan Lake north to Savona. Commonly called the Tunkwa Lake Road. I can't find a Hwy number for this. Very lightly traveled. This is a beautiful road although the southern 1/3 is a little rough. Make a point to ride this.
Logan Lake to Ashcroft on 97C is another road worth riding.
I found an old post from 2018 in the Ride Reports section on Hwy 12 between Lillooet and Lytton. I hadn't ridden that in 15 years but according to the report, it was resurfaced in 2018.
Merritt to Spences Bridge on Hwy 8 appears to have been resurfaced in recent years. I rode this road this summer for the first time in several years. It was getting pretty rough but now it's a real treat to ride.
Up Hwy 97 past Cache Creek, turn right at 70 Mile House and just a few Km's later, keep left to go around Green Lake. ( If you miss the turn, the road turns to dirt and gravel. ) This is a slow but fun road in cottage country. Watch the signs to get you back up onto Hwy 24.
Going a bit further north, but still day ride territory, stay on Hwy 97 to 93 Mile House and turn right on Hwy 24. There's a log restaurant in Lone Butte and used to serve great burgers if that's your thing. I haven't been there for a while. There is gas in Lone Butte too. Not much in Bridge Lake. I used to have a summer home there and it's really pretty . A nice camp ground if you want to stay.
One more for any of you that might have a dual sport bike. There is a dirt road from Lillooet south but on the opposite side of the river from Hwy 12. When you get to Lytton, there is ( or was ) a reaction ferry across the river. Or, keep going all the way down to North Bend and take the bridge across to Boston Bar. This is a fabulous road but tight and narrow and the locals drive like there's no oncoming traffic.
If I'm coming back to Vancouver via Hope, I take Hwy 7 to Mission but then cross over Hwy 1 and go south, almost to the U.S. border. Right on Vye Road. Going west, 264th Street is a T intersection. Either go north a bit and left on 16th Ave to reach Hwy 99. Or, south to Zero Avenue and west to Hwy 99. This will avoid Hwy 1 into the city but is slower but doesn't suck nearly as much even having to ride Hwy 99.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Hopefully for those of you who have not ridden some of these, you may now be inspired to try them. They are all worth making the time to experience (except maybe that dirt road on your new CBR). I'm sure others will chime in with roads that I've missed or their thought good or bad on some of the above.
With apologies for lack of brevity.
Cariboo July 2010 206 (Medium)
Cariboo July 2010 214 (Medium)
Princeton July 2010 006 (Large)
Princeton July 2010 016 (Large)
Princeton July 2010 028 (Large)
Okanagan-Shuswap-June-10 009 Old Hedley Rd
Okanagan-Shuswap-June-10 012 Old Hedley Rd
Princeton-May-10 002 (Large)
Princeton-May-10 010 (Large)
N Okanagan 016 (Large)
