TRAVEL.com ® Travel Forums - View Single Post - Which route to take from Vancouver to Kelowna ?

9th December 2006, 08:15 PM

My main concern is the weather and road conditions (ice and snow), ...
I have driven to Kelowna through Hope and Merritt many times in
summer... (Trough Hwy 5 , Coquihalla Hwy)
Is the route trough Hwy 3 (Princeton) any better?

Winter is a *totally* different proposition on BC highways. Things that
you zip past in summer become significant in winter. For example:

* the highest point on the Hope - Princeton section of Highway 3 is
Allison Pass, at 1352 metres.

* the Coquihalla Highway 5 has Surrey Lake at 1444 metres; its extension
97C to the Okanagan Valley has Penask Summitt at 1728 metres.

Both of these routes can attract sudden and intense snowfalls. Both
have very long and steep grades, which are traps for incautious truck
drivers.

I wouldn't tackle either one without warm clothing (including hats,
socks, boots and gloves) plus some minimal cold-weather survival gear,
including blankets / sleeping bags, candles, roadside flares,
non-alcoholic drinks and a cellphone.

That said, I know the southern Highway 3 route much better, and would
opt for it. I wouldn't take either one without a careful check on both
weather reports and road conditions. Start with the DRIVE BC website.

9th December 2006, 08:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
David Gee Guest Posts: n/a Classified Rating: % ()	Which route to take from Vancouver to Kelowna ? My main concern is the weather and road conditions (ice and snow), ... I have driven to Kelowna through Hope and Merritt many times in summer... (Trough Hwy 5 , Coquihalla Hwy) Is the route trough Hwy 3 (Princeton) any better? Winter is a totally different proposition on BC highways. Things that you zip past in summer become significant in winter. For example: * the highest point on the Hope - Princeton section of Highway 3 is Allison Pass, at 1352 metres. * the Coquihalla Highway 5 has Surrey Lake at 1444 metres; its extension 97C to the Okanagan Valley has Penask Summitt at 1728 metres. Both of these routes can attract sudden and intense snowfalls. Both have very long and steep grades, which are traps for incautious truck drivers. I wouldn't tackle either one without warm clothing (including hats, socks, boots and gloves) plus some minimal cold-weather survival gear, including blankets / sleeping bags, candles, roadside flares, non-alcoholic drinks and a cellphone. That said, I know the southern Highway 3 route much better, and would opt for it. I wouldn't take either one without a careful check on both weather reports and road conditions. Start with the DRIVE BC website.