Powder Highway, BC

[bboytommy]

Looking for some reviews, recs, and suggestions on Powder Highway in BC.

Planning to hit RED mountain, White Water, and possibly Revelstoke.

Read that the drive to Revy from the South (Nelson / Spokane) can get pretty intense during the winter, especially when using rental cars (even if they have AWD). Anyone done a good amount of driving on the highway during the winter that can chime in? Otherwise, we might stick to Spokane > RED > White Water route since I've been to Nelson and back a few times for Baldface and those roads are pretty straightforward.

Also, open to changing the itinerary to Calgary > Kicking Horse > Revy or whatever else if there's rave reviews.

[kimchi]

@pow_hnd I'm sure you've done this at least once.

[peruna]

It's been a few years since I've been down that way but the drive down to Nelson from Revy on Hwy 23 then Hwy 6 has never caused me any worry, but maybe I've just had good weather. The road doesn't have any high passes that I can think of, but it should be noted that it's only a two lane road and likely doesn't have cell service the whole way. Sorry my memory isn't super hot lol, but I wouldn't be worried about the drive more than anywhere else you're looking at going. I *would* be worried about snow based on how things have been so far this season. That goes for everywhere.

If you're looking at Calgary to KH, construction is still ongoing just outside Golden to the east, but when I came through a few weeks back on my way from Van it didn't delay me at all, just slowed me down for a bit in the construction zone. Now *that* section of road always felt sketchy to me so the upgrades are good to see.

[pow_hnd]

It's a pretty mellow drive from Nelson to Revy. No passes or anything like that. The only thing I will say, as @peruna alluded to is that it's interior BC, stretches of no cell service, limited towns, and honestly limited road maintaince compared to what you would be used to in the States. I've driven that drive before with 6"+ of snow on the road for almost the entire drive, and I've also driven it with almost perfect roads. Just like with everything else interior BC, all those small towns close up at 5pm as well. Even though it's only like 150 miles, that's 150 Canadian miles. The roads in Canada aren't straight or high speed, so you average around 45-50mph for large portions of that drive and if you get stuck behind a semi-truck, much slower than that. I once left Ratallack Lodge and was headed to Rossland, it was snowing like crazy and I was stuck behind a semi truck, it literally took me 4 hours to go like 100 miles.

All in all, it's not a bad drive generally. It's just that it's Canada, so the experience could be a bit different.

[g3greg]

Looks like there’s a ferry as well

It's a pretty mellow drive from Nelson to Revy. No passes or anything like that. The only thing I will say, as @peruna alluded to is that it's interior BC, stretches of no cell service, limited towns, and honestly limited road maintaince compared to what you would be used to in the States. I've driven that drive before with 6"+ of snow on the road for almost the entire drive, and I've also driven it with almost perfect roads. Just like with everything else interior BC, all those small towns close up at 5pm as well. Even though it's only like 150 miles, that's 150 Canadian miles. The roads in Canada aren't straight or high speed, so you average around 45-50mph for large portions of that drive and if you get stuck behind a semi-truck, much slower than that. I once left Ratallack Lodge and was headed to Rossland, it was snowing like crazy and I was stuck behind a semi truck, it literally took me 4 hours to go like 100 miles.

All in all, it's not a bad drive generally. It's just that it's Canada, so the experience could be a bit different.

[bboytommy]

@peruna @pow_hnd super helpful stuff; exactly the beta I was looking for. Thanks for the insight and reassurance.

Oooof, I hear ya. It's dry everywhere =/

@g3greg , Yeah I heard of that ferry. Is it a requirement to ferry to get to Revy? Or just one alternative?

[pow_hnd]

@peruna @pow_hnd super helpful stuff; exactly the beta I was looking for. Thanks for the insight and reassurance.

Oooof, I hear ya. It's dry everywhere =/

@g3greg , Yeah I heard of that ferry. Is it a requirement to ferry to get to Revy? Or just one alternative?

You have to do the ferry, but it’s free and runs every 30 mins

[bboytommy]

Ahh interesting. I can see why Revy would be empty. What a trek to get out there!

[g3greg]

Ahh interesting. I can see why Revy would be empty. What a trek to get out there!

If you’re driving from Kelowna Revy is easier to get to then Nelson. Nelson coming from east or west is a long, winding, exhausting drive. It’s worth it to be in such a cool place but for access Revy wins.

Also it’s far from empty, Revy sees more visitors than Nelson easily. People like Nelson because of the lift lines being 90% locals, and usually 3-4 rows deep at most on non powder days.

[bboytommy]

Makes sense. Super helpful details ya'll. Now if only we can get some damn snow!