Summary

Departing from Lumby, this route features ~20km of gravel as it passes Echo Lake before reaching Cherryville. Dramatic cliffs and thickly forested mountainsides line this route — with minimal traffic, it’s a ’cherry’ of a ride.

The gravel begins 10km southeast of Lumby on Creighton Valley Rd. Passing Echo Lake, the gravel is hard-packed and has very few rocky sections, potholes, or washboard. Approaching Highway 6, 5km from the end of Creighton Valley Rd, you’re back on pavement until reaching Cherryville, 25km from Lumby. The wind travels along Creighton Valley, as it does along Highway 6, so you’re bound to find this route difficult in one direction or the other on blustery days.

Extending to the southern end of Mabel Lake or departing and finishing in Vernon are both OK alternatives for riders wanting a longer day.

Surfaces & Traffic

~20% gravel with light traffic. Smooth and hard-packed gravel on Echo Rd, and good quality pavement without a rumble strip on the shoulder of Highway 6.

Weekends can be busy with traffic on the highway, but traffic is consistently very light from Lumby to Cherrville as you pass Echo Lake.

Refuelling

2-3 water bottles and a few snacks should see most riders through to the finish of this ride, but there are a handful of places you can stop in Cherryville and some wonderful options in Lumby at the end of the route:

• Canco Cherryville Emporium @ 40km is the best-named gas station we’ve come across, and the snack selection is OK too. Turn off Highway 6 onto N Fork Rd to stop here.

• Frank’s General Store @ 43km is located right on Highway 6 for those that don’t want to turn into Cherryville.

• Cherryville Rv Golf and Roadhouse Grill @ 46km why not just give in and have a burger and beer??

• Idas-Bakery @ 66km solid post ride option for some homestyle cookin’.

• Snac Shac @ 66km did someone say Sundae Bar?

Key Segments

• Creighton Valley Pavement @ 2km. Shallow climb on the pavement section of this road, 7½km @ 1½%, fast times are wind-dependant.

• Echo Lake Climb @ 2km. Includes the previous pavement segment and the gravel portion of Creighton Valley Road finishing at Echo Lake. 16.2km @ 2.3%, there are a couple sections where you will be out of the saddle, but this isn’t a climb to be fearful of.

• Ferry Creek Climb @ 27km. Just after Echo Lake, 1.7km @ 5.7% will have you feeling it in the legs, but don’t worry, it’s pretty much all downhill to Cherryville after this stretch.

• Shafer Rd Climb @ 53km. Last effort before reaching Lumby, 2½km @ 5.8% for this pavement section on Highway 6.

Points of Interest

• Triple Island Cheese Farm @ 48½km
• Camel’s Hump is the mountain this route circles around.
• Echo Lake @ 21km

Options

Start from Vernon to extend this route. Double the distance, double the elevation, and double the fondo fun.

Mabel Lake extension: adding the out-and-back to the southern End of Mabel Lake adds scenic rolling pavement without adding any big climbs. Storm the beach and stop at the floating Mabel Lake camp store!

Enjoy!

And please be sure to…

• ride safely,
• let us know what you think about this route, and
• follow us on the grams & tag us along with #okroute26!