Travelling the route from Gray Creek to Kimberley is an 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. 

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 - for 2016 we have a moderate snowpack and expected opening is 1 July - so it should be fine when we go through. Late snow and the occasional washout can delay the annual opening. Riders often pass through these obstacles. 

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.

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Russell Musio of the Backroad Mapbooks rates the Gray Creek Pass as the Most Important Backroad in BC.  

Oliver Lake Recreation Site has picnic tables and an outhouse, about 1/4 mile before the summit. The lake is not visible from the road but is worth taking 10 minutes to walk to and a few more to walk around. A trail crew built a neat path around the lake, splitting big boulders to make a path that travels through 400 year old larches. Residents of Gray Creek village say that the water of Gray Creek and the south fork is safe to drink.

Take note of the steep climbs/descents:

• Average of nearly 9% grade for 17 km from Kootenay Lake up to Gray Creek Pass

• Average of nearly 6% grade for 12 km from Gray Creek Pass down to Parker's Creek 

Heading north from Riverside Campground closer to Kimberley , a lovely trail climbs into Kimberly proper via the Kimberley Nature Park.