Day 29 – Nelson, BC to Rossland, BC
9/9/2026
Today’s route followed Canada Highway 3A and some local roads, all of which were paved. The route was 55 miles long, with 5,193 ft of elevation gain with about 3500 ft of descent.
The weather was beautiful with temperatures in the 60s and low 70s and magnificent scenery for the entire route. Mark drove the truck and John, Rolf, & Greg cycled. Part of the route was on a dedicated bike trail with its own tunnel.
The one caveat is that the day’s elevation gain of 5,193 feet was mostly in the last 10 miles. The road went straight up at a 7% - 10% grade (or more) for mile after mile. The last stretch was grueling, with Rolf commenting, “That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done”.
Rossland is a lovely community just 10 km from the US border. The Lions Club Campground is about a kilometer west of town and is well maintained with water, showers, electricity and plenty of space. It also camp equipped with a bear who peered at us from the slope above the campground but did not cause anyone any issues. Unfortunately no one captured any pictures of the bear.
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