Okanagan Connector High Route

While most traffic takes the Coquihalla through the mountains, this forgotten route climbs the Thompson Plateau along old railway grades and mining roads, offering spectacular views of both the Fraser and Thompson valleys. The trail starts behind the Kamloops airport and winds through sagebrush country before climbing steep switchbacks to the Plateau summit at 4,600 feet. You’ll pass abandoned homesteads from the 1920s settlement era and cross the original Canadian Pacific Railway survey line.

Difficult rated for the steep climbs and loose shale surfaces that demand low-range and proper tires. Any capable 4WD can handle it, but momentum and line choice matter on the steeper pitches. Best from May through October — winter brings serious snow and ice. No services for 140 kilometers, so carry extra fuel and water. What you get is a historic alternative route with incredible photography opportunities and complete solitude, plus bragging rights for conquering one of the interior’s most challenging scenic drives.