In this spectacular area, you can tour valley bottoms, pass through wetlands, and ascend to alpine environments.
Vic Bates and his friends have explored hundreds of trails in the area. “This is premier terrain for ATV and 4x4 touring," he said, "and it is now convenient to stay near famous trailheads. Expect an all-round holiday when you explore this area with your friends.”
Whether you have just enough time for an afternoon ride, or you want to spend time in awesome natural surroundings, Crazy Creek is a choice place to start exploring. Directly on the Trans-Canada Highway, midway between Revelstoke and Sicamous, there is a 10-acre parking lot at Crazy Creek Waterfalls. You’ll be in the heart of famous sledding and ATV routes.
For the beginners and young riders, the old, paved Taft road provides an excellent place to slowly motor along the Eagle River. On the other end of the scale, Eagle Pass offers some of the most rugged terrain. Eagle Pass riding starts three minutes northwest of Crazy Creek Resort’s free parking, inexpensive camping and fully-equipped cabins. Just past Beardale Castle turn north and continue a short distance through the gravel pit to the start of the East Perry forest service road.
Only experienced riders should tackle the upper part of Eagle Pass and it's best to ride with a local who knows the area. A trail is maintained for about 26 kilometres from the access road almost to the alpine. Beyond that it's independent riding in the wilderness with wonderful mountain peak views. Elevation is well over 2,000 metres. Be prepared for any contingency in this remote and rugged area. Snow can be found at the tops of some trails well into July.
Take a family ride
For family riding, Quest Mountain is recommended—at 2,087 metres high, it is one of the most popular spots for ATVing and snowmobiling. An old forest service road winds to the summit of Quest Mountain. You’ll find the old forest fire lookout tower. From there the views of the Eagle Valley, Shuswap Lake and Mara Lake are spectacular.
The possibilities for an ATV Adventure are endless. Besides Eagle Pass and Quest Mountain, Mount Griffin is a remote park lying south of Crazy Creek Waterfalls. It has a particularly wide range of ecosystems. If you are wanting to rough it, stay in the small campsite in the west side of the park at Caribou Lake, or the forest recreation site at Wap Lake (just outside the southwest corner of the park).
The west side of Mount Griffin can be accessed via the Yard Creek Forest Service Road, beginning at Yard Creek Provincial Park. The Caribou Lake trailhead is about 20 kilometres from Yard Creek Park, about 3 kilometres from the end of the road on a narrow trail. The Wap Creek wetlands and Wap Lake can be reached using the 11-kilometre Wap Creek forest service road, which starts at the Trans-Canada Highway just west of Three Valley Gap. The park provides a habitat for moose, beaver and other animals of the riparian/wetland forest. At higher elevations black and grizzly bears, mountain caribou and pine martens may be found.
Find time to relax
There’s nothing like hitting a hot tub after a long day of riding.
Vic Bates, who first envisioned amenities in this recreational area, invites ATV riders to stop by Crazy Creek Resort.
“This is an ideal place,” he said, “about halfway between Alberta and the Vancouver area. Multi-generational families from BC and the Prairies alike to meet here. There is extreme riding for some, and a relaxing hot spring experience for the others.”
Crazy Creek Resort offers a unique combination of wilderness and modern conveniences in the heart of EagleValley Natural Park. Camp, or choose a suite—the hot pools are adjacent for rest and rejuvenation. The facility has three free-form hot pools and a cold plunge pool: over 2,000 square-feet of steamy paradise! Crazy Creek’s new reception building has modern shower facilities, swimsuit/towel rental and the check-in counter for RV sites, condos or cabins. Go to the website for more information about ATV adventures.
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