British Columbia Highway 3

Highway 3 in British Columbia, Canada
Crowsnest Highway
map
Basic data
Operator:	British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
Start of the street:	Hope ( 49 ° 22 ′  N , 121 ° 27 ′  W )
End of street:	Sparwood ( 49 ° 38 ′  N , 114 ° 42 ′  W )
Overall length:	849 km
Regional District :	Fraser Valley Okanagan similkameen Kootenay Boundary Central Kootenay East Kootenay
View from Anarchist Mountain on Highway 3
Course of the road Further on  W to Vancouver , O to Cache Creek Hope N to Kamloops Allison Pass Princeton Similkameen River Similkameen River N to Merritt Keremeos N to Kaleden Osoyoos Airport Osoyoos N to Kelowna , S to Oroville Osoyoos Lake N to Kelowna Midway Airport Midway S after Carson Grand Forks S to Kettle Falls Christina Creek Bonanza Pass O to Rossland Castlegar Columbia River N to South Slocan West Kootenay Regional Airport S to trail W after trail Salmo N after Nelson Kootenay Pass N to Crawford Bay S to Copeland Kootenay River Creston S to Bonners Ferry Moyie River Cranbrook Kootenay River N to Radium Hot Springs Jaffray S to Eureka Electrolytic capacitor Elk River Fernie Elk River Elk River Sparwood N to Elkford Crowsnest Pass ===  Alberta Further on   Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap map

The Highway 3 in British Columbia , Canada , is part of an inter-provincial highways, the Crowsnest Highway . It forms the southernmost west-east connection and begins in Hope as a junction from Highway 1 , it ends at Crowsnest Pass in the Rocky Mountains . The length of the highway in British Columbia is 849 km. The highway is part of the Canadian National Highway System as a so-called core route .

In contrast to the otherwise usual highway identification signs in British Columbia, with blue lettering and the national coat of arms on the upper edge of the shield, the identification is carried out by a special sign: the number 3 in white letters against the background of a black crow.

Route

Hope to Osoyoos

The highway begins in the east of Hope. Highway 1, part of the Trans-Canada Highway , comes from the west of the province, from Vancouver . Highway 1 follows the Fraser River north, with Highway 3 extending to the east. Highway 1 from the west is expanded like a freeway, this expansion stage is continued with Highway 3. For the first seven kilometers, Highway 5 runs double with Highway 3 until Highway 5 branches off to the north at Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park . The freeway ends after 1.5 km, but Highway 3 remains four lanes. The highway now runs southwest through the Cascade Mountains . From Sunshine Valley the highway leads along the Sumallo River or after its confluence with the Skagit River . In the southernmost part of the highway in Manning Park , it reaches the highest point for the time being with the 1342 m high Allison Pass . The highway meets the Similkameen River and follows it to Princeton . There Highway 5A branches off to the north, to Merritt . Highway 3 remains at the Similkameen and leads back to the southwest. In Keremeos , a branch line (Highway 3A) branches off towards Penticton . The highway leads south to just before the US border . There he leaves the Similkameen and after a short time reaches Osoyoos . Highway 97 crosses in Osoyoos . This is the first opportunity to get from Highway 3 to Washington State in the United States . North from here Highway 97 leads to Penticton and Kelowna . In Osoyoos itself, Osoyoos Lake has to be crossed. At a narrow part of the lake, this is overcome with a short bridge.

Osoyoos to Creston

Bridge over Rock Creek Canyon

East of Osoyoos the highway reaches the Monashee Mountains , the first ascent is at Anarchist Mountain . 52 km after Osoyoos, Highway 33 branches off to the north, which opens up the route to Kelowna via the Big White Mountains . Following this junction is the Rock Creek settlement , the highway follows the Kettle River from this village . In Midway , the Kettle River heads south to the United States, Highway 3 turns northeast to Eholt, a ghost town; from there the highway turns south again. In Carson opens Carson one from the south. From there comes the Kettle River again, which the highway follows further east. The highway runs through Grand Forks , south of Christina the highway leaves the valley of the Kettle River again at the confluence of Highway 395 . Past Gladstone Provincial Park in a north-easterly direction , the highway leads over the 1535 m high Bonanza Pass ; it continues east, at Nancy Green Provincial Park Highway 3B branches off to the south, which opens up Rossland . The highway arrives at Castlegar and crosses the Columbia River via the Kinnaird Bridge . Shortly afterwards, before Highway 3 passes West Kootenay Regional Airport , Highway 3A joins when coming from the north . At the community of Meadows Highway 3B finally joins again, in Salmo Highway 6 branches off to the north. Highway 6 coexists with Highway 3 for 14 km and then branches off to the south. The route continues east over the 1,775 m high Kootenay Pass , located in Stagleap Provincial Park , to Creston .

Creston to Crowsnest Pass

In Creston, two highways branch off from Highway 3: Highway 3A, a branch of Highway 3, to the north and Highway 21 to the south. Highway 3 itself continues east to just before the community of Yahk , where Highway 95 joins when coming from the south. Highway 3 and Highway 95 run together for the next 72 km. The route goes through Cranbrook , 10 km northwest of it is Fort Steele . There Highway 95 branches off together with Highway 93 to the north. For the next 56 km, Highway 3 runs together with Highway 93 to Elko , where it branches off to the south again. The route runs north through Fernie and meets in Sparwood on Highway 43 , which leads to the north. The route continues to the east and reaches the 1356 m high Crowsnest Pass . This is where the border with the province of Alberta runs, and from there the highway continues to the east as Highway 3 .

Worth seeing

Manning Park

Hiking group in Manning Park

The Manning Park , both of Vancouver, as well as to achieve the Okanagan Valley of light, is a popular destination. It lies in the highest areas of the cascade chain and is traversed by the Similkameen River and the Skagit River . The park contains numerous biotopes and is known for its numerous hiking trails.

Okanagan Valley

The valley is traversed by the Okanagan River and contains numerous lakes. Although the climate is very dry, there are numerous orchards and steadily growing viticulture due to the good irrigation options .

Web links

• The Virtual Crowsnest Highway

Individual evidence

1. ^ Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia. Government of British Columbia, accessed December 4, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Landmark Kilometer Inventory (LKI). Government of British Columbia, accessed December 4, 2018 . 
3. ↑ Canada's National Highway System - Annual Report 2017. (PDF) Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, accessed on August 28, 2019 . 
4. ^ Graphic Sign Index - Section 7 Guide Signs. (PDF; 6.3 MB) British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, February 19, 2018, p. 5 , accessed on August 28, 2019 (English, plate G-011-3 ).