British Columbia Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) Photographs - Page 4

Left - Approaching Osoyoos on the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3), facing east. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 3 departing Osoyoos. Although Vancouver lies only 400 km (250 miles) to the west, the difference in landscape and climate between Vancouver and Osoyoos couldn't be more different. The Coastal and Cascade Mountain Ranges shield the interior valleys of British Columbia from the precipitation brought inland off of the Pacific Ocean. This "rain shadow" effect results in the interior of British Columbia having an extremely dry, desert climate and very hot summertime temperatures. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - A westbound passing lane begins on Hwy 3 about 3 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 3 starts to climb a long grade as it departs from Osoyoos. The Hwy 97 Junction lies about 4 km ahead. A view of the entire valley opens up as the highway heads west towards Keremeos. Although the ascent is less dramatic than on the eastern side of the valley, Hwy 3 still climbs more than 1,000 feet in elevation as it departs from Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - As with the eastern side of the valley, there is very defined line between the irrigated portions and desert portions of the valley floor. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north up the valley towards Oliver from a roadside turnout on Hwy 3, about 4 km west of Osoyoos. The area around Osoyoos is actually the northernmost tip of the Sonoran Desert, which extends deep into the Southwestern United States. The Osoyoos Desert Interpretive Centre can be seen in the foreground below this ridge. The centre offers visitors with an interesting perspective of this unique region of Canada. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3, about 7 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along Hwy 3, about 9 km west of Osoyoos. The westbound passing lane ends at this point, as the terrain starts to level out. After crossing through this valley, Hwy 3 once again resumes its ascent towards the summit between the Osoyoos Valley and the adjacent Similkameen Valley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3 from the summit between the Osoyoos Valley and the Similkameen Valley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 3 crests over the pass between Osoyoos and Keremeos about 12 km west of the Hwy 97 Junction. Here, the highway is almost 1,200 feet higher in elevation than in nearby Osoyoos. The summit is about 2,250 feet (685 metres) above sea level. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3 towards Keremeos from the summit between the Osoyoos Valley and the Similkameen Valley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Descending from the pass into the Similkameen Valley along Hwy 3, facing west towards Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - An eastbound passing lane begins as Hwy 3 ascends this steep, winding grade about 13 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along Hwy 3 about 14 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - With wide sweeping vistas and scenic mountains at virtually every turn, the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3) is just a delight to drive. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - This spectacular view of the Similkameen Valley appears along Hwy 3 about 16 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 3, about 16 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - With long tangents and relatively short horizontal curves, there are many photogenic scenes along Hwy 3. This view is facing east, about 19 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3, about 24 km west of Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Like the nearby Osoyoos Valley, the Similkameen Valley is a wine-producing region. This view along Hwy 3 is facing east, about 21 km east of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3, about 20 km east of Keremeos. Although still very dry, the Similkameen Valley has significantly more trees that nearby Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along Hwy 3 towards Osoyoos, about 17 km east of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 3, about 16 km east of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along Hwy 3 towards Osoyoos, about 11 km east of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of Hwy 3 departing Keremeos, facing east towards Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The Okanagan Wine Route heads east along the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3) towards Osoyoos from the Hwy 3A Junction in Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3 towards the Hwy 3A Junction in Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Destination guide sign on westbound Hwy 3 approaching the Hwy 3A Junction in Keremeos. The Okanagan Wine Route turns right from westbound Hwy 3 and follows Hwy 3A back towards Hwy 97 near Penticton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Sign marking the upcoming Hwy 3A Junction on westbound Hwy 3 in Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along Hwy 3A towards the Hwy 3 Junction in Keremeos. The route of Hwy 3A ends here, but the roadway continues ahead as Hwy 3 West. Motorists wishing to follow Hwy 3 East to Osoyoos must turn left at the upcoming highway junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3A from the Hwy 3 Junction in Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction of Hwy 3 & Hwy 3A in Keremeos, facing east. At this junction, Hwy 3A is actually the through highway. To stay on Hwy 3, eastbound motorists must turn right at the intersection. Nighthawk, Washington is shown on the destination guide sign. This is the first opportunity to cross the boundary between Canada and the United States since Abbotsford, located nearly 200 km to the west. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Junction assembly on eastbound Hwy 3 approaching the Hwy 3A Junction in Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along Hwy 3 towards Downtown Keremeos from the Hwy 3A Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3 towards Downtown Keremeos. At 7th Avenue, Hwy 3 turns right and continues west towards Princeton. The wall of mountains on the southern side of the Similkameen Valley form a particularly impressive backdrop for this highway photo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of 7th Avenue (Hwy 3) in Downtown Keremeos. At the intersection, Hwy 3 turns left and continues east towards the Hwy 3A Junction and Osoyoos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3, about 3 km west of Keremeos. A section of the Crowsnest Highway west of Keremeos was widened to a four-lane undivided highway. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the four-lane section of Hwy 3, about 5 km west of Keremeos. Before the completion of Hwy 97C (The Okanagan Connector) during the 1990s, all traffic bound for Kelowna from Vancouver would have used this section of Hwy 3. Consequently, traffic volumes were likely much higher on this section Hwy 3 historically then they are today. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3 towards the end of the four-lane divided highway, about 5 km west of Keremeos. The posted speed limit drops from 100 km/h to 80 km/h as the highway narrows down from four to two lanes. Hwy 3 widens again to four lanes about 2 km to the west, after the highway squeezes through a narrow part of the valley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - A second section of four-lane undivided highway is located a short distance to the west. This section of Hwy 3 is located about 14 km west of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3, about 18 km west of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along Hwy 3, about 18 km west of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of Hwy 3, about 8 km east of Hedley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along Hwy 3, about 7 km east of Hedley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing east along Hwy 3 towards Keremeos, about 1 km east of Hedley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the Similkameen River beside Hwy 3, about 1 km east of Hedley. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 3 at Hedley, 28 km west of Keremeos. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along Hwy 3 near Stemwinder Provincial Park, about 32 km east of Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on westbound Hwy 3, 24 km east of Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Distance guide sign on eastbound Hwy 3, about 24 km east of Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Hwy 3 follows the banks of the Similkameen River in this view looking east, about 9 km east of Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction assembly on the westbound Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3) in Princeton, approaching the Hwy 5A Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Southern terminus of Hwy 5A at the Hwy 3 Junction in Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 5A from the Hwy 3 Junction in Princeton. Hwy 5A extends north from Princeton to Kamloops, via Merritt. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Overhead guide signs marking the Hwy 5A Junction on eastbound Hwy 3 in Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3) towards Hope from the Hwy 5A Junction in Princeton. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)