23.9
PDI
17.8 mi
DISTANCE
4,733 ft
GAINED
4.8 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Apex from Penticton is a sleeper. It climbs 28.6 km (17.8 mi) from the Okanagan Valley floor at 368 m (1,206 ft) to Apex Mountain Resort at 1,751 m (5,745 ft), gaining 1,443 m (4,733 ft) at a 4.8% average grade, and it ranks as the fifth-hardest climb in Canada in our difficulty ranking. We did not expect such an exceptional ride when we first researched and charted it. This is a must-do for any cyclist in the Penticton area or traveling anywhere near it.
The climb has two distinct characters. For the first 18.5 km (11.5 mi), Green Mountain Road gains only about 560 m (1,837 ft) at 3.0%, a gentle lead-in that starts in a weathered neighborhood and quickly enters thick forest alongside a creek (not shown on the map, but it's there!), then opens into cattle and horse pastureland. The first 13 km (8 mi) or so cross the Penticton Indian Reserve, where signs mark the land beside the road as private, so stay on the road. At 18.5 km you turn right onto Apex Mountain Road, and the final 10.1 km (6.3 mi) gain about 823 m (2,700 ft) at 8.2% in a relentless run of hairpins up to the ski village.
Traffic is light and drivers are courteous, and recent riders describe the pavement as still in great shape, though aging, with cracks, patches and cattle guards to watch on the descent. There are not many expansive views, but it is a beautiful ride. The road continues past the resort over the top to Hedley as our gravel climb Apex from Hedley.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Average grade is 4.8% over 28.6 km (17.8 mi), with 59 m (194 ft) of descent along the way. The crux is the final 10.1 km (6.3 mi) after the turn onto Apex Mountain Road at km 18.5, which gains about 823 m (2,700 ft) at 8.2%, with the steepest stretch of about 9.8% between km 22 and 24 (mi 13.7 to 14.9). The first 18.5 km (11.5 mi) are much gentler at 3.0%, including a long, nearly flat section around km 6 to 10.
About 8.5 km (5.3 mi) of the climb is at 5-10%, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) is at 10-15% and 0.3 km (0.2 mi) is at 15-20%. The steepest kilometer averages 12.1%, the steepest 2 km 10.6%, the steepest 5 km 9.7% and the steepest 10 km 8.5%. In miles, the steepest 100 yards (91 m) average 15.4%, the steepest quarter-mile (0.4 km) 13.3%, the steepest half-mile (0.8 km) 12.2% and the steepest mile (1.6 km) 11.0%.
Roadway: Paved the whole way. Green Mountain Road is two lanes with a center stripe, and Apex Mountain Road above the turn is winding with several hairpins. The pavement was in excellent condition when we charted the climb in 2016, and recent rider reports describe it as still in great shape but aging, with cracks, patches and short rough spots. The cattle guards are the only significant obstacles, so watch for them on the descent.
Traffic: Minimal to light. Recent riders report courteous drivers who give lots of room.
Parking: There is a parking area 0.6 km (0.4 mi) before the climb start on the left - Map; Street View.
Provisions: There is no place to get food or water along the climb, so stock up in Penticton before you start. The Gunbarrel Saloon in the Apex village just past the finish is geared to ski season, so call ahead (250-292-8515) if you would like a meal, and do not count on it in summer.
Gear: The lower half is mild, but the final 10.1 km (6.3 mi) averages 8.2%, so a compact crankset or easy low gear helps. The finish at 1,751 m (5,745 ft) can be much cooler than the valley, so bring a warm layer for the descent and check conditions at the finish with our Weather tool before you go.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
A great out and back would be this climb + Apex from Hedley - 111 km (69 mi) and 3,262 m (10,702 ft) (Map). Note that Apex from Hedley is all gravel, so you would need to bring a gravel bike for that side. Near the top, Nickel Plate Provincial Park centers on Nickel Plate Lake.
There are several great resorts and hotels to choose from in Penticton, which sits between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. Some travelers choose to rent a home or villa near the lake.
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TobyGadd
The first half of the climb is a great gentle lead-in, perfect for warming up the legs. The second half is very steep and relentless. I'd rate it "extreme," but I'm reducing it by one star because the casual start. The road is in great shape, but it seems to have aged a bit from when route was originally written up by PJAMM, so there are some cracks, patches, and short rough spots to watch on the way down--although the cattle guards are the only significant obstacles. Traffic was light, with very courteous Canadian drivers giving lots of room. Not much for expansive views, but it's still a beautiful ride. I think that PJAMM should extend the route past the Apex Resort, since there is still a good section of climbing to get to the real high point before descending down the other side to Hedley.
