Originally Posted by
Wildwood
As best I remember, Loup Loup is just a big, long hill with consistent grade on the up. Not much shoulder, but not much traffic either. Excellent downhill, again that consistent grade, and the turns are gentle sweepers with good visibility. Chipseal surface. That rural Okanagan feel.
Spot on. I've ridden it twice, first as a century loop down to the Columbia and then back to Winthrop via Pateros and Carlton. Then again as an out and back last year. First time was in the early fall and we got an early start so traffic was pretty light. Last year we did it on the Memorial weekend and traffic was heavier.
It is a pleasant enough ride especially when you get into the trees, the first short hill is steep and has no shade if it is hot. It is not super scenic and no great views. The downhill is super fun though. If you continue on past the pass you get a short fast downhill and then another short but maybe steeper climb before a long fast decent down to the Columbia.
The chipseal thing can be annoying depending on how fresh it is. I've done rides that were way harder when the roads had been recently resurfaced with the stuff.