Stunning Riding
Untamed Navigation
Basecamp Magic
Picture This...
Three epic days in the Canadian Rockies. Two days of moto-navigation challenges. And one unforgettable basecamp atmosphere. Welcome to the WANDR.
This isn't your typical motorcycle rally. We've taken the best bits of adventure riding, navigation challenges, and backwoods exploration, thrown in some friendly competition, and topped it off with evenings of top-notch camaraderie around camp. No staged rides, no eating dust in a line of bikes, and definitely no boring "follow the leader" routes.
Instead, you get:
- Access to over 100 QuestPoints scattered across some of the most jaw-dropping terrain in North America
- Freedom to choose your own adventure - from easy gravel roads to gnarly single track
- Two solid days of navigation challenges that'll make you feel like a modern-day explorer
- Four nights of camping under the mountain stars (or grab a room nearby if that's more your style)
- Two included dinners where the stories get better with each telling
- A tribe of like-minded riders who get why exploring deep into the mountains is the perfect way to spend a weekend
Whether you're a seasoned trail warrior on a plated enduro or a new adventure rider looking to get into the woods, you'll find your sweet spot here. Bring your competitive spirit for the Ultimate ride category, or keep it chill with the Adventure ride - either way, you're in for one great weekend.
And the best part? You're not just signing up for a ride - you're joining a community of riders who understand that the best stories start with "So there we were, halfway up this mountain..."
Ready to dive deeper? Keep scrolling to see why riders love the WANDR.
How it Works
Think of it as moto-geocaching on steroids, but with jaw-dropping scenery and a killer camp vibe thrown in.
Here's the deal:
The Setup
You and your riding buddies get access to over 100 QuestPoints scattered across 20,000 km² of prime Rocky Mountain terrain. Each point has a different value and difficulty rating, from "easy peasy on a VStrom" to "maybe I should have brought a trials bike."
Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept It)
- Grab your morning coffee and huddle up with your group to plot your day's adventure
- Fire up the WANDURO app (think high-tech breadcrumbs) to guide you to QuestPoints
- Create your own ride - hit up as many or as few points as you want
- Roll back into camp to swap stories over a cold one
Two Ways to Play
Ultimate Ride: For those who like a bit of friendly competition. Rack up points, gun for cool hand-made trophies, and maybe win some schwag.
Adventure Ride: Same access to all the QuestPoints, but without the scorekeeping. Perfect for folks who'd rather focus on the views than the points. You do you - we're cool with that.
The Secret Sauce
The magic happens when you combine:
- Epic riding in the Canadian Rockies
- The thrill of discovery (what's at the next QuestPoint?)
- Evenings trading tales around camp
- A bunch of like-minded riders who get why we do this
Whether you're a hardened trail warrior or just dipping your toes into the off-road world, there's a perfect adventure waiting for you. The best part? You choose your own difficulty level - feel free to skip that gnarly single track for a scenic forest road instead.
Sustainability
As with any activity in undeveloped areas, we must keep our impact to a minimum. We take this seriously. This is how we do it:
- QuestPoints are located on active and inactive resource roads (logging/mining/etc.), and well-established motorized-use trails. There is no off-trail riding or bushwhacking.
- QuestPoints are in locations not normally accessed by other recreational users.
Schedule
Here's how it all goes down:
Thursday, July 17 - The Early Bird Setup
- Roll into basecamp whenever you like
- Snag your registration package
- Set up camp and scout out the hot showers
- Meet the early arrivals and start plotting your adventure
- Optional: Take a warm-up ride to shake out those highway miles
Friday, July 18 - The Pre-Game
- More folks rolling in
- Registration continues
- Self-guided riding if you're itching to get out there
- Evening Rider Briefing (the important stuff, we promise to keep it fun)
- First night of legendary basecamp shenanigans
Saturday, July 19 - Game On!
- Late registration & briefing for fashionably late arrivals
- QuestPoint hunting begins!
- Choose your own adventure:
- Chase points for glory (Ultimate riders)
- Explore at your own pace (Adventure riders)
- Just ride and ignore the whole QuestPoint thing
- Evening: Pizza night included (because who doesn't love pizza?)
- More basecamp good times
Sunday, July 20 - The Grand Finale
- Round two of QuestPoint action
- Last chance to rack up those points
- Evening celebration dinner (included)
- Trophy ceremony & prize giveaways
- Stories that may or may not grow taller as the night goes on
Pro Tips:
- All four nights of camping are included (Thursday through Sunday)
- Riding window is 09:00 to 15:00 for Ultimate riders
- Adventure riders: You do you - no time constraints
- Show up Thursday if you can - it's worth it for the extra riding and hanging out
- Late arrival? No worries, we've got you covered with late registration
The Experience
Stunning Riding
Welcome to motorcycling nirvana. The Canadian Rockies and Purcells aren't just scenic - they're drop-your-jaw spectacular.
Picture yourself:
- Carving through valleys where glaciers meet forest
- Tackling 100-year-old mining tracks that time forgot
- Crossing mountain passes with views that'll fill up your camera roll
- Exploring everything from relaxing pavement to technical single-track
Best part? You can experience deep valleys, desert terrain, rainforest, and alpine views all in one epic day. This isn't just riding - it's adventure riding on steroids.
Untamed Navigation
Forget follow-the-leader GPS tracks. This is true navigation that'll challenge your abilities.
Your mission? Track down QuestPoints scattered across 20,000 km² of prime mountain terrain. Some are easy to find, others... well, let's just say they'll test your navigation skills, riding ability, and maybe even your sense of humor. But when you do find them, the feeling of accomplishment is oh-so satisfying!
Think of it as a treasure hunt where:
- You choose which QuestPoints to chase
- Your route is completely up to you
- Every point reached feels like a mini-victory
- The journey is just as epic as the destination
Basecamp Magic
This isn't just a place to park your bike - it's where the magic happens after the dust settles.
Picture this:
- Four nights of camping under mountain stars
- Trading tales around camp (they get better with each telling)
- Saturday afternoon "motorcycle games"
- Saturday pizza night that'll refuel your adventure
- Sunday celebration dinner where victories are shared
- Hot showers (because we're adventurous, not savages)
Don't know anyone? Don't sweat it. Our tribe of riders is as welcoming as they come. By day two, you'll be planning next year's adventure with people who were strangers 48 hours ago.
Rider Videos
Blake (Must Watch!)
This beautiful video really just says it all. Blake Sovdi, a professional filmmaker came out and documented his WANDR. Amazing cinematography, great storytelling, and he interviews me explaining how the event works.
Scott & Andrew
The Dirt Chimps, (Scott and Andrew) came out and rode the WANDR and put together this sweet video. They're the ones that put together the Adventure Bike Gathering every September.
Scott Collins
Scott Collins put together a crew of folks from the coast, loaded them into his bus, and came out to the WANDR. This cool video shows how much fun they had.
How to Participate
Navigation App & QuestPoints
Meet the WANDURO app - your high-tech treasure map. It's the app that turns "where the heck are we?" into "let's go find another one!"
Here's how it works:
- Fire up the app to see 100+ QuestPoints scattered across the area
- Each point has a difficulty rating and point value
- Get close enough and the app gives you distance and direction (and that's all!)
- Reach the spot and answer a quick question to prove you made it
- Rack up points or just use it to find epic spots - your call
Pro Tip: Most teams spend some quality time with coffee and maps, plotting their strategy. Some go for max points, others chase the gnarly stuff, and some just wing it. There's no wrong way to WANDR.
More details on the WANDR app are on the WANDR Rider Info page.
Bike Requirements & Groups
The Bike Stuff
- Must be street legal (plate, registration, insurance)
- Spark arrestor required
- Anything from a big ADV bike to a plated dirt bike works
- If it can handle gravel roads, you're good to go
The Group Thing
- Ride in groups of 2-4 bikes (requirement for Ultimate category)
- Adventure riders can roll solo but we still recommend buddying up
- Open to new riders in your group? Let us know when you register.
- Got no group? No problem - Sign up as "solo" and we'll help you find your tribe on our WANDR-Find-A-Team Facebook group
Skill Levels and Terrain
From "I just got my first ADV bike" to "I eat gnarly single-track for breakfast" - we've got you covered.
Difficulty Scale
- Paved - Smooth Sailing
- Easy Gravel - Easy Peasy on a V-Strom. Graded roads with few surprises
- Focused Gravel - Time to pay attention. Potholes, loose gravel, ruts.
- Offroad - Things get interesting. Slippery, rocky sections. Sticks, tree branches, puddles, mud.
- Technical Offroad - Some serious challenges. But you can usually make it through with your feet down or by getting off and pushing.
- Gnarly Stuff - We hope you're up for it! You'll need momentum and skill to make it through. Potentially problematic if you lose it.
Ultimate vs Adventure Categories
Ultimate Ride
- Points count
- Cool handmade trophies up for grabs
- Some sweet sponsor schwag
- Must follow Ultimate rules and time windows
- Must form Ride Groups of 2-4 people
- Bragging rights included
Adventure Ride
- Same access to all QuestPoints
- No pressure, no scoreboard
- Ride when you want
- Group size flexible
- Still get all the basecamp fun
Both categories get the same amazing riding, basecamp vibes, and included meals. Just pick your flavor of adventure.
Join the Tribe. Enjoy the Vibe.
Our Awesome Sponsors
These are Last Year's Trail Blazers
Stay Tuned as we add the 2025 Sponsors
These outstanding organizations don't just talk about supporting the moto community - they show up and make epic events like this possible.
They deserve your support.
Gold Sponsor
Dean and the BFD Moto team are back as our Gold Sponsor, bringing their A-game to support the adventure riding community. Watch for their team in the Ultimate category!
Bronze Sponsors
Jackson from Veridian Cruise as a new sponsor this year bringing innovative cruise control for adventure bikes.
Barry and the crew at Valley Moto Sport. It's great to have this cornerstone of the Okanagan motorcycle scene in our sponsorship team again this year!
Backroads Mapbooks has generously provided 90-Day Free Access to the BRMB App for all WANDR participants! So you can try it out for the rest of the riding season. We all know BRMB Maps as the best adventure maps in the business and we're proud to have them on board again this year! And, by the way, the app is outstanding.
Media Sponsor
Canada's top Motorcyle Magazine! Once again Gwen and Emily from Motorcycle Mojo have offered to be the WANDR media sponsor.
Supporting Sponsors
Brad from Jackknife Brewing in Kelowna signed up to ride the event and then had the bright idea of bringing some beer along to share from his brewery. So we have a beer sponsor this year!
Cycle World Calgary is a first-time sponsor this year and they've donated some great prizes. We're proud to have them on board!
Become a Sponsor. Connect With the Passionate Core.
The WANDR is Western Canada's premier event for connecting with passionate adventure, dualsport, and enduro riders. Our participants are the influencers and enthusiasts who drive the community both online and off.
Why Sponsor WANDR?
- Connect face-to-face with core riders
- Build brand loyalty with the true enthusiasts
- Support the growth of the adventure riding community
- Get your products in front of your target market
- Be part of the region's most unique moto event
Interested in joining our sponsor family? Hit us up:
- Call: (403) 875-8500
- Email: info@yugenex.com
GET READY TO RIDE
Practical Info
Location (click map to open)
Welcome to Canal Flats, BC - where the Columbia River starts and adventure never ends.
What's nearby:
- Rockies to the east (big valleys, sweeping forest roads, craggy peaks)
- Purcells to the west (rainforest, rivers, peaks, ranchland)
- Columbia Lake (perfect for a post-ride dip)
Drive Times From:
- Calgary: 4 hours
- Spokane: 4 hours
- Edmonton: 6 hours
- Kelowna: 6.5 hours
- Vancouver: 9 hours
- Seattle: 8 hours
- Saskatoon: 9 hours
- Billings: 9.5 hours
Pro Tip: Make it a vacation! The Columbia Valley is loaded with lakes, hot springs, and enough activities to keep your non-riding family members stoked while you're out playing in the dirt.
Accommodation
Basecamp Setup
We're taking over the Canal Flats Civic Centre (map link) and surrounding fields. Here's the deal:
Included Camping (Thursday-Sunday):
- Tons of space for tents and RVs
- No hookups (keep it simple, folks)
- Hot showers (yes, really!)
- 24-hour toilets
- Large covered picnic area
- Indoor community center (in case Mother Nature gets moody)
Not into camping? No problem:
- Fairmont Hot Springs (15 mins away) has hotels/condos
- Canal Flats has some sweet AirBnBs
- But no discount on registration - you're still part of the basecamp scene!
What to Bring
Required:
For both Adventure and Ultimate Categories
- Your street-legal, spark-arrested bike
- Camping gear (unless you're hoteling it)
- Riding gear for any weather
- Smartphone for the WANDURO app. At least one per group. Highly recommend more in case one fails.
- Basic tools and spares. And know how to use them in the field
- First aid kit.
- Bear spray. At least 1 per group (yep, we're in the mountains)
Ultimate Additional Per Group
- Emergency communicator. At least 1. (SPOT, InReach, etc.)
See detailed rules for Ultimate category below.
Should-Brings:
- Camera (these views are insane)
- Camp chair (for those basecamp stories)
- Your best adventure attitude
Meals & Amenities
Food Scene:
- Saturday Pizza Night (included)
- Sunday Celebration Dinner (included)
- Awesome cafe across the street for breakfasts and bagged lunches
- Local pub and pizza joint
- Grocery store a couple blocks away
- Fairmont restaurants 15 mins away
Local Amenities:
- Gas station and grocery store nearby with
Liquor, ATM & propane cylinder exchange - Relaxing beach and park 1km from basecamp
- Good cell service
- Did we mention the hot showers?
Make it a Vacation. Bring the Family.
The Columbia Valley is a beautiful lake resort area with everything you'd expect.
- Hot springs. Both commercial and natural.
- Beaches
- Shopping
- Adventures (zip lines, whitewater rafting etc.)
- Spas
- and more...
Give us a shout and we'll give you some insider tips on our favourite places.
Non-riders who are accompanying you get a special accompanying-persons rate.
Want the full scoop on what's included? Check out the What's Included section under Registration.
If You're Coming from Outside of Canada
Travel Medical Insurance
Let's face it. This activity has a higher likelihood of injury than the average golfing weekend. So it's wise to get travel medical insurance if your plan does not already cover it. Things to check are whether it includes rescue costs and repatriation costs (if that's important to you)
Other Considerations
Bear Spray is legal to bring across a land border as long as it is clearly marked and sold as bear spray. See page 18 of this CBSA Memorandum for details.
Firearms are difficult to bring into Canada. And handguns are basically a no-go.
Passport. You'll need a valid passport with at least 6 months left on it.
DUI. If you have a DUI conviction on your record, you may have problems entering Canada. Here's more info on how to overcome that.
"I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THE SIGHTS I SAW
ON MY BIG BIKE"
Registration, Price and Fine Print
What's Included
The Good Stuff You Get:
- 4 nights of camping (Thursday-Sunday)
- Recommended self-guided routes
- Use of Picinic Gazebo and Community Centre
- Access to 100+ QuestPoints via WANDURO app
- Saturday pizza night
- Sunday celebration dinner
- Hot showers (worth mentioning twice)
- Wicked WANDR t-shirt
- Detailed Backroads Mapbooks map (1 per group)
- Access to all basecamp activities
- Full event support
- 1-year membership in Yugen Society of Explorers
- New riding buddies (priceless)
Ultimate Riders Also Get:
- Shot at cool handmade trophies
- Chance at sponsor swag
- Eternal glory (or at least until next year)
Pricing
(All prices in Canadian dollars - aka Northern Pesos, so about 25% off for our American friends!)
Ultimate Ride: Feed Your Competitive Spirit
- Early Bird $345 + GST Until Jan 31 or Sold Out (Limited number available)
- Later Bird $365 + GST Until April 1 or Sold Out (Limited number available)
- Regular Price $395 + GST
Adventure Ride: Same Fun, Less Pressure
- Early Bird $295 + GST Until Jan 31 or Sold Out (Limited number available)
- Later Bird $315 + GST Until April 1 or Sold Out (Limited number available)
- Regular Price $345 + GST
Bringing the Crew?
Special Non-Rider Rates for your family:
- Adults: $30 + GST
- Teens (13-17): $20 + GST
- Kids (12 & under): Free!
Includes camping and access to all the facilities and activities. But no meals. If you'd like to include meals, let us know when you sign in onsite and we'll set you up.
Pro Tip: About the same price as a weekend of golf or skiing, but way more stories to tell!
Register Now
Ready to join the adventure? Here's how:
- Pick your flavor (Ultimate or Adventure)
- Read the Fine Print below
- Fill out the registration form below
- Wait for confirmation email
- Study the Rider Info page
- Start dreaming about mountain views
Remember: T-shirt orders close June 25, so don't wait too long!
Still on the fence? Check out what past participants say in the Riders' Stories section.
Fine Print Stuff:
Read this before you buy your tickets below.
Cancellation
If You Cancel Your Ticket
- Before July 1: Full refund minus $50
- July 1 to Event: 50% refund
- Accompanying Persons Tickets can be cancelled at any time at no cost.
If We Cancel the Event
If we have to cancel because of an act of God, force majeure, government action, or other situation beyond our control including but not limited to forest fire, flood, strike, war, epidemic, and quarantine that prevents the event from taking place:
If the cancellation takes place before the start of the event
- We will announce this cancellation after July 1 (the Early Cancellation deadline.)
- We will roll your payment over to next year's event and
- You may decide to cancel your ticket any time up to the early cancellation date of next year's event. In this case we will refund your payment less $95 to defray some of the costs incurred in putting together this year's event.
- If you cancel your ticket after the late cancellation date of next year's event, you will be subject to next year's refund policy for late cancellation.
If the cancellation takes place during the event
No refund. But you get a 40% credit to roll over to next year's event.
If we cancel the event for reasons other than mentioned above, you receive a full refund less your $50 Yugen Society Membership.
If We Must Alter the Event
If we have to alter the event because of an act of God, etc. as described above
If the alteration is announced before the start of the event
If we have to eliminate basecamp activities, camping, and final dinner
-
- Accompanying person tickets will get a full refund.
- Adventure and Ultimate Tickets holders will have two choices.
- Come out for the riding and QuestPoint navigation and receive a $100 discount.
- Roll over your registration to the next year and
- You may decide to cancel your ticket any time up to the early cancellation date of next year's event. In this case we will refund your payment less the $50 Yugen Society membership.
- If you cancel your ticket after the late cancellation date of next year's event, you will be subject to next year's refund policy for late cancellation.
If we have to alter the event in other ways
We will figure out something reasonable as the case arises.
If the alteration happens during the event. e.g. fire closures, flooding, or snowfall eliminate some QuestPoints
No refund, but we'll do our best to make sure the disruption is minimal.
Independence and Self Reliance
Since there is no fixed course and it's totally up to you where you ride during the event and whether or not you even look for QuestPoints, once you leave basecamp you are considered to be an independent rider entirely responsible for your own actions.
Waiver
All attendees will be required to sign the release of all claims and waiver of liability.
Questions? Hit us up at info@yugenex.com
ULTIMATE RIDE REQUIREMENTS
If you want to participate in the Ultimate ride and have your QuestPoints tallied and included in the rankings and qualify for prizes, you must follow these requirements.
- Groups must have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 bikes.
- Groups must ride together at all times. If you separate for any reason other than sending someone to go get help for a disabled bike or rider, your group will be removed from the rankings.
- Start/Finish times are 09:00 to 15:00 every day. All group members must return together. Late returns lose points.
- Getting QuestPoint info from another group results in both groups being removed from the rankings.
- We REQUIRE that each group have at least one emergency signaling device such as SPOT, InReach, Satphone or EPIRB. Rent one if you don't have one.
- Each group must have at least 1 canister of bear spray.
- Each group must have a first aid kit.
- Each group must have at least 1 smartphone capable of running the Wanduro app. We highly recommend more than one in case one has a problem.
- Bikes must be registered and insured for on-highway use and have a spark arrestor.
- In the event of a dispute, a screenshot of the WANDURO app showing that you've reached the QuestPoint, or a photo that shows that you were at the QuestPoint is required to verify that you've been there. The decisions of the event organizers are final.
Yugen
Yugen Society of Explorers is a registered British Columbia society dedicated to enabling people to enjoy the great outdoors.