Is the Okanagan Connector Open? — Hwy 97C Conditions (Merritt to Kelowna)

The Okanagan Connector is Highway 97C between Merritt and West Kelowna, BC, via Pennask Summit (elevation 1,728 m — one of the highest highway summits in British Columbia). It's the fastest link between the Nicola Valley and the Central Okanagan, and because of its elevation and exposure it sees severe winter conditions: heavy snow, drifting, blowing snow, and freezing fog well into spring.

The status here is refreshed from DriveBC's official Open511 feed every 5 minutes. Official data can lag fast-moving incidents by a few minutes, which is why we also show driver reports below the official status.

Two practical detours, both adding hours: (1) Highway 5 (Coquihalla) + Highway 1 + Highway 97 north via Kamloops and Vernon into Kelowna, or (2) Highway 5A south to Princeton then Highway 3 (Crowsnest) east through Keremeos and Penticton. Both are much longer than the Connector, and Highway 3 crosses two more mountain passes that can themselves be affected in winter.

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DriveBC's public Open511 API (api.open511.gov.bc.ca). We filter to events on the Highway 97C corridor between Aspen Grove and the Peachland junction and classify them as open, delayed, or closed.

The Connector is east-west: eastbound is toward Kelowna, westbound is toward Merritt. Incidents like single-lane closures, construction, crashes, avalanche control, or wildfires often only affect one direction. When eastbound and westbound don't match, we split the banner so you see each direction's status independently.