Highway 97A's current alignment is not the same as its original route. Originally, when the '97A' designation was first given to the highway in 1953, replacing the Highway 5 designation, it went from a junction with Highway 97 at Swan Lake, where it starts today, northeast to Grindrod, and then it followed the modern-day Highway 97B to Salmon Arm, then following the Trans-Canada Highway west to Monte Creek, where Highway 97 merges onto the Highway 1. Between 1957 and 1962, Highway 97A had the designation of '97E'. Finally, in 1962, Highway 97A was re-routed onto its present alignment, going north from Swan Lake to Grindrod, and then northeast to Sicamous.
