Western Canada - Vancouver to Whistler? Possible? Annoying?
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murphstahoe
07-20-08, 04:29 PM
I am coming up to Whistler for the Pemberton Festival and trying to decide if I should bring my bike. One theory included riding from Vancouver to Whistler but it looks like there is only one road and it's a freeway? Is this a ride reasonable or just too unpleasant to consider.
Past that, is there road riding around Whistler of note? Or should I be looking to rent a VTT...
woodstock
07-20-08, 07:24 PM
There is one road, it is a highway, occasional lights. You could ride on it, but it is under major construction at points for the upcoming Olympics. Whistler itself is known for its excellent mountain biking. I'd check in with the local bike store in Whistler for details about road riding. I think the most common road ride is Whistler to Pemberton and back.
The Pemberton festival itself seems to have a funny rule about bikes. (see the quote from the website below). It would be a good idea to check it out.
NO Mode of transportation (motorized or other) which allows you to travel faster than by foot will be allowed on the Festival Site, Campgrounds or RV Site.
urbanwhitetrash
07-21-08, 01:32 PM
I wouldn't recommend riding from Vancouver to Whistler, as stated before, the highway is under construction in several places which makes the road surface loose, pock marked and a non existent shoulder. The highway is very busy in the summer time and with many people renting cars to drive up to Pemberton for the festival, it will put lots of drivers who don't know the highway on your route.
The route from Whistler to Pemberton is a great ride, it's very scenic, rather hilly and in the summer time, hotter than hell. The ride is about 70km(44miles) there and back, hit it early in the morning and watch for wildlife.
Enjoy the festival.
From Pemberton, another popular ride goes out the Pemberton Meadows road which heads northwest along the Lillooet River valley. Pretty flat, great scenery, very little traffic.
although this is a bit late, with Pemberton almost over, for all you others reading the thread:
do NOT bike from Vancouver to Squamish. From Squamish to Pemberton there's a trail network you can use (get it from the visitor information centre in Squamish), but that first part would be literal suicide. The roads are still narrow, people go to fast, there's often no siding. Trust me on this, it's a bad idea.
murphstahoe
07-31-08, 01:29 PM
my formatting on my blog sucks but my trip report is at
sub20olh.blogspot.com
It would definitely have been faster to ride a bike from Whistler to Pemberton on the day of the show.
closetbiker
12-26-08, 07:57 PM
I've seen quite a few tourers on the sea to sky highway when I used to take the family on our annual camping trips to Alice Lake (just north of Squamish).
The road is narrow in places, and there can be heavy traffic, but still, it doesn't stop some, and the scenery is breath taking!
Big Lew
05-01-09, 08:57 AM
I have ridden from Vancouver to Pemberton, and yes there are some shoulderless sections, some rough construction, and weekend traffic is fast and heavy, but if you wear a high visibility cycling vest and pay attention, you'll be rewarded with a very scenic day ride. Depending on your cycling shape and amount of time, the ride from Pemberton to Lilloot is also a great challenge and awesome scenery (you can box your bike and ride the train back)