DKrit

i'm planning on biking across canada this summer from west to east. i'm not sure what the bc/rockies are like. i also need some information on getting from the ferry to outside vancouver.
thanks

BlueTwo

Which ferry are you asking about, Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay .. or .. Schwartz Bay to Tsawwassen ?

cyclesomatic

If you're ballsy, you can just stick to the shoulder of highway 99 all the way from the ferry into town - though this might mean riding through the massey tunnel (2 lanes, both of them full of agro rushour drivers) - which might not be that fun. There may be a more sceninc route into town, but I'm not aware of it. If you're willing to cheat just a little bit in order to skip that crunch area of highway/ commuter traffic between the ferry and Vancouver, you can always throw your bike on the front bike racks of the bus - its only a couple of bucks into town.

roosmachine

Hi there!

I'm going to pimp out a website I created a couple months back. Its a collection of journals/webpages of people that have cycled across Canada. ITs a good resource to check out what others have thought about the routes they have taken.

https://xcanada.roosmachine.com

There is a resource section on the webpage with links that you can use right across the country, including BC Ferries webpage.

For getting through BC, Mr Roughly's Touring BC webpage is the best resource I have found.
https://www.vanc.igs.net/%7Eroughley/bike_bc.html


roopurt

NoReg

Though I have been to BC many times I haven't cycled there so I wasn't going to jump in with something like "dude before you even get to the Rockies, you have to clear the coastal range". Good thing I didn't. Look at "Vertically exaggerated profile of British Columbia along the 51st parallel", on Roughly's site!

sth

Hey Andrew,

I dont want to hijack DKrit's post but I just wanted to say thanks for your website. I just checked it out. Lots of good reading there. I am right in the middle of your Crazy-Guy journal and am really enjoying it. I hope to do the trip in a few years.

steve

sth

No matter how you cut it, leaving Vancouver at sea level means hills hills hills. My suggestion would be to take the southern route along Highway 3. At least 4 BIG passes to conquer but scenic overall. You could also take Hwy 5 up to Jasper then on to Edmonton. Not as much climbing but along way around. My biggest suggestion would be to avoid the Trans-Canada from Kamloops to Banff. It is very busy in the summer and it is narrow and in less than perfect condition in spots.

If you are taking the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver and plan to head into Vancouver, you CANT ride thru the tunnel. Dangerous and illegal. You can hop on a transit bus (they have front racks but you would likely have to remove the panniers etc or you could hire a cab. The only other logical way to get across the river is a long detour to the Alex Fraser bridge.

Heading east you want to get yourself to Hwy 7 on the north side of the Fraser river. Less congested.
After Hope it is decent highway riding.

Hope that helps.

Machka 

I hope you are not planning to leave Victoria any time soon!! See the Western Weather Warning post.

BTW - the Rocky Mountains are ... mountainous ... but you won't reach them until you get nearer to the BC/Alberta border. However, between the coast and the Rocky Mountains, you'll get lots of practice in mountainous terrain.

5 more

Try this link https://www.adamk.ca/CrossCan_Page1.htm at the bottom of the page to get you out of Vancouver. You'll need a local map. Keep us updated on your trip. I'm also planning the same trip for 08. A great book is Cycling British Columbia by Paul Wood. ISBN 0-9684856-2-7. $22 Canadian. You might be able to find it a Amazon.com or Chapters. It will give you routes, distances, area histories, vertical profiles and provincial camp grounds. If you have problem finding one email me and I'll help you out.

Vin

bccycleguy

Last time I was there, Bikes are not allowed through the tunnel, You wouldn't survive anyway. There is a sign/number posted about a van that the Highways Dept. will drive you through.

bccycleguy

Take Hwy. 7 to Hope, Hwy 5 Coquihalla to Kamloops or 5C Coquihalla Connector to Kelowna and TC to Banff. The Trans-Canada is a fast, unforgiving highway, not my choice for a holiday but people cycle it, pass the snow sheds by going around them. IMO Highway 3 from Hope and then 93 via Radium is a better route. Be prepared to camp.

Michel Gagnon

Or if you want to ride through Vancouver, you might take the ferry that lands into Nanaimo.

BigGuy

An easy way to cross the Fraser River is to use the free ferry at Fort Langley assuming your ferry from Vancouver Island is landing at Tsawwassen - there are many different ways to get to Fort Langley - I came all the way across on McClughan (88th) Ave. The western half was city riding (I used sidewalks) and the eastern half was more open.