trigger

Hello all,

Will be coming out West later this summer, and hoping for some routing advice that will see me from Nanaimo to Campbell river, and also out to Gabriola and Salt Spring. Then either back to Nanaimo for the ferry, or down to Swartz Bay for the ferry. I'm a pretty confident cyclist so I don't mind heavy traffic if the shoulder is wide, but I've heard that there's an alternate route that has more coastal scenery? I'd like this to be as pretty as possible, and with as few cars as I can manage, but I don't mind the odd busy section when it makes the most sense.

Also, is the Fraser Canyon safe to ride up on the mainland?

Thanks!!

Norsman

I think the route you are talking about is the Old Island Highway. This is a very scenic route that has much less traffic than the new Island Highway. You can use bike paths and/or back roads to get from Nanaimo to Lantzville. Then for a short section to just south of Parksville you would have to use the new highway. It is not a difficult or particularly dangerous section to ride. The rest of the ride to Campbell River is on the old highway and much of it follows the coast.

The following link shows you the bike paths in the Nanaimo area. https://www.biketowork.ca/files/Broch..._map2009_1.pdf The ferry to Gabriola Island leaves from the harbour. It is listed on the map. I have not cycled on Gabriola but i remember that there is a rather steep hill right up from the ferry terminal. It is not likely to be dangerous to cycle on the island. There is very little traffic. I haven't been on it for a over twenty years and at that time I wasn't thinking about cycling it so I can't tell you if it is easy or difficult to ride.

Between Nanaimo and Salt Spring you can also use alternate routes for much of the distance. However I have ridden on the main highway between Victoria and Nanaimo and found it relatively easy and certainly safe. I have never ridden on Salt Spring but again remember it as having some decent hills like almost all of the Gulf Islands.

When you are talking about the Fraser Canyon are you talking about the section between Hope and Lytton, which is the real canyon, or are you also including the Fraser Valley between Vancouver and Hope? If the former, it is a beautiful route that I have ridden safely several times. The main challenge is a series of tunnels between Yale and Boston Bar. Only two of them are long enough to cause real issues and for both there is a warning light you can push before you enter. There is also a narrow sidewalk you can use to push your bike though the tunnel if you are worried.

If you are talking about the Fraser Valley there are routes out of Vancouver on both side of the Fraser. You cannot use the Trans Canada Highway until just before Chilliwack. Near Vancouver the routes are mostly on roads that can be fairly busy. I would not be riding on some of these roads during the afternoon rush hour which lasts from about 3:30 to 7:00. Once you get past Maple Ridge on the north side things settle down a bit and you can use the Lougheed Highway to Hope. I find the south side of the river actually easier. If you are coming from Tsawwassen ferry terminal you can use Highways 17a, Ladner Trunk Road, Highway 10 and the Fraser Highway to get you to Abbotsford. Then you would use back roads to past Chilliwack and then on the Trans Canada to Hope. With a little map work you can find parallel roads to these highways that work even better. I have a more complicated route that works well for me. If you are interested let me know and I will try to send the info.

trigger

Thanks so much!

And yes, with the Fraser Canyon I'm thinking about Hope to Kamloops, or thereabouts, though I understand the scenery will drop off a bit at about Boston Bar and become ranch land.

Any further tips are greatly appreciated.

Norsman

The scenery is still spectacular until well after Boston Bar. Up to Lytton you are still cycling above the Fraser River with many great views. After Lytton the surrounding areas are much more arid but you cycle alongside the Thompson River, with many great views, right up to Kamloops Lake at Savona. Then the lake views take over. The ranch land doesn't really appear until about Spences Bridge. But even that area is pretty. I have cycled on the three main highways into BC's interior, Highways 1, 3 and 5, and think the Highway 1 route is by far the most scenic. Part of its charm is the transition from the coastal rainforest to the much drier interior of BC.

trigger

Great! I'm really looking forward to it.

redbike72

I thought I might add that the transition usually increases the temperature so be prepared to cycle through some hot spots. (you probably knew that anyhow)

Norsman

But, if you cycle towards Kamloops, you are also likely to get a nice tail wind. I have cycled twice in the opposite direction and faced a fairly strong headwind both times.

RideroftheStorm

I live on the island. I can say I agree with everything Norsman said about The Old Island Highway. It's pretty easy to find because you just follow the signs marked "scenic route". The highway is good now for riding with one exception IMO. There is a stretch as you travel south between Mill Bay and Victoria that goes through a mountain pass called The Malahat. People have accidents there weekly. Not because the road is poor, it's entirely due to uncontrolled intersections, excessive speed and poor judgment. From a cycling perspective, the shoulder is wide, but has a lot of loose gravel and rumble strips. It's doable, but I'd take your time.

A safer choice, but less scenic would be to stop in mill bay and take a commuter ferry across the inlet to Brentwood Bay which puts you about 15km from Schwartz Bay to grab the ferry over to Saltspring.

Saltspring is basically one big hill you're either going up or down. There's not much in the way of shoulder, but you're usually fine to just hog the road and make people pass. I'd recommend when you dock to grab a light snack and give the ferry traffic time to pull ahead. That way it's just local stuff to contend with.