Hit
the Pedals: Explore B.C. by Bike
By Barbara Black
Hit the pedals this summer and explore British Columbia by
bicycle. Cycling is a unique way to explore the province’s terrain
and towns and connect with the locals. On a bike you can feel, hear,
and even smell the scenery going by. Whether you seek scenic highway
tours, gut-wrenching single-track challenges, or leisurely pathways,
there’s something for every cycling level and interest. Here are
nine tips to see B.C. by bike:
·
Mini-Trips
to Multi-Day Tours:
If day-tripping or short overnight trips are your thing, cycle the
B.C. portions of the Trans Canada Trail. Do an overnighter from the
old mining town of Greenwood, west to tiny Rock Creek where you can
try your hand at gold panning. There are lots of tour companies in
B.C. offering bike tours, from half-day excursions to fully escorted
multi-day adventures complete with gourmet meals and deluxe
accommodation. Some tours also combine cycling with kayaking,
canoeing, or white-water rafting.
·
Chew
on Dirt:
B.C. is mountain biking heaven, and trail-busters of every ability
head for the 200 kilometres (125 miles) of trails in Rossland,
“the mountain biking capital of Canada”. All over B.C., old
logging roads, mining trails, and railbeds provide countless
opportunities for cycling and trail-riding. With names like Snakes
and Ladders, Tree Hugger, Flying Monkey and the Vertical Smile,
there are thrills awaiting in the hills.
·
Ride
the Rails:
This province is dotted with abandoned railbeds, many of which have
been converted into excellent cycling or multi-use paths. Probably
the best-known cycle-rail path is the 600 kilometres (375 miles)
Kettle Valley Railway which travels from Hope to Midway through the
exquisite scenery of the Thompson Okanagan over trestles (18!),
through tunnels, past ghost towns and through the lovely Myra
Canyon. If riding from urban to suburban sounds appealing, try the
tamer Galloping Goose Regional Trail, named after the old Galloping
Goose gas car which travelled this railline until the 1930s. The
trail starts in Victoria and extends 61 kilometres (38 miles) into
Sooke, passing lakes, marshland, Douglas fir forest and rural
farmland on the way. Also on Vancouver Island is Port Alberni’s
Log Train Trail, once a railbed for the Bainbridge Mill rail-logging
operation and now a multi-use 25 kilometre (15.6 mile) trail that
goes along the foot of the Beaufort Range.
·
Super
Scenery:
This Kootenay bike-circuit is a favourite with experienced cyclists:
starting in Nelson, heart of the Kootenay arts scene, the circle
trip goes north to Kaslo (if it’s August, stay for jazz fest), on
to New Denver, takes a sidetrip to Nakusp (jump in the hotsprings),
then heads back south via the beautiful Slocan Valley. Another
favourite (but strenuous) cycle tour is the Golden Triangle which
follows the Rocky Mountain trench between Golden and Radium Hot
Springs and crosses into the Rockies. Stunning scenery, three
national parks, and a serious workout. If you prefer wider vistas
and less exertion, take a day trip through the open grasslands of
the Chilcotin plateau to the undisturbed volcanic lake called
Dante’s Inferno.
·
Cycle
and Sip:
Ride through the rolling hills of Okanagan country: smell the fruit
blossoms, take a dip in Okanagan or Skaha Lake, and tour the many
wineries and vineyards that dot this area. Monashee Adventure Tours
offers cycling tours through Okanagan wineries – ride through the
famous Quails’ Gate, Summer Hill and Cedar Creek vineyards. The
Cowichan wine region on southern Vancouver Island also offers
opportunities to cycle, wine and dine – sample wine straight from
the barrels, enjoy fresh bread and gourmet cheeses or participate in
the great stomping of grapes.
·
When
the Snow Melts:
Hit the slopes with rubber instead of skis. In the summer, many of
B.C.’s ski hills and resorts open their runs to mountain bikes.
Vernon’s Silver Star Mountain, Whistler-Blackcomb, Apex Mountain
& Sun Peaks in the Thompson Okanagan and North Vancouver’s
Grouse Mountain all offer world-class mountain biking for cyclists
of every ability. In the north, point your wheels downhill at Morice
Mountain Ski Trails near Houston or explore the paths at Prince
George’s Otway Nordic Centre Trails or the Waterlily Cross-Country
Ski Trails near Vanderhoof.
·
River
Riding:
For a more leisurely cycle experience, ride Quesnel’s riverside
pathways alongside the mighty Fraser or Quesnel rivers. In the
south, relax while you pedal past tidal flats on Richmond’s 6
kilometres (3.75 miles) West Dyke Trail or on the dyke trails in
Abbotsford and Pitt Meadows. Or glide along the broad, level PoCo
Trail which follows the Pitt and Coquitlam Rivers past waterfowl
nesting grounds, log booms and lazy anglers in Port Coquitlam.
·
A
Peak Experience:
B.C.’s
Coast Mountain Range, with its many towering peaks, is an ideal
destination for heli-biking: that’s fly-in and bike out. It may
seem like cheating, but cycling an 1800 metre (1,969 yard) vertical
single-track descent from high alpine meadow to valley floor is
unarguably the thrill of a lifetime for hard-core mountain bikers.
It’s a vacation highlight for those who enjoy high-speed, stunning
scenery and adventure.
·
Down
to the Woods:
If your tires are hungry for rocks, trees, and dirt, Campbell
River’s Snowden Demonstration Forest is a favourite single-track
riding destination on Vancouver Island. The wooded mountain trails
of Vancouver’s North Shore, especially the Seymour Demonstration
Forest, are also a popular spot for urbanites seeking a
forest-riding challenge.
Remember that in B.C. you are required by law to
wear a bike helmet while cycling. Please help us protect B.C.’s
ecology by staying on the trails. Have fun!
