Cycling across Beautiful British Columbia

[ubcnumanuma]

I really want to bike from Vancouver to Calgary over the summer, through the Okanagan and Banff, hopefully starting in June next year. I want to be in Calgary by July 1st. I've never done a trip anywhere near as long as this, so I would appreciate any feedback - any at all. I would prefer to avoid the highway if at all possible. I'm looking for advice from people, as well as anyone who wants to come along with me. I'm not the fittest person you'll ever meet, nor the most knowledgeable about bikes, but I'm strong willed and that's what ultimately counts when embarking on a trip like this. Having said that, I do need to start seriously training .

Any comments would be welcome. If someone has done this, or a similar, trip before, I would really highly appreciate the feedback. Feel free to e-mail me too.

Happy cycling!

 

[leebm]

I rode from Vancouver to Calgary in the 2003 and 2004 with Cycle Canada on their Tour Pacific. It's a beautiful ride. Careful planning is important as services are scarce though your route through the Okanagan likely has more services than the Cycle Canada route. There's also the potential for a wide variation in weather. We had everything from 90 degree days to snow at the Columbia Icefield.

I know Cycle Canada sells some of their routes, but am not sure if this route is one of them. Your plans take you in a different direction from Cycle Canada's route anyway. I believe they do some trip planning for self-supported cyclists, but part of the fun of touring is doing the planning yourself.

If you have specific questions, let me know.

BL

 

[jamawani]

When you say you want to stay off the highway do you mean the TransCanada or any highway? Are you going to tour on a mountain bike? The Kettle Valley Trail is really nice - remote at times and tough - but it certainly is off road. Otherwise you can head to Hope north of the Fraser River (Highway 7) and take the Crowsnest (Highway 3) over to Osoyoos. I really would consider riding north in the Kettle Valley - either on the trail or on provincial roads - some of which are unpaved. Then take Highways 6, 31A, 31, and 3A down to Creston. That puts you back on the Crowsnest to Cranbrook. (There is a way to ride over Jumbo Pass on a mountain bike but it is VERY, VERY tough and remote.) From Cranbrook you can ride north in the Columbia Trench to Radium Hot Springs - then over to Castle Junction - and down on Highway 1A to Banff. You have to get on the TransCanada for a few miles east of Banff, but then 1A branches off again all the way to Calgary.

It's been a while since I've been on the Crowsnest in southern BC - it had a moderate amount of traffic, but it had pretty good shoulders. Highway 1A from Banff to Calgary also has a good eal of traffic. I live in Wyoming so I don't necessarily agree that this area is remote. There are little towns every 30 or 40 km - max. Do bear in mind that the national parks have entrance and camping fees and that campgrounds fill early. Parks Canada has told me that they will never turn away a cyclist - but it pays to plan ahead. Ask at visitors' centres if the campgrounds are filling early. Make a reservation, if necessary.

Keep your first few days short so that you can get your cycling legs. Also allow yourself extra days so that you are not rushing madly to make some ridiculous deadline. Extra days can be used when the weather is bad - - or when it is really great and you have found an awesome trail in the mountains.

Have fun - - J

I really want to bike from Vancouver to Calgary over the summer, through the Okanagan and Banff, hopefully starting in June next year. I want to be in Calgary by July 1st. I've never done a trip anywhere near as long as this, so I would appreciate any feedback - any at all. I would prefer to avoid the highway if at all possible. I'm looking for advice from people, as well as anyone who wants to come along with me. I'm not the fittest person you'll ever meet, nor the most knowledgeable about bikes, but I'm strong willed and that's what ultimately counts when embarking on a trip like this. Having said that, I do need to start seriously training .

Any comments would be welcome. If someone has done this, or a similar, trip before, I would really highly appreciate the feedback. Feel free to e-mail me too.

Happy cycling!

PS - Don't know how long you have to make the trip. A trip thru the Okanagan would take - maybe - two weeks, tops. Another possibility is to head up the Thompson River valley to Mount Robson and Jasper then take the Icefields Parkway down to Banff. There's nothing like riding the Icefields Parkway.

 

[Meisele]

Hey there,


I'm coming into this discussion a bit late but what the hey!

Staying off the highways would be pretty difficult in BC. Due to the mountainous terrain the only road is very often a highway. If you're up for some gravel and dirt roads (logging roads) then you could get the old Forestry Service maps. They'll show dirt roads that are not on the provincial road maps. They're now out of print but you can find some of them at World Maps on Broadway at Cambie in Vancouver. I used those extensively in my travels throughout BC when the paved highways became too boring in my previous job as a travelling sales rep.

There are ways to get off the highways in some areas but be prepared for some travel on provincial highways alongside trucks, motorhomes and whacko Vancouver drivers.

I've cycled the Columbia Western Railway and Kettle Valley Railway between Castlegar and Hope and that's a good gravel option. Unfortunately some sections are being chewed up by dirt bikes and quads.

Overall you'll find the grades to be reasonable (relatively speaking) but the climbs can be quite long at times. Just remember that what goes up must come down ...wheee!!! The scenery through southern BC is beautiful and the traffic is lighter than on the Trans Canada Highway.

Have fun.