6 Canadian Bikepacking Routes You’ll Love

From the drumlins of Newfoundland to the trestle bridges of the B.C. Interior to the wild forests of the Territories – these trails and tips from riders in the know will inspire you to head out on big adventures Explore the forests, fields, valleys and mo

you’re spending your time off the trainer getting lost in maps and gear lists, daydreaming about a big adventure in the summer. With covid a going concern for the foreseeable future, a bikepacking trip far from the madding crowds seems like a wise route to take.

There are many options to choose from. Mapped routes and regional bikepacking communities have been steadily growing across the country in recent years. Once the domain of more extreme adventurers, bikepacking is becoming more mainstream, a change that excites Sarah Hornby, co-founder of Bikepack Canada.

“When I first became aware of bikepacking 10 years ago, it was about being way out in the wilderness, sleeping in the dirt and singletrack. But we’re seeing more and more gravel events popping up, and overnighter routes that may not be in the backcountry, but that still give riders a chance to experience a rural landscape a bit closer to home.”

Here are six Canadian routes that represent some of the best off-road riding the country has to offer, introduced by the riders who love them.

The B.C. Trail runs along the southern edge of B.C. from Cultus Lake, near Chilliwack, in the Fraser Valley east to Fernie. The trail is mostly gravel doubletrack, 90 per cent unpaved, and takes riders past diverse sights and terrain, including high trestle bridges above wild canyons, kilometre-long tunnels, lush forested paths and huge river views.

“B.C. is a never-ending maze of bikepacking potential,” says Miles Arbour, an editor at Bikepacking.com who’s ridden the Trail as part of the annual BC Epic 1000, a selfsupported race along the Trail from Merritt to Fernie. “And the B.C. Trail is a great place to get your feet wet.”

The Trail is made up of shorter, well-known sections, such as the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, already a huge attraction for cyclists, and the Great Northern Rail Trail. Arbour’s highlight is Gray Creek Pass, a 17-km, 1,500-m climb just east of Kootenay Lake. Other memorable sections include the 18 Myra Canyon trestle bridges and the ferry across Kootenay Lake.

Arbour says the gentle rail trail grades make the Trail accessible for cyclists with a variety of experience and abilities. There’s some technical singletrack and a few sandy and rougher sections, but it’s very rideable overall, with plenty of resupply points and campsites. “Although there isn’t much technical riding to speak of,” he adds, “the route doesn’t hold back. It’s hard on your body and your gear. It’s essential to be proactive to keep both in working order. It’s a good thing there are so many fantastic views and so much scenery to keep you distracted.”

The best time to go is from late June to September.

You’re sure to be dreaming of your next trip while you ride. Arbour recommends the

South Chilcotin Mountains for riders on the hunt for high-alpine singletrack.