Vancouver Trip

[Lifeline]

Hey All,

I'm just back from a tour of California, Arizona and Nevada which was top class. You can see some pics and a blog here Shamrock Run 2008

Well for my next trip I am looking at doing 7 days round trip from Vancouver, if anyone has any advice on a route it would be great.

Thanks
Eoin

[naotweed]

If you are looking for rides around Vancouver I would suggest the Duffy Lake road (head towards Whistler and then towards Lillooet). You can do a loop (only 1-2 days) from Vancouver and back again. The road surface isn't amazing but it's nice and twisty as well as scenic.
You could also take a ferry over to Vancouver Island and take a ride out to Long Beach.
If you don't mind straying far from Vancouver you should try out the east part of the province and ride around the Kootenay Mountains. You pretty much can't go wrong with a choice of road, but my favourite is heading East from Vernon on HWY 6, through Nakusp and then back down to Castlegar.

[Road Hog]

Seven day run out of Vancouver m/l: Head north and east to Jasper area then south coming in the NE corner of Washington and take hwy 20 back west. (be prepared for all types of weather this time of year)

If you are going to be in area for awhile I would suggest you capture a copy of "Destination Highways" (destinationhighways.com) or call 877.655.5006. There is a DH book for BC, Washington and Northern CA. This way you find the really great roads.
Roadhog (AKA Bob)

[bottom]

i did a route similar to the one marinomi described this summer on my drz. in 7 days you'd have enough time to get to banff and jasper and double back thru revelstoke and kamloops. if you where to go thru pemberton, i recommend taking the road north to d'arcy. its not a long road, but its alot of fun!

destination highways is a good book. the only thing i have to say negative about it is it is definitely catered to sportstourers and bigger capacity bikes. my 400 supermoto liked alot of their secondary roads much better .

what time of the year are you planning to ride? what kind of bike will you be riding? do you want to stay in bc/alberta or do you want to go south into the states?

[Lifeline]

Hi everyone,

Thanks a million for the advice, it sounds great.

I have done a little research on the route based on what you have said and come up with the route below. There will be 70 bikes on the trip so they will be of all types from Goldwings to R1's.

Thanks again for the advicem I'd love some more feedback

Vancouver (BC) Kamloops (BC)
Kamloops (BC) Jasper (AB)
Jasper (AB) Banff (AB)
Banff (AB) Waterton Lakes
Banff (AB) Whitefish (Montana)
Whitefish (Montana) Nelson (BC)
Nelson (BC) Kelowna (BC)
Kelowna (BC) Vancouver

[naotweed]

That sounds likea really good route, there will be something for everyone. Glacier National Park is very nice too. Not a very fast ride, but very scenic. It took me like 2hrs to do the first 40km when a group of us went because we were stopping to take pictures every couple of kilometers.
Take the Crawford Bay/Balfour ferry on the way to Nelson, it's quick and a scenic ride on the lake.

[bottom]

+1 on the ferry at balfour, that road to creston is beautiful and worth riding, but has alot of traffic in the summer. when you go thru banff and jasper, take the 1a that goes between lake louise and banff. itll give you a nice change from the highway and has an awesome single lane that feels like it was made for motorcycles. hwy #6 from vernon to nelson, via nakusp and new denver is a great route too, it takes you away from all the highways and citys and puts you right in the middle of the monashee mountains. and if your going thru nelson, i cant recommend toad rock (motorcycle only) campground enough.

i dont know if posting links to other forums is allowed here, but heres a link to my trip round bc. British Columbia, and a little of Alberta, first solo ride on a DRZ SM. - ADVrider

[flying biker]

I haven't done any motorcycling in North America, but have toured by car in western Canada.

I agree the trip out to Long Beach and Tofino is worth it.

As for the Banff-Jasper journey, it has to be one of the most scenic highways in the world. Would love to do it on a bike next time I'm in that part of the world.