Trails BC

The cyclists' link from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to the Trans Canada Trail at the Golden Ears Bridge: 61 km, easy and mostly flat, following dykes and greenways through Tsawwassen First Nation lands, the 16 km Boundary Bay Greenway, and Surrey's back routes to Fort Langley. Half gravel, half paved, and a practical, pleasant way to start or finish an island trip.

One of the more challenging Trans Canada Trail sections in the Fraser Valley: 29 km from Chilliwack Lake down the valley to the Thurston recreation site, almost entirely unpaved and best ridden in the downhill direction. Popular with mountain bikers, and a proper backcountry feel so close to town.

A 17 km Trans Canada Trail section from Cultus Lake along the Chilliwack River to the Tamihi recreation site, with pleasant greenway at both ends and forest service road climbing in between. Mostly gravel; allow about two and a half hours.

This 28 km Trans Canada Trail section links Langley to Clayburn, following the Matsqui Regional Trail along the Fraser toward Sumas Mountain before country roads lead into Clayburn Village, whose brick church and store recall its brick-making origins. Flat riverside riding, about three hours end to end, with some shared-road stretches.

A set of cycling loops around Squamish, from about 47 km up to a 79 km combination, tracing Howe Sound and the Squamish, Mamquam, and Stawamus rivers on a mix of gravel paths and quiet roads. Mostly gentle grades, with mountain walls on every horizon and shorter options easy to carve out.

A 12 km loop in Chilliwack taking in the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, boglands, the Vedder River, and forested trails. Come in spring when the heronry is busiest; the whole loop takes about an hour by bike, all on gravel.

A 92 km dyke-based loop through the Fraser Valley linking McDonald Park on the Sumas River, the Barrowtown Pump Station, the Vedder River, Sumas Prairie, and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. Mostly flat and easy despite the distance; allow up to four hours, or split it over two days. Half gravel, with some quiet shared roads between dykes.

A 63 km loop through Nanaimo's greenways and parks, linking Bowen Park's forest, Petroglyph Provincial Park's ancient rock carvings, the harbourfront walkway, and the city's rail trails, with a ferry side trip to car-free Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) the highlight worth building in. Mostly flat; allow four to six hours with stops.

A 55 km loop around Summerland taking in beaches, parks, and the high-level Lakeview Trail with views across Okanagan Lake toward Naramata, plus a stretch of the Kettle Valley Railway route past Mount Conkle and over the Trout Creek Trestle. Modest climbing and a mix of pavement and gravel make it a satisfying full-morning ride.

Where the main Trans Canada Trail between Trail and Salmo is unsuitable for bikes, this connector offers two rideable options: a shorter, hillier route through the Beaver Valley on Highway 3B, or a longer, quieter loop south toward the Pend d'Oreille River. Up to 109 km with about 1,370 m of climbing, mostly on pavement with some gravel road sections.

A 221 km loop through the West Kootenay linking Nelson, Kaslo, and New Denver over two days, with an optional cable-car river crossing on the way out and a return leg on the Slocan Valley Rail Trail. About 2,300 m of climbing in all, with a fair amount of highway riding between the trail sections, so expect to share the road.

A 12 km loop in Kimberley combining the shaded, creekside Lions Way trail along Mark Creek with the flat, easy Northstar Rail Trail back into town. One of the few loops that runs entirely on the Trans Canada Trail. Dog-friendly, about 45 minutes by bike, and a lovely way to see the town's green edges.