Photo: Ryan FlettCastlegar, BC

BC Gravel (BC Only)

A ride described at Elbow Valley Cycle Club

Epic Expedition scale. Many demanding factors stacked, or 1,000 km and up, or 10,000 m of climbing.

Difficulty Our overall read of how demanding a route is. We score surface roughness, climbing, singletrack, and how far it runs from services. The route publisher's own rating, a lot of busy road riding, or sheer scale can push the tier up, never down.

Derived from OpenStreetMap. Good data, not perfect. Spot something wrong? Tell us.

How we describe routes →

BC Gravel crosses about 1,300 km of southern British Columbia, from the Coast Mountains through the Okanagan to the Kootenays, roughly two-thirds unpaved with over 17,000 m of climbing. A multi-week undertaking on quiet backroads, best planned with the same care as any long bikepacking traverse.

Get the route on Elbow Valley Cycle Club →

Where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Map key & layers

Show stops Mute other bike trails

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike ServicesTransport

Riding near fast trafficFastest stretches

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the route from Elbow Valley Cycle Club.

Fast-road stretches#

We believe these are the fast, unprotected roads on this route. We can tell you which roads and roughly how far, but not the order you will ride them. If you see an error, tell us and we'll fix it.

about 42 km of Highway 3A · near Troup
about 28 km of Lougheed Highway · near Floods
about 23 km of Coalmont Road · near Princeton
about 21 km of Pass Creek Road · near Pass Creek
about 21 km of Elk Valley Highway · near Clode
about 10 km of Coquihalla Highway · near Othello
about 8 km of Crowsnest Highway · near Hosmer
about 4 km of North Parallel Road · near Kilgard
short stretches on other roads · 7 km total

and 7 more

☕Stops worth stopping for1450 along this route

Maenam: earned a place in MICHELIN's inaugural Vancouver Guide...named one of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants. · Vancouver

Doctor Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: First full-scale Ming Dynasty classical garden outside China, in historic Chinatown. · Vancouver

Kettle Valley Rail Trail: Myra Canyon's 18 trestles and two tunnels on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, a National Historic Site. · Myra

Othello / Quintette Tunnels: Five 1914 railway tunnels cut through the Coquihalla gorge. · Othello

Fort Langley National Historic Site: Reconstructed HBC fur fort where British Columbia was proclaimed in 1858. · Langley

Vancouver (746)

MaenamWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Doctor Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese GardenInfo· Park / Nature · $$$

Museum of VancouverAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Science WorldAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$$

A la ModeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

AncoraWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

AnnalenaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Bar GoboWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Beaucoup Bakery & CafeWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Elisa Wood-Fired GrillWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Plus the fast-food chains — Cockney Kings, Fraser Valley Juice, White Spot +104 more

+629 more in Vancouver →

Burnaby (172)

Anton's Pasta BarWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Butchers Block BBQWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Chez ChristopheWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool & Fitness CentreWelcoming· Community Centre · $

Hop & VineWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

The Valley BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Cioffi's DeliInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Cockney Kings Fish & ChipsInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Dageraad BrewingInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Il CappelloInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Plus the fast-food chains — Curry Express, Steve's Poke Bar, HiFive Chicken +35 more

+124 more in Burnaby →

Penticton (77)

SS SicamousWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$

Laughing Stock VineyardsInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Munson Mountain ParkInfo· Park / Nature · Free

The Bench MarketInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Cannery BrewingWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Abandoned Rail Brewing Co.Info· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

ElmaInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Grape Savvy Wine ToursInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Hillside WineryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Hillside Winery BistroInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Booster Juice, Domino's +4 more

+60 more in Penticton →

Coquitlam (62)

Climb Base5Info· Community Centre · $$$

Mackin House MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$

Place des ArtsInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Woody's on BrunetteInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Pho 99Welcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Bbong Korean RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

C Market CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Cartems DonutsInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Executive Plaza HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Fat Tuna SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Obanhmi, A&W, Fatburger +12 more

+37 more in Coquitlam →

Nelson (58)

Kootenay Lake FerryWelcoming· Ferry

Gerick Cycle & SkiAccredited· Repair Shop

Backroads BreweryWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Kootenay co-opWelcoming· Grocery Store

LibraryWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Mike's Place PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Nelson Museum Archives & GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$

Oso Negro CaféWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Outer Clove RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Red Light RamenWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, A&W, Edo Japan +4 more

+41 more in Nelson →

Hope (54)

Hope Bike ParkInfo· Community Centre · $$$$

Hope Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Hope Mountain CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Mountainview Tasting LoungeWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Spice and GrillWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Artisans Attic and FudgeryInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Coquihalla CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Heritage InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

Home RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Hope Korean KitchenInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Captain Jac Fish & Chips, Triple O's, Flames Pizzas +12 more

+29 more in Hope →

Fernie (40)

Fernie Historic Oil DerrickInfo· Activity / Experience · Free

Fernie Heritage LibraryWelcoming· Library · Free

Fernie Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Fernie Brewing CompanyInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Fernie MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Fernie Visitor Information CentreInfo· Visitor Centre

Straight Line BicyclesInfo· Repair Shop

The Arts StationInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

The Brickhouse Bar & GrillInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

The CentralInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — McDonald's, Starbucks, Tim Hortons

+27 more in Fernie →

Chilliwack (39)

Cheam Leisure CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Forever BikesInfo· Repair Shop

Garrison Wine & Liquor MerchantsWelcoming· Winery / Cidery

LandWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Sidekick BrewingWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Woodman Chinese FoodWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Amble CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

BanterInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Clancy's Meat Co.Info· Grocery Store

Mt. Waddington's OutdoorsInfo· Outdoor Gear

Plus the fast-food chains — Freshslice Pizza, Starbucks, Subway +11 more

+15 more in Chilliwack →

Langley (37)

Fort Langley National Historic SiteAccredited· Museum / Gallery · Free

Thunderbird Show ParkInfo· Park / Nature · Free

BC Farm MuseumWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$

Blacksmith BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Fort Langley CN StationWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free

salishan PlaceWelcoming· Community Centre · Free

Locality Brewing Tap RoomInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Roots and Wings DistilleryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Beatniks BistroWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Fort Langley LibraryWelcoming· Library · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — Popeyes, Subway, A&W +2 more

+22 more in Langley →

Grand Forks (27)

gallery2Info· Museum / Gallery · Free

Grand Forks Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

True North DistilleriesInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$

Clyde'sInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Grand Forks & District Public LibraryInfo· Library · Free

Grand Forks Municipal CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Grand Forks Station PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Johnny's MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Omega IIInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Riverside Court RV & CabinsInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Panago, Subway +1 more

+13 more in Grand Forks →

Sparwood (12)

Sparwood Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Sparwood MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Causeway Bay Hotel & Conference CentreInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Mountain Shadows CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Sparwood Public LibraryInfo· Library

Valley MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

EssoInfo· Convenience Store

HuskyInfo· Convenience Store

Overwaitea FoodsInfo· Grocery Store

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Subway, Tim Hortons

Princeton (11)

Centennial Outdoor PoolInfo· Community Centre · $

Princeton Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Swan Lake Wildlife RefugeInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Gold & Jade RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Princeton ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $

Princeton Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Rainbow Lake Castle ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

Riverside CabinsInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

BC Liquor StoresInfo· Liquor Store

Save-On-FoodsInfo· Grocery Store

+1 more in Princeton →

Slice and dice these stops in the directory →

These stops come from our directory of welcoming places across BC. Spot something wrong, missing, or closed? Tell us and we'll fix it.

⛴Getting here, bike and allVancouver

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Vancouver is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. The SeaBus, ferries, and buses will carry you and your bike there:

North Vancouverbest: SeaBus
Nanaimobest: ferry
Victoriabest: bus
Kelownabest: bus

Also on the bike-transit map: Burnaby · Penticton · Coquitlam · Nelson

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

The BC portion of this route travels through the traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce (Stoney), Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis, Kwantlen, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, Michif Piyii (Métis), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux), Qayqayt, Quw’utsun, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc), Semiahmoo, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), snʕickstx tmxʷúlaʔxʷ (Sinixt), sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Stz’uminus, šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam), sx̌ʷyʔiɬp (Colville), Syilx (Okanagan), and Tsuut’ina.

Territory data from Native Land Digital, for educational purposes only.

Ready to ride it?

Get the route on Elbow Valley Cycle Club →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →