Photo: Jordan DyckComox, BC

Cross Canada - Far North - Vancouver Island

A ride described at Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society

How we describe routes →

Challenging Demanding on several fronts at once, or a lot of riding on busy roads.

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 →

The Vancouver Island stage of the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society's Far North route: 498 km running the island's length on paved highway and back roads, with about 3,500 m of climbing. The northern half turns quiet and remote, with long gaps between services and highway traffic for company. A committed multi-day tour and a fine way to understand how big the island really is.

Get the route on Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society →

Where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Map key & layers

Show stops Mute other bike trails

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike Services

Riding near fast trafficFastest stretches

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the route from Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society.

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 224 km of Island Highway · near Elk Bay
about 118 km of Inland Island Highway · near Hilliers
about 86 km of Trans-Canada Highway · near Cowichan Bay
about 19 km of Nanaimo Parkway · near Stockett
about 13 km of East Island Highway · near Nanoose Bay
about 4 km of Douglas Street · near Port Hardy
short stretches on other roads · 6 km total

☕Stops worth stopping for612 along this route

Garrick's Head: one of the oldest English pubs in Canada, operating continuously in Victoria's historic Bastion Square since 1867. · Victoria

Hermann's Jazz Club: Canada's longest continuously running jazz club, tracing its roots to 1981. · Victoria

Irish Times: voted best pub in North America in 2017 and best Irish Entertainment Venue in 2018. · Victoria

John's Place: serving scratch-made breakfast and lunch for over 40 years...Food Network Canada featured it on 'You Gotta Eat Here'. · Victoria

Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar: No. 1 Fine Dining in Canada on Tripadvisor's Best of the Best 2025; Best Restaurant in Victoria from Vancouver Magazine 2025–2026. · Victoria

Victoria (273)

Garrick's HeadWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Hermann's Jazz ClubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Irish TimesWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

John's PlaceWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Marilena Cafe & Raw BarWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Monkey C Interactive's ArtcadeWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Murchie's CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

SpringTide Whale Tours & ChartersWelcoming· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Ugly Duckling Dining & ProvisionsWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Victoria City Hall - siʔem tawen'ewtxwWelcoming· Community Centre · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — BeaverTails, Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar, Melt +46 more

+214 more in Victoria →

Nanaimo (61)

Arbutus DistilleryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Huong LanInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Longwood Tasting RoomInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Pomme Natural MarketInfo· Grocery Store

Delicado'sWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Milano'sWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Pizzeria La StellaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Regard Coffee RoastersWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Tim Hortons, A&W, Chachi's +21 more

+27 more in Nanaimo →

Saanich (52)

Crust BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Hey HappyWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Red Lion Inn & SuitesInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Trini to D BoneInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ukrainian Cultural CentreInfo

Accent Inns VictoriaAccredited· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

Cosmos Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Delicious Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Des PanjaabWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Emily Carr Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — Puerto Vallarta Amigos, roast, Big Wheel Burger +11 more

+28 more in Saanich →

Ladysmith (36)

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Ladysmith GalleryInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Ladysmith Maritime Society MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Old Town BakeryInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

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

Dragon CityInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Fox and HoundsInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Ironworks Café & CrêperieInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Kaede SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ladysmith Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — KFC, Ladysmith A&W, McDonald's +5 more

+18 more in Ladysmith →

North Cowichan (34)

BC Forest Discovery CentreInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Cowichan Community Centre Sports ComplexWelcoming· Community Centre · $

Cowichan Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Cowichan Regional Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Best Western Cowichan Valley InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

Beverly Corners Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Coffee on the MoonInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Commons Liquor & MoreInfo· Liquor Store

Cowichan Community CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Fuller Lake ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $

Plus the fast-food chains — Baan-Do's Stir Fry, A&W, Boston Pizza +8 more

+13 more in North Cowichan →

Duncan (29)

The DoghouseInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Cowichan Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Duncan Butcher ShopInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Experience CyclingInfo· Repair Shop

Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant.Info· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

James Street CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Romeo's PlaceInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Ali Baba PizzaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Bulk BarnInfo· Grocery Store

Coronation MarketInfo· Convenience Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Burger King, Domino's, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken +7 more

+9 more in Duncan →

Langford (23)

Freeman King Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Goldstream Group Campsite - Goldminer (Lower) SiteInfo· Public Campground

Goldstream Group Campsite - Prospector (Upper) SiteInfo· Public Campground

Dad's Homemade Soups & Sangy'sInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Sabhai ThaiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

COBS BreadInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

CostcoInfo· Grocery Store

Four Points by Sheraton Victoria GatewayInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Ice Cream MountainInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Milestone'sInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Booster Juice, Costco Food Court +5 more

+5 more in Langford →

Port Hardy (23)

Coastal Rainforest SafarisInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$

k'awat'si ToursInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Kwa'lilas HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Glen Lyon InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

nax'id' pubInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Port Hardy MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Port Hardy Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre

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

Café GuidoInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Graceworks GalleryInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, McDonald's, Subway

+10 more in Port Hardy →

Mill Bay (16)

Blue Dog KayakingInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Bridgemans BistroInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Beehive RV Park & CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Rusticana CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Serious CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

South Cowichan Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

BC Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Bru-Go's CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Laughing Llama IIInfo· Convenience Store

Mill Bay SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, McDonald's, Subway +1 more

+2 more in Mill Bay →

Campbell River (11)

Haig-Brown Heritage HouseInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Beaver Lodge Forest LandsInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Painter's LodgeInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

White TowerInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Swicked CyclesWelcoming· Repair Shop

Chateau Riverside Boutique HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Friendship MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

On the RocksInfo· Community Centre · $

Duncan Bay StoreInfo· Convenience Store

Ginger Beef HouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — McDonald's

View Royal (8)

COBS BreadWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Nest at the LakeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Quality FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store

Cascadia Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Starbucks, Subway, Tim Hortons +1 more

Malahat (6)

Malahat ChaletInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Villa Eyrie ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Cedar Springs RanchInfo· Private Campground

Malahat Mountain Meadows RV Resort & Campground - CampsiteInfo· Private Campground

Moon Water LodgeInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Malahat Bungalows MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

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 allVictoria

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Victoria is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. Buses, the SkyTrain, and ferries will carry you and your bike there:

Langfordbest: bus
Nanaimobest: bus
Vancouverbest: bus
Kelownabest: bus + SkyTrain + ferry

Also on the bike-transit map: Nanaimo · Saanich · Ladysmith · North Cowichan

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

This route travels through the traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Halalt, Homalco, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, K’ómoks, Kwakwaka’wakw A̱wi’nagwis, Lekwungen/Songhees, Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ, ɬaʔamɩn gɩǰɛ (Tla’amin), MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), Quw’utsun, Sc’ianew, Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, Te’mexw Treaty Association, Ts’uubaa-asatx, We Wai Kai, and Wei Wai Kum.

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

Ready to ride it?

Get the route on Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →