BC Cycle Tourism Society
Photo: Taylor Cave ProductionsNanaimo, BC

Gabriola Group Ride

Ambitious A real undertaking. Demanding on a couple of fronts, like rough surfaces plus steady climbing, or a long stretch on busier 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 →

A social 23 km gravel ride on Gabriola Island near Nanaimo, rolling past an alpaca and goat farm with an optional detour to the Malaspina Galleries, the island's famous wave-carved sandstone overhang. Mostly unpaved with gentle climbing; built for groups and unhurried days.

Where this ride goes#

Map key & layers
Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingBike Services

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the route from Gravel Buddies.

Stops worth stopping for13 along this route

Communities along this route#

Gabriola (12)

Descanso Bay Regional ParkInfo· Public Campground
Gabriola MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Mad Rona's Coffee BarWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
WoodfireWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
CyquleInfo· Rentals
Gabriola Island Library BranchInfo· Library · Free
Ground UpInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Island Meat and DeliInfo· Specialty / Health Food
Nesters MarketInfo· Grocery Store
+2 more in Gabriola →

Gabriola Island (1)

Elder Cedar Nature ReserveInfo· Park / Nature · Free
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 allGabriola

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Gabriola is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. Ferries and buses will carry you and your bike there:

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

This route travels through the traditional territories of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Quw’utsun, and Snuneymuxw.

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