Photo: Let's Go BikingPacific Spirit Loop

Pacific Spirit Loop

A ride described in Let's Go Biking

How we describe routes →

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 →

The big South Island circuit: 235 km linking the Galloping Goose, the wild coast road to Port Renfrew, the interior crossing to Lake Cowichan, and rail trail home past Shawnigan Lake. Forested climbs, ocean views, and long remote stretches on the west side; each leg has its own character, so riders build the trip to their taste over several days.

Get the book from Let's Go Biking →

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 book from Let's Go Biking.

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 49 km of West Coast Road · near Shirley
about 46 km of Pacific Marine Road · near Mesachie Lake
about 4 km of South Shore Road · near Mesachie Lake
about 2 km of Sooke Road · near Saseenos

☕Stops worth stopping for386 along this route

Hatley Castle: Edwardian Hatley Castle and its free gardens at Royal Roads, a National Historic Site. · Colwood

Hatley Gardens: Hatley Park's free Italian, Japanese, and rose gardens around the castle. · Colwood

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

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

Murchie's Cafe: Canada's oldest tea company, founded in Victoria in 1894...over 130 years. · Victoria

Communities along this route#

Victoria 168Saanich 50 Langford 41 Sooke 39 Colwood 35 Port Renfrew 16 View Royal 14 Lake Cowichan 10 River Jordan 7 Shirley 4 Esquimalt 1 Milnes Landing 1

Victoria (168)

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

Irish TimesWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

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

Spinnakers Gastro BrewpubInfo· Liquor Store

Recyclistas Bike CollectiveAccredited· Repair Shop

Bodega Wine & Tapas BarWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Don Mee Seafood RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Red Fish Blue Fish, Big Wheel Burger, Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar +29 more

+126 more in Victoria →

Saanich (50)

Craigflower SchoolhouseInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

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

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

+26 more in Saanich →

Langford (41)

Green Man BikesAccredited· Repair Shop

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

Sushi LangfordWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Bucky's TaphouseInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Liberty KitchenInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Pizzability GlenlakeInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Sizzling TandoorInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

WestShore BicyclesInfo· Repair Shop

FreshiiWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Real Canadian SuperstoreWelcoming· Grocery Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Romeo's, Edo Japan, Fatburger +12 more

+16 more in Langford →

Sooke (39)

South Shore GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free

Charters River Salmon Interpretive CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Seaparc Leisure ComplexInfo· Community Centre · $

Sooke Region MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Spring Salmon Place CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Village Food MarketsInfo· Grocery Store

Happy Village RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Up Sooke EateryWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ayum Creek Regional Park ReserveInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Cafe VosinoInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Pizzability, McDonald's, A&W +2 more

+24 more in Sooke →

Colwood (35)

Hatley CastleAccredited· Activity / Experience · $$$

Hatley GardensAccredited· Park / Nature · Free

Habitat CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Italian GardenInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Juan de Fuca Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Walled GardenInfo· Park / Nature · $$$

Asian Noodle HouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Burger CrushInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Greenleaf Pho GrillInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

House of NutritionInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, BarBurrito, Firehouse Subs +8 more

+14 more in Colwood →

Port Renfrew (16)

Lizard Lake Recreation SiteInfo· Public Campground

Pacheedaht CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Port Renfrew HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

The Renfrew PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Wild Coast Wilderness ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

Wild Renfrew Seaside CottagesInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

BridgemansInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Coastal Kitchen CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Fairy Lake CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Handsome Dan's Port RenfrewInfo· Resort · $$$ · Mid-range

+6 more in Port Renfrew →

View Royal (14)

Six Mile PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Apple Tree Family RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Clover SushiWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Kinder CupWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Coastal CyclesInfo· Repair Shop

Canadian TireWelcoming· General merchandise

GyrosaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

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

Dairy QueenInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Serious CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Domino's, Mary Brown's, Subway

+1 more in View Royal →

Lake Cowichan (10)

Kaatza Station Museum & ArchivesWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$

Island Pastry HausWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Jake's at the LakeWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Cowichan Lake Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Cowichan Lake Sports ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $

The Butler's Pantry Bake ShopWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Ed's Coffee HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

J&V DinerInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

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

River Jordan (7)

Point No Point ResortInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Jordan River Regional Park campgroundInfo· Public Campground

Jordan River Regional Park CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

China Beach CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Cold Shoulder CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Fossil Bay ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

The Ledge CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Shirley (4)

Shirley Delicious CafeInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

French Beach CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

French Beach Provincial Park Group SiteInfo· Public Campground

Stoked Wood Fired PizzeriaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Esquimalt (1)

iluka espressoInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Milnes Landing (1)

Plus the fast-food chains — Tim Hortons

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: Saanich · Langford · Sooke · Port Renfrew

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

This route travels through the traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, ditidaqiic̓aq disib̓aʔk (Ditidaht), Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Lekwungen/Songhees, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), Pacheedaht, Quw’utsun, S’Klallam, Sc’ianew, Te’mexw Treaty Association, and Ts’uubaa-asatx.

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

Ready to ride it?

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