Photo: Taylor Cave ProductionsNanaimo, BC

Metchosin Caper

A ride described at Bike Gear Database

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 →

An 83 km rolling loop out of Victoria through Metchosin's rural roads and trails, about a third unpaved with 800 m of climbing. Farm stands, ocean glimpses, and forest stretches trade places the whole way around; a local's tour of the capital's quiet west.

Get the route on Bike Gear Database →

Where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Map key & layers

Show stops Mute other bike trails

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike Services

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the route from Bike Gear Database.

☕Stops worth stopping for538 along this route

Royal BC Museum: BC's provincial museum on the Inner Harbour; natural history and First Peoples galleries. · Victoria

British Columbia Parliament Buildings: BC's 1898 Parliament Buildings on the Inner Harbour; free public tours. · Victoria

The Fairmont Empress Hotel: landmark Edwardian chateau-style hotel... since 1908... one of the most historically significant grand hotels in Canada. · Victoria

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites: Victorian coastal fort and Canada's west coast's oldest lighthouse, near Victoria. · Colwood

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

Communities along this route#

Victoria 427Saanich 51 Colwood 42 View Royal 13 Metchosin 5

Victoria (427)

Royal BC MuseumAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$

British Columbia Parliament BuildingsInfo· Activity / Experience · Free

The Fairmont Empress HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Big Bad John'sWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Craigdarroch CastleWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$

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

Helmcken HouseWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$

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

Irish TimesWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

John's PlaceWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Red Fish Blue Fish, Big Wheel Burger, BeaverTails +58 more

+356 more in Victoria →

Saanich (51)

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

Jade Fountain RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

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

+27 more in Saanich →

Colwood (42)

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic SitesAccredited· Activity / Experience · Free

Hatley CastleAccredited· Activity / Experience · $$$

Hatley GardensAccredited· Park / Nature · Free

Habitat CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Red Barn MarketWelcoming· Grocery Store

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

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, BarBurrito, Firehouse Subs +10 more

+19 more in Colwood →

View Royal (13)

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

Coastal CyclesInfo· Repair Shop

COBS BreadWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

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

Quality FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store

Cascadia Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Serious CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Six Mile Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Starbucks, Subway, Tim Hortons +2 more

Metchosin (5)

Metchosin Pioneer MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Metchosin School MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Pedder Bay ResortInfo· Convenience Store

Pedder Bay CaféInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Pedder Bay RV ParkInfo· Private Campground

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

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, Lekwungen/Songhees, S’Klallam, Sc’ianew, and Te’mexw Treaty Association.

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

Ready to ride it?

Get the route on Bike Gear Database →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →