Photo: Darren RobinsonPrinceton, BC

The Big Griz

A ride described at BT 700 Bikepacking

How we describe routes →

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 →

BT700 BC flagship, 2,380 km from Victoria to Banff with about 62% on gravel and dirt and climbing that never really stops. The nine other BT700 routes here are its side trips and bypasses. Our map shows the BC leg; route files are on bt700.ca. Route created by Matt Kadey of BT 700 Bikepacking.

Get the route on BT 700 Bikepacking →

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 BT 700 Bikepacking.

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 97 km of Vernon-Slocan Highway · near Slocan
about 52 km of Hwy 99 · near Pavilion
about 49 km of Highway 97C · near Lower Nicola
about 43 km of Bridge River Road · near Moha
about 38 km of Sea-to-Sky Highway · near Porteau
about 33 km of Bamfield Main · near Nahmint
about 31 km of Highway 3A · near Gray Creek
about 23 km of Coalmont Road · near Princeton
short stretches on other roads · 10 km total

and 19 more

☕Stops worth stopping for1265 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

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

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

Whistler Blackcomb: North America's largest ski resort; summer gondolas, alpine trails, and resort village. · Whistler

Victoria (377)

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

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

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

Plus the fast-food chains — Red Fish Blue Fish, Finest At Sea, BeaverTails +48 more

+316 more in Victoria →

Whistler (191)

Whistler BlackcombInfo· Community Centre · $

AraxiWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Audain Art MuseumWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Bearfoot BistroInfo· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Fairmont Chateau WhistlerInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Il Caminetto di UmbertoInfo· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Joe FortesInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Nita Lake LodgeInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Squamish Lil'wat Cultural CentreInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Thunderbird CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Misty Mountain Pizza, Fat Tony's Pizza, Avalanche Pizza +8 more

+170 more in Whistler →

Penticton (76)

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

+59 more in Penticton →

Langford (72)

Goldstream CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Fairway MarketWelcoming· Grocery Store

Lighthouse Cake CompanyWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

House of BoatengInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Westhills Ice ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $

YMCA/YWCA WesthillsInfo· Community Centre · $

Floyd's DinerWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Goudy Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Island Brew ByouWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $ · Cheap eats

Jones BBQWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Romeo's, Edo Japan, Fatburger +18 more

+41 more in Langford →

Saanich (49)

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

+25 more in Saanich →

Sechelt (41)

Claytons Heritage MarketInfo· Grocery Store

Golden City RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Sechelt Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Sechelt Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre

Sunshine Coast Arts CouncilInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Tems Swiya MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Batch 44 Brewery & KitchenInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Blue Ocean Bar & GrillInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Coastal Crust PizzeriaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

e.b.'s Ice Cream ShopInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks +1 more

+27 more in Sechelt →

Fernie (37)

Fernie Heritage LibraryWelcoming· Library · Free

Fernie Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Fernie MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Straight Line BicyclesInfo· Repair Shop

The Arts StationInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

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

The CentralInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

The Fernie TaphouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

The LocalInfo· Grocery Store

Best Western Fernie Mountain LodgeInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$ · Mid-range

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

+22 more in Fernie →

Squamish (33)

Sea to Sky GondolaInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Stawamus Chief CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

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

Alice Lake CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Brennan Park Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Squamish Adventure CenreInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Sunwolf Riverside ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Squamish Adventure InnAccredited· Hostel · $ · Rock-bottom

Gillespie's Fine SpiritsWelcoming· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Alice & BrohmsInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, McDonald's, Pizza Hut +3 more

+17 more in Squamish →

Powell River (30)

Costa del SolInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Discover Powell RiverInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Powell River Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

qathet Museum and Archives SocietyInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

River City CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Powell River Harbour GuesthouseAccredited· Hostel · $ · Rock-bottom

32 Lakes Cafe and BakeryInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Coastal CookeryInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Forest Bistro & LoungeInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Monks on MarineInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — The Beach Hut, A&W, Domino's +5 more

+12 more in Powell River →

Merritt (29)

Canadian Country Music Hall of FameInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$

Laurie Guichon Memorial Grasslands Interpretive SiteInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Merritt LibraryInfo· Library · Free

Merritt Visitor InformationInfo· Visitor Centre

Nicola Valley Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $

Nicola Valley Community Arts CentreInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Nicola Valley Museum & ArchivesInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$

BreatheBikesInfo· Repair Shop

Claybanks RV ParkInfo· Private Campground

Coldwater HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Plus the fast-food chains — Yaki Joe's Pizza, A&W, Subway

+16 more in Merritt →

Princeton (27)

Centennial Outdoor PoolInfo· Community Centre · $

Princeton & District MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Princeton Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Swan Lake Wildlife RefugeInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Ace MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Brown Bridge PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

CitySlice PizzeriaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Cool Beanz Coffee HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Copper Mountain InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Gold & Jade RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Booster Juice

+15 more in Princeton →

Cumberland (22)

The Riding Fool HostelAccredited· Hostel · $ · Rock-bottom

Cooks RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Cumberland Village BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

The Cumberland Brewing CompanyWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Cumberland Museum & ArchivesInfo· Museum / Gallery · $$

Dodge City CyclesInfo· Repair Shop

The Gravity MTB GarageInfo· Repair Shop

Biblio TacoWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Cumberland Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Laneway Coffee and KitchenWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

+12 more in Cumberland →

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: Whistler · Penticton · Langford · Saanich

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, Dënéndeh, ditidaqiic̓aq disib̓aʔk (Ditidaht), Homalco, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Hupacasath, Huu-ay-aht, Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce (Stoney), K’ómoks, Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis, Lekwungen/Songhees, Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ, Lil’wat, ɬaʔamɩn gɩǰɛ (Tla’amin), MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), Michif Piyii (Métis), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux), nuučaan̓uuɫɁatḥ nism̓a (Nuu-chah-nulth), Quw’utsun, Sc’ianew, Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), shíshálh swíya (Sechelt), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), Snaw-naw-as, snʕickstx tmxʷúlaʔxʷ (Sinixt), St̓át̓imc Tmicw (St’at’imc), šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam), Syilx (Okanagan), Te’mexw Treaty Association, Ts’uubaa-asatx, Tseshaht, Tŝilhqot’in Nen, Tsuut’ina, 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 BT 700 Bikepacking →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →