BC Cycle Tourism Society
Photo: Jordan DyckDuncan, BC

Vancouver Crossing Loop

Moderate One step up. Some real climbing, or a rougher surface.

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 503 km multi-day loop, ridden clockwise, that circles the Salish Sea region on a chain of trails and ferries, crossing between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Nearly half unpaved but gently graded throughout, with about 3,200 m of climbing spread over the distance. The ferries are half the fun; the trail connections do the rest.

Where this ride goes#

Map key & layers
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 Adventure Cycling Association.

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 3 km of Nanaimo River Road · near South Wellington
  • about 3 km of White Rapids Road · near Extension
  • about 3 km of Adshead Road · near Cassidy
  • about 2 km of Trans-Canada Highway · near Cassidy
  • about 2 km of Herd Road · near North Cowichan
  • about 2 km of Cedar Road · near Boat Harbour
  • about 2 km of Chemainus Road · near Osborn Bay
  • about 2 km of Haslam Road · near Cassidy

and 1 more

Stops worth stopping for2525 along this route

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

Vancouver Aquarium: Canada's largest aquarium, in Stanley Park; marine research centre since 1956. · Vancouver

Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine: ranked #12 on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list and winner of the Best Destination Restaurant Award 2025. · Richmond

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

Doctor Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: First full-scale Ming Dynasty classical garden outside China, in historic Chinatown. · Vancouver

Vancouver (1196)

Vancouver AquariumAccredited· Activity / Experience · $$$$
Museum of VancouverAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$
Science WorldAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$$
A la ModeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
AncoraWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
AnnalenaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining
Bar GoboWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Beaucoup BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Beaucoup Bakery & CafeWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Cockney Kings, Fraser Valley Juice, La Belle Patate/Poutine +201 more

+982 more in Vancouver →

Victoria (396)

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

+335 more in Victoria →

Richmond (303)

Baan Lao Fine Thai CuisineWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining
Fisherman's Terrace Seafood RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
Richmond Olympic ExperienceWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$
Steveston Seabreeze AdventuresWelcoming· Activity / Experience · $$$$
the apronWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
Britannia Shipyards National Historic SiteInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Finn Slough (Tidal Community)Info· Activity / Experience · Free
Masa IshibashiInfo· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining
Steveston VillageInfo· Activity / Experience · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — Pajo's Fish and Chips, Garry Point Grill & Fish 'N' Chips, Ichiro Japanese Restaurant +39 more

+251 more in Richmond →

West Vancouver (129)

Troller Ale HouseWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
AncoraInfo· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
Talaysay ToursInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$
Beach House RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
Delany's Coffee HouseWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Ferry Building GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
MereonWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Park Royal South Food CourtWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Persia Foods Produce MarketsWelcoming· Grocery Store
Thai PudpongWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Pizza Garden, A&W, Bourbon St. Grill +23 more

+93 more in West Vancouver →

North Vancouver (110)

The Polygon GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
49th Parallel Coffee RoastersWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Buddha-full - LonsdaleWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Climb Base5Welcoming· Community Centre · $$$
FishworksWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale
Inuit Gallery Of VancouverWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
Museum Of North VancouverWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$
Ohm Electric BikesWelcoming· Repair Shop
Pier 7Welcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Sempre UnoWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Plus the fast-food chains — Cilantro & Jalapeño, Brazil Gourmet, Cream Pony +17 more

+80 more in North Vancouver →

Saanich (59)

Adrienne's Restaurant & Tea GardenWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Crust BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Hey HappyWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Galey FarmsInfo· Farmers' Market
Red Lion Inn & SuitesInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget
Delicious Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Emily Carr Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free
Jade Fountain RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Lot 1 Pasta BarWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Puerto Vallarta Amigos, roast, Ali Baba's +16 more

+30 more in Saanich →

Nanaimo (52)

Cheeky Monkey GlassworksInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Kin PoolInfo· Community Centre · $
Nanaimo Aquatic CentreInfo· Community Centre · $
Beaufort Pizza & PastaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Billy Lewis Centenary Rose GardenInfo· Park / Nature · Free
Bluebird MotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget
Carbone PizzeriaInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Charlie Brown's Health FoodsInfo· Specialty / Health Food
COCO CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Booster Juice, Chachi's, Mary Brown's +9 more

+30 more in Nanaimo →

Langford (44)

Goldstream CampgroundInfo· Public Campground
YMCA/YWCA WesthillsInfo· Community Centre · $
Green Man BikesAccredited· Repair Shop
Langford Heritage Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free
Origin Bakery & CafeWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Sushi LangfordWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
BoulderHouse LangfordInfo· Community Centre · $
Bucky's TaphouseInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Liberty KitchenInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Pizzability GlenlakeInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

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

+19 more in Langford →

Ladysmith (37)

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

+19 more in Ladysmith →

Delta (35)

Buried BulldozerInfo· Activity / Experience · Free
Kings Links ClubhouseInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Gallery 1710Welcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
Pat Quinn'sWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Coast Tsawwassen InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale
L'aromas Coffee & BakehouseInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Nat's Coffee HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Newman's Fine FoodsInfo· Grocery Store
Pho FreshInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Planet Ice DeltaInfo· Community Centre · $

Plus the fast-food chains — Ossie's Deli & Meats, Ali Baba Pizza, Boston Pizza +7 more

+15 more in Delta →

Sidney (31)

Mary Winspear CentreWelcoming· Community Centre · Free
Sidney Information CentreWelcoming· Visitor Centre · Free
Sidney Museum and ArchivesWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
Russ Hay's The Bicycle ShopAccredited· Repair Shop
900 BistroWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Alexander's Coffee BarWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Charles Dickens' PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Fish on 5thWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Fresh Tandoori Flavour Indian Restaurant SidneyWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
J Kitchen Korean & Japanese RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Mariner pizza, Panago, Scotty's Dog Shack +5 more

+13 more in Sidney →

Colwood (27)

Habitat CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Juan de Fuca Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free
Asian Noodle HouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Burger CrushInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Greenleaf Pho GrillInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
House of NutritionInfo· Specialty / Health Food
Juan de Fuca Library BranchInfo· Library · Free
Momo Sushi ColwoodInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Thrifty FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store
CanexInfo· Convenience Store

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

+6 more in Colwood →
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 allVancouver

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Vancouver is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. The SeaBus, ferries, and buses will carry you and your bike there:

Also on the bike-transit map: Victoria · Richmond · West Vancouver · North Vancouver

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories