BC Cycle Tourism Society
Photo: The Number CreativeCowichan Bay, BC

Victoria - Port Renfrew - Lake Cowichan - Duncan - Victoria

A ride described at Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society

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 classic South Island road tour: start at the Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria, ride the coast road to Port Renfrew, cross the island's interior to Lake Cowichan and Duncan, and return, 264 km over two or three days with nearly 3,000 m of climbing. Paved throughout, remote and lightly serviced on the west-coast leg, and about as varied as island road riding gets.

Get the route on Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society →

Where this ride goes#

Map key & layers
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 route from Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society.

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 63 km of West Coast Road · near Shirley
  • about 50 km of Pacific Marine Road · near Mesachie Lake
  • about 23 km of Cowichan Lake Road · near Paldi
  • about 15 km of Trans-Canada Highway · near Malahat
  • about 15 km of Sooke Road · near Luxton
  • about 8 km of Shawnigan Lake Road · near Malahat
  • about 6 km of Koksilah Road · near Fairbridge
  • about 4 km of South Shore Road · near Mesachie Lake

and 1 more

☕Stops worth stopping for615 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

Big Bad John's: BC's first-ever licensed cocktail lounge, opened in 1954. · Victoria

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

Communities along this route#

Victoria 336Saanich 50Langford 44Sooke 42Colwood 33View Royal 23Duncan 22Lake Cowichan 16Cobble Hill 7River Jordan 7Esquimalt 6Shawnigan Lake 6Malahat 5Port Renfrew 5Shirley 4Hillbank 2North Cowichan 2Shawnigan 2Cowichan Station 1Eagle Heights 1Milnes Landing 1

Victoria (336)

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, BeaverTails, Big Wheel Burger +46 more

+277 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 (44)

Fairway MarketWelcoming· Grocery Store
Lighthouse Cake CompanyWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Freeman King Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free
Goldstream Group Campsite - Goldminer (Lower) SiteInfo· Public Campground
Goldstream Group Campsite - Prospector (Upper) SiteInfo· Public Campground
House of BoatengInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Green Man BikesAccredited· Repair Shop
Floyd's DinerWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Goudy Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free
Jones BBQWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Starbucks, Subway, Boston Pizza +3 more

+28 more in Langford →

Sooke (42)

Sheringham DistilleryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual
South Shore GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free
17 Mile HouseInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Seaparc Leisure ComplexInfo· Community Centre · $
Sooke Region MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Village Food MarketsInfo· Grocery Store
Wild MountainInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Happy Village RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Up Sooke EateryWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
17 Mile House Liquor ShoppeInfo· Liquor Store

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

+27 more in Sooke →

Colwood (33)

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
The Rose Neighbourhood Public HouseInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Thrifty FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store
CanexInfo· Convenience Store

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, BarBurrito, Domino's +11 more

+9 more in Colwood →

View Royal (23)

Six Mile PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Apple Tree Family RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Clover SushiWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Kinder CupWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Coastal CyclesInfo· Repair Shop
Canadian TireWelcoming· General merchandise
COBS BreadWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
GyrosaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Nest at the LakeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Quality FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Domino's, Mary Brown's, Starbucks +5 more

+5 more in View Royal →

Duncan (22)

Cowichan Valley MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Coffee On The MoonInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Corner House CafeInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Craig Street Brew PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Cycle TherapyInfo· Repair Shop
Duncan GarageInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Ironworks Cafe & CrepperieInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Island BagelInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Phad ThaiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Power House Living Foods Co.Info· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Roundabout Pizza, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Starbucks +1 more

+8 more in Duncan →

Lake Cowichan (16)

Kaatza Station Museum & ArchivesWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$
Riverside InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale
Island Pastry HausWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Jake's at the LakeWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Best Buy Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Cowichan Lake Library BranchInfo· Library · Free
Cowichan Lake Sports ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $
River CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
The Butler's Pantry Bake ShopWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

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

+3 more in Lake Cowichan →

Cobble Hill (7)

Cobblestone Public HouseInfo· Winery / Cidery
Drumroaster CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Venturi Schulze VineyardsInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Divino Estate WineryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual
Olde School CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Liquor PlusInfo· Liquor Store

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

Esquimalt (6)

Gorge Waterway Nature HouseInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Takata Japanese GardenInfo· Park / Nature · Free
Thai Green ElephantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
iluka espressoInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
7-ElevenInfo· Convenience Store
Petro-CanadaInfo· Convenience Store

Shawnigan Lake (6)

Shawnigan Lake MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
Oma's Bakery & MarketInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Shawnigan HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Shawnigan Lake Community CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free
Mason'sInfo· Convenience Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Subway

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:

Also on the bike-transit map: Saanich · Langford · Sooke · Duncan

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, Sc’ianew, Te’mexw Treaty Association, and Ts’uubaa-asatx.

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

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Get the route on Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →
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