Vancouver Island Runs

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Vancouver Island has two excellent biking roads in the Strathcona Park and Tofino/Long Beach runs.  Just don't become euphoric and attempt Highway 19 to Port Hardy.  It's a veritable moat of boredom protecting the Island's northern population.

Strathcona Park :  This is an excellent riding area with scenic wilderness and twisty roads.  Buttle Lake road is a more "twisty" than Gold River but both are great.  Traffic is surprisingly low especially on the Gold River route.  The Buttle Lake stretch has plenty of camping and hiking areas to keep one busy for several days.    If you ride both routes, remember to gas up in Gold River or you'll likely be walking back to Campbell River.  Muchalat Sound is quaint and picturesque and the turnaround point for the Gold River route.  On our last trip, we took a leisurely ride up the Sunshine Coast, stayed overnight near Campbell River, spent the day in Strathcona Park and returned that evening via Nanaimo to Vancouver.  One *could* do it in a day from Vancouver (Nanaimo both ways) but probably not if they want to enjoy it...  Overall, this is one of the top biking roads in BC.  Highly Recommended.  

Tofino / Long Beach / Ucluelet:  This is another well known run.  Perhaps the most recommended on Vancouver Island.  Take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, north on Island Highway (#19) to Qualicum Beach and the Port Alberni turnoff (#4).

Once on #4 prepare for some serious biking fun.  Qualicum to Port Alberni is decent with some nice winding stretches and excellent pavement.  But real biking nirvana begins after Port Alberni. Reduced traffic levels, increased scenery and excellent twisties make this route justifiably famous.  And about when you're thinking "this road isn't too bad!" the mountains begin in earnest. The twisties tighten and the road dips and dives in the rugged terrain. If your eyes aren't glued to the road you'll notice the scenery blossom with snow covered peaks and picturesque lakes.   This lasts all the way to Ucluelet marred only by sections of poor pavement that will jar your teeth at times.  This is especially true if you are travelling at somewhat enthusiastic speeds...sometimes there simply isn't a line through the corner that won't test your suspension.

The 40km road connecting Ucluelet to Tofino is less twisty but the pavement excellent and the curves still plentiful.  Watch for wildlife.  Our last trip we saw deer and black bear.  Don't expect to see the beaches from the road though, a continuous belt of trees will prevent that.

On our last trip we stayed overnight in Ucluelet (Tofino is trendier) while cruising the area before heading back the next day to Vancouver.  Round trips seem to hover around the 800km mark.  One of the top biking roads in BC.  Highly Recommended.

Miscellaneous IsIand Roads:   I've never taken the run from Victoria out past Sooke to Port Renfrew.  Perhaps someone can comment on how it compares.   The portions around east Sooke road (side roads) are nice although congestion is a problem. 

I've traveled a loop consisting of Tsawwassen to Salt Spring Island (excellent roads), the West Saanich Highway from Swartz Bay to #1 via Prospect Lake (better than the main #17 highway), circle tour around Shawnigan Lake (very slow twisty road),  the old road to Lake Cowichan,  over to Nanaimo and back to Vancouver via Horseshoe Bay.  A full day ride and a nice change from the Lower Mainland roads.   Southern Vancouver Island congestion and the cost of ferries are the biggest drawbacks.

I have also tried the run from Campbell River to Port Hardy (#19 north).  It seemed like a good idea at the time but halfway there (somewhere near Woss Lake) we turned around.  Too long and straight for my taste.   For an isolated road in largely uninhabited wilderness it is surprisingly non-scenic.   Encountering rain and biting winds didn't help its charm either.   The run needs 140kph+ speeds to stave off boredom.  My wife limits me to 120kph on long runs with the B12 due to wind buffeting so perhaps we'll try it again someday with the Goldwing. (Now I know why they put stereos on those things...).     

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