Vancouver to Banff - Route Ideas?

30-04.-2005, 10:07 PM	#1
tukanuk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: windsor, on Posts: 14	Vancouver to Banff - Route Ideas? I'll be heading out on a cross Canda bike tour this June and I trying to plot my route now. Most of the route is fairly simple to figure out but I was wondering if anyone had suggestion for crossing British Columbia? What I am looking for is some kind of balence between the most direct route, the most scenic route, and the lest difficult route. Any suggestions? -ben

03-05.-2005, 12:16 AM	#2
KnoxGardner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle and Boston Posts: 31	Re: Vancouver to Banff - Route Ideas? I did part of this a few years ago, coming from Seattle. I crossed the Cascades and hit the Okanogen Valley up through Pentiction to Route 1. (You'd likely head over via Manning Provincial Park and connect in there). Route 1 through Revelstoke to Golden then through the Kicking Horse Canyon and into Yoho and Banff. It was awesome. Mostly wide-enough shoulders. Typical mountain stuff. I'd be glad to give you more details as I recall them via email. As I am planning a reverse trip this summer, starting mid July in out in Boston and up to Nova Scotia (Newfoundland if I have enough money) before crossing Canada, I've been requesting information on camping, biking and things to see from all the Provincial tourist bureaus. BC was by far the most comprhensive. They sent me this via email (and also some maps on how to get the hell out of Greater Vancouver via mail). Good luck: Knox Gardner www.bikenerd.blogspot.com ****************************************** * OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES * Please contact the following organisations for information. Tourism British Columbia does NOT endorse any of these groups. Use at your own risk. CYCLING INFORMATION: Bike Racks on Public Transit: http://www.bccc.bc.ca/bikeracks.htm Bike Sense www.bikesense.bc.ca Bikeways Local Network: http://www.bikeways.com/menu.htm BC Bicycle TOURING Information: http://broughton.ca/bcakfaq.html http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/touring.htm www.adamk.ca (scroll down & click on Site Map & Search): http://www.users.bigpond.com/RandyMiller/yellowhead.htm http://www.theslowlane.com/paths/route.html BC Cycling Clubs: http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/links/clublinks.htm http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bk_clbc.html BC Cycling Coalition www.bccc.bc.ca BC Cycling - Canada Trail Guide: http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bike_bc.html BC Volkssport Assn. www.volkssportingbc.ca Cycling BC www.cycling.bc.ca Destination Highways http://www.destinationhighways.com/whatisdh.htm Grtr Victoria Cycling Coalition www.gvcc.bc.ca = click on top banner: touring, recreation, etc. Heritage (trails) Society of British Columbia: http://www.islandnet.com/~hsbc/trail_menu.htm Information for Cyclists on BC Roads: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/cycling/bicycle.htm Kettle Valley Trail: http://town.princeton.bc.ca/outdoor/kvr/kvr.htm www.planet.eon.net/~dan/kvr www.kvrbiketrailpassport.com http://www.bccc.bc.ca/kvr.htm Kettle Valley Trail Shuttle: http://www.kettlevalleytrail.com/KVshuttle.htm Long Distance Cycling Events www.randonneurs.bc.ca Midway to Castlegar Trail: http://www.kootenay.org/columbia_western.htm Mountain Biking: - Various BC Trails... http://www.mtbr.com/trails/Canada-BritishColumbia_name.html - Vancouver area www.nsmb.com www.gutsploder.net (click on "welcome") http://www3.telus.net/SORCE/ - Panorama (Invermere)... http://www.panoramaresort.com/summer/mtnbike/index.htm - South Vancouver Island www.simbs.com http://mttzouhalem.tripod.com/ - Sun Peaks Mountain Bike Park (N of Kamloops) - Top Bridge Mtn Bike Park (Chattell Rd, Parksville) - Whistler Mountain Bike Zone (Whistler) http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bike/ www.worca.com Road descriptions (a website for motorcycles, however the information is useful for cyclists, too): www.destinationhighways.com Salt Spring Island Cycling Information: http://www.saltspringtoday.com/bicycling_information.htm The Trails Society of British Columbia www.trailsbc.ca TransCanada Trail www.bctrail.bc.ca http://www.sfu.ca/tct/tctpage/distances.htm Vancouver Cycling in the City info: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/transport/cycling/routes.htm Vernon Cycling Trails http://www.vernonbc.com/vernon/cycling.htm West Coast Trail Water Taxi (website info is old, but the service remains) http://members.shaw.ca/berry5868/juanfuca.htm ======================================= SOME EXTRA INFORMATION... Aboriginal Tourism: www.atbc.bc.ca Alpine Club of Canada: www.alpineclubofcanada.ca Avalanche Information: www.trailpeak.com Bear Awareness: www.bearsmart.com BC Ferries: www.bcferries.com BC Ferries (camp stoves, etc.) http://www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/dangerous_cargo.html BC Forests: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/rec.htm http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/sites/ BC Historic Sites: www.heritage.gov.bc.ca BC Provincial Parks (no hook-ups): www.bcparks.ca Park Finder http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/regions.htm Map Campfire Bans/Forest Fires: www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect Canada Customs: www.canadainternational.gc.ca Cougar Awareness: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidscoug.htm Discover Camping (no hook-ups): www.discovercamping.ca GST Rebate for Non-Canadians--Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/vrpqa-e.html Hypothermia - Treating It: http://www.hypothermia.org/hypothermia.htm Inland Ferries: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/inlandferryschedule/Ferries.htm Lillooet: lillmuseum@lillonet.ca MAPS-BC Road and Parks: www.davenportmaps.com MAPS-Coastal BC: www.coastalwatersrec.com MAPS-Forest Recreation: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/mapq&a.htm http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=1238&step=2 MAPS-General & Specialised: www.canmap.com www.itmb.com http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/int/canada3.htm MAPS-Land Data Information: www.landdata.gov.bc.ca MAPS-Motorcycle Touring: www.destinationhighways.com MAPS-Nautical: www.crownpub.bc.ca MAPS-Off-Road (see Maps-Forest Recreation) MAPS-Outdoor Recreation: http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=849&step=2 MAPS-Road: http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=574&step=2 www.davenportmaps.com MAPS-Topographical: www.crownpub.bc.ca http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/ www.itmb.com Mountain Guides: www.acmg.ca National Historic Parks and National Parks: www.parkscanada.gc.ca (click on the centre photographs) http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/guidem-mguide/index_E.asp Outdoor Tips (general): http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pathtoadventure/handbook/expedition/expedi tion1.html Outdoor Trails & Information for Outdoor Activities: www.trailpeak.com Public Transit (entire province): www.transitbc.com RV & Road questions: http://www.icbc.com/FAQs/faqs.html Road questions/reports: www.gov.bc.ca/tran Rocky Mountain Books: www.rmbooks.com Safety In The Outdoors Page 3-9 = some old & some new advice (all smart): http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/self_help_ad/pdfs/woods_e.pdf http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Trip_Plan.pdf http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/outdoor.pdf http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidssafe.htm Search & Rescue website: www.sarinfo.bc.ca Vancouver Airporter Shuttle: www.yvrairporter.com Vancouver area Attractions: http://www.findfamilyfun.com/mainarea.htm Weather - Driving conditions: www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/icbctravelalert http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/self_help_ad/pdfs/winterdriv_e.pdf Weather (look for BC): www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca Average Climate: http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html ===================================== Alaska Marine Highway System: www.alaska.gov/ferry US Customs: www.customs.gov ===================================== ALBERTA Tourism: www.travelalberta.com YUKON Tourism: www.touryukon.com =====================================

04-05.-2005, 01:06 AM	#3
tukanuk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: windsor, on Posts: 14	Re: Vancouver to Banff - Route Ideas? KnoxGardner, Thanks very much for the info. I'll start to go over those links soon and I may be back to ask some more questions. Thanks again, -ben

04-05.-2005, 01:51 AM	#4
KnoxGardner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle and Boston Posts: 31	Re: Vancouver to Banff - Route Ideas? I have to go through this pile of links still as well. They sent me another set on bird watching if you are into that. Using the power of the internet I have requested brochures from all the provinces and they have all sent me free maps and some cyling informaiton. It seems likely we will cross paths somewhere in Ontario? I am planning on pretty much staying on the northside of the Lakes to look at stuff. I'm starting a month later and heading East to West, so let's stay in touch and maybe a have a beer in camp somewhere... Knox www.bikenerd.blogspot.com PS. I thought I was going to cry on my day after my day out of Banff when I first hit the plains. I was expecting kinda flat, but of course it was this rolling hummock riding from hell that was totally brutal. Just FYI. I remember it being much more hellish than the climb to Roger's Pass becuase at least there you got the good cheer of everyone at the top. Man, I wish I was leaving today for my trip!

24-05.-2005, 01:57 AM

pmontani