View Full Version : B.C. Hope to Prince George--Route info
B.C. Hope to Prince George--Route info
So, the ticket is bought, the bike is ready and I'm training as hard as I can (not true, but I'm training kinda hard). I'm not from Canada and have never been to B.C. I'm researching this area like mad but not finding a lot of trusty and inspiring travel logs to go on for the strech of road from Hope to Prince George.
Can anyone out there tell me what biking is like on this road? I hear it's beautiful but my friends from Canada have got me a little frightened.
These people are not bikers and are giving opinions in smoke-filled bars while telling me I'm nuts to spend my vacation riding a bike all day, but still, they stress to me: these are not hills....these are MOUNTAINS.
On a scale of 1-10 how might you rate this strech of road difficulty wise?
I'm expecting huge hills and a lot of them. I'm not afraid of them, but would like to know what exactly I'm getting into.
Have I mentioned this is my first tour?
Thanks in advance.
Hello
My name is Dave
i have not traveled your route by bike but have traveled by car many times and it is pretty good for terrian.
we don't have hills we have mountains.
i have looked through all the travel guide and accomidation guides and there is some info missing but if i can help you with the searching please ask me
i have lived here all of my life, i am an avid cycle tourist and have tour parts of the coast twice and plan on another one of the full coast in the spring.
hope this was of some help and if i can help you any futher please ask
thanks again dave
So, the ticket is bought, the bike is ready and I'm training as hard as I can (not true, but I'm training kinda hard). I'm not from Canada and have never been to B.C. I'm researching this area like mad but not finding a lot of trusty and inspiring travel logs to go on for the strech of road from Hope to Prince George.
Can anyone out there tell me what biking is like on this road? I hear it's beautiful but my friends from Canada have got me a little frightened.
These people are not bikers and are giving opinions in smoke-filled bars while telling me I'm nuts to spend my vacation riding a bike all day, but still, they stress to me: these are not hills....these are MOUNTAINS.
On a scale of 1-10 how might you rate this strech of road difficulty wise?
I'm expecting huge hills and a lot of them. I'm not afraid of them, but would like to know what exactly I'm getting into.
Have I mentioned this is my first tour?
Thanks in advance.
The first thing that springs to mind is why Hope upwards? Im guessing that you are flying into Van and taking transit to avoid the traffic of the lower mainland. But anyway if its a big trip for you then I think you should sit on the greyhound (bike goes as cargo) for 12 hours and ride from Banff up to Jasper along the icefields parkway, do a search on the 'icefield parkway' and you will soon see why I suggest this.
Regarding the toughness of the climbs, in my experience (Calgary to Prince Rupert) its easy stuff, easy grades and infrequent at that. Certainly nothing like what you encounter in Europe, the canadians had the luxury of a whole continent to chose the flatest routes for thier roads, (with some exceptions).
Hi rachelicious,
We rode from Vancouver,Whistler, Lilloet and Quesnel before heading across to Jasper, Banf and back to Vancouver via Okanagan and the Glacier National Park. Coming from Sydney which isn't the most bike friendly place in the world :) , BC was fantastic. The roads were good with shoulders. The people were incredibly courteous to cycle tourists with now dramas at all. The only thing in any way remotely negative is that there are a lot of pine trees :)
We met so many friendly people there we had a ball.
You will have a terrific time there.
Yes there are a few long climbs but if you use a triple with some low gears you will be fine.
The scenery is much more boring when its flat at any rate and you are prone to headwinds.
Cheers
Geoff
So, the ticket is bought, the bike is ready and I'm training as hard as I can (not true, but I'm training kinda hard). I'm not from Canada and have never been to B.C. I'm researching this area like mad but not finding a lot of trusty and inspiring travel logs to go on for the strech of road from Hope to Prince George.
Can anyone out there tell me what biking is like on this road? I hear it's beautiful but my friends from Canada have got me a little frightened.
These people are not bikers and are giving opinions in smoke-filled bars while telling me I'm nuts to spend my vacation riding a bike all day, but still, they stress to me: these are not hills....these are MOUNTAINS.
On a scale of 1-10 how might you rate this strech of road difficulty wise?
I'm expecting huge hills and a lot of them. I'm not afraid of them, but would like to know what exactly I'm getting into.
Have I mentioned this is my first tour?
Thanks in advance.
Never done it on a bike - took the train through Prince George to Jasper
and Kamloops. Its a beautiful part of the world. Great camping, watch out for bears though http://www.cyclingforums.com/images/icons/icon4.gif
Here is some info I got on cycling BC from their department of Transportation. They also sent some pretty cute maps of cycle paths in Vancouver, and a very nice map for cycling out of Vancouver to get to Hope.
I did part of this a few years ago, coming from Seattle. I crossed the Cascades from Seattle 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. I've hitchhiked the route down from Prince George to Hope. I have to say Prince George is a ****ty little town. It is very economically depressed/depressing. It is a mainly high desert, once you leave the beauty of the Fraiser Canyon. One of the most amazing roads I've ever been on is the road from Prince George to Prince Rupert. That is awesome.
Don't forget to take a look at the expanding rail-to-trail network as well, if you're touring by moutainbike.
You'll like BC.
Good luck:
Knox Gardner
www.bikenerd.blogspot.com (http://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 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.bccc.bc.ca/bikeracks.htm%27%29;)
Bike Sense www.bikesense.bc.ca (http://www.bikesense.bc.ca/)
Bikeways Local Network:
http://www.bikeways.com/menu.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.bikeways.com/menu.htm%27%29;)
BC Bicycle TOURING Information:
http://broughton.ca/bcakfaq.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://broughton.ca/bcakfaq.html%27%29;)
http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/touring.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/touring.htm%27%29;)
www.adamk.ca (http://www.adamk.ca/) (scroll down & click on Site Map & Search):
http://www.users.bigpond.com/RandyMiller/yellowhead.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.users.bigpond.com/RandyMiller/yellowhead.htm%27%29;)
http://www.theslowlane.com/paths/route.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.theslowlane.com/paths/route.html%27%29;)
BC Cycling Clubs:
http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/links/clublinks.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/links/clublinks.htm%27%29;)
http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bk_clbc.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bk_clbc.html%27%29;)
BC Cycling Coalition www.bccc.bc.ca (http://www.bccc.bc.ca/)
BC Cycling - Canada Trail Guide:
http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bike_bc.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bike_bc.html%27%29;)
BC Volkssport Assn.
www.volkssportingbc.ca (http://www.volkssportingbc.ca/)
Cycling BC
www.cycling.bc.ca (http://www.cycling.bc.ca/)
Destination Highways
http://www.destinationhighways.com/whatisdh.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.destinationhighways.com/whatisdh.htm%27%29;)
Grtr Victoria Cycling Coalition www.gvcc.bc.ca (http://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 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.islandnet.com/%7Ehsbc/trail_menu.htm%27%29;)
Information for Cyclists on BC Roads:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/cycling/bicycle.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/cycling/bicycle.htm%27%29;)
Kettle Valley Trail:
http://town.princeton.bc.ca/outdoor/kvr/kvr.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://town.princeton.bc.ca/outdoor/kvr/kvr.htm%27%29;)
www.planet.eon.net/~dan/kvr (http://www.planet.eon.net/%7Edan/kvr)
www.kvrbiketrailpassport.com (http://www.kvrbiketrailpassport.com/)
http://www.bccc.bc.ca/kvr.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.bccc.bc.ca/kvr.htm%27%29;)
Kettle Valley Trail Shuttle:
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Long Distance Cycling Events www.randonneurs.bc.ca (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/)
Midway to Castlegar Trail:
http://www.kootenay.org/columbia_western.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.kootenay.org/columbia_western.htm%27%29;)
Mountain Biking:
- Various BC Trails...
http://www.mtbr.com/trails/Canada-BritishColumbia_name.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.mtbr.com/trails/Canada-BritishColumbia_name.html%27%29;)
- Vancouver area www.nsmb.com (http://www.nsmb.com/)
www.gutsploder.net (http://www.gutsploder.net/) (click on "welcome")
http://www3.telus.net/SORCE/ (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www3.telus.net/SORCE/%27%29;)
- Panorama (Invermere)...
http://www.panoramaresort.com/summer/mtnbike/index.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.panoramaresort.com/summer/mtnbike/index.htm%27%29;)
- South Vancouver Island www.simbs.com (http://www.simbs.com/)
http://mttzouhalem.tripod.com/ (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://mttzouhalem.tripod.com/%27%29;)
- 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/ (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bike/%27%29;)
www.worca.com (http://www.worca.com/)
Road descriptions (a website for motorcycles, however
the information is useful for cyclists, too):
www.destinationhighways.com (http://www.destinationhighways.com/)
Salt Spring Island Cycling Information:
http://www.saltspringtoday.com/bicycling_information.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.saltspringtoday.com/bicycling_information.htm%27%29;)
The Trails Society of British Columbia www.trailsbc.ca (http://www.trailsbc.ca/)
TransCanada Trail www.bctrail.bc.ca (http://www.bctrail.bc.ca/)
http://www.sfu.ca/tct/tctpage/distances.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.sfu.ca/tct/tctpage/distances.htm%27%29;)
Vancouver Cycling in the City info:
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Vernon Cycling Trails
http://www.vernonbc.com/vernon/cycling.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.vernonbc.com/vernon/cycling.htm%27%29;)
West Coast Trail Water Taxi
(website info is old, but the service remains)
http://members.shaw.ca/berry5868/juanfuca.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://members.shaw.ca/berry5868/juanfuca.htm%27%29;)
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SOME EXTRA INFORMATION...
Aboriginal Tourism: www.atbc.bc.ca (http://www.atbc.bc.ca/)
Alpine Club of Canada: www.alpineclubofcanada.ca (http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/)
Avalanche Information: www.trailpeak.com (http://www.trailpeak.com/)
Bear Awareness: www.bearsmart.com (http://www.bearsmart.com/)
BC Ferries: www.bcferries.com (http://www.bcferries.com/)
BC Ferries (camp stoves, etc.)
http://www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/dangerous_cargo.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/dangerous_cargo.html%27%29;)
BC Forests: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/rec.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/rec.htm%27%29;)
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/sites/ (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/sites/%27%29;)
BC Historic Sites: www.heritage.gov.bc.ca (http://www.heritage.gov.bc.ca/)
BC Provincial Parks (no hook-ups): www.bcparks.ca (http://www.bcparks.ca/) Park Finder
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/regions.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/regions.htm%27%29;) Map
Campfire Bans/Forest Fires: www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect (http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect)
Canada Customs: www.canadainternational.gc.ca (http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/)
Cougar Awareness:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidscoug.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidscoug.htm%27%29;)
Discover Camping (no hook-ups): www.discovercamping.ca (http://www.discovercamping.ca/)
GST Rebate for Non-Canadians--Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/vrpqa-e.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/vrpqa-e.html%27%29;)
Hypothermia - Treating It:
http://www.hypothermia.org/hypothermia.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.hypothermia.org/hypothermia.htm%27%29;)
Inland Ferries:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/inlandferryschedule/Ferries.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/inlandferryschedule/Ferries.htm%27%29;)
Lillooet: lillmuseum@lillonet.ca (http://by102fd.bay102.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=99BF9E99-E24E-40AB-9AA7-CC4B3A7C721B&a=ba71bc1e869d33b01eb907486fc40538&mailto=1&to=lillmuseum@lillonet.ca&msg=9A68CE10-000E-40A7-9113-981771D260AF&start=0&len=7600&src=&type=x)
MAPS-BC Road and Parks:
www.davenportmaps.com (http://www.davenportmaps.com/)
MAPS-Coastal BC:
www.coastalwatersrec.com (http://www.coastalwatersrec.com/)
MAPS-Forest Recreation:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/mapq&a.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/mapq&a.htm%27%29;)
http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=1238&step=2 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=1238&step=2%27%29;)
MAPS-General & Specialised:
www.canmap.com (http://www.canmap.com/)
www.itmb.com (http://www.itmb.com/)
http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/int/canada3.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/int/canada3.htm%27%29;)
MAPS-Land Data Information:
www.landdata.gov.bc.ca (http://www.landdata.gov.bc.ca/)
MAPS-Motorcycle Touring:
www.destinationhighways.com (http://www.destinationhighways.com/)
MAPS-Nautical:
www.crownpub.bc.ca (http://www.crownpub.bc.ca/)
MAPS-Off-Road (see Maps-Forest Recreation)
MAPS-Outdoor Recreation:
http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=849&step=2 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=849&step=2%27%29;)
MAPS-Road:
http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=574&step=2 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://shop.itmb.com/merchant.ihtml?id=574&step=2%27%29;)
www.davenportmaps.com (http://www.davenportmaps.com/)
MAPS-Topographical:
www.crownpub.bc.ca (http://www.crownpub.bc.ca/)
http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/ (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/%27%29;)
www.itmb.com (http://www.itmb.com/)
Mountain Guides: www.acmg.ca (http://www.acmg.ca/)
National Historic Parks and National Parks:
www.parkscanada.gc.ca (http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/) (click on the centre photographs)
http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/guidem-mguide/index_E.asp (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/guidem-mguide/index_E.asp%27%29;)
Outdoor Tips (general):
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pathtoadventure/handbook/expedition/expedi (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pathtoadventure/handbook/expedition/expedi%27%29;)
tion1.html
Outdoor Trails & Information for Outdoor Activities:
www.trailpeak.com (http://www.trailpeak.com/)
Public Transit (entire province): www.transitbc.com (http://www.transitbc.com/)
RV & Road questions: http://www.icbc.com/FAQs/faqs.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.icbc.com/FAQs/faqs.html%27%29;)
Road questions/reports: www.gov.bc.ca/tran (http://www.gov.bc.ca/tran)
Rocky Mountain Books: www.rmbooks.com (http://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://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/self_help_ad/pdfs/woods_e.pdf%27%29;)
http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Trip_Plan.pdf (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Trip_Plan.pdf%27%29;)
http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/outdoor.pdf (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/outdoor.pdf%27%29;)
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidssafe.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/kidssafe.htm%27%29;)
Search & Rescue website: www.sarinfo.bc.ca (http://www.sarinfo.bc.ca/)
Vancouver Airporter Shuttle: www.yvrairporter.com (http://www.yvrairporter.com/)
Vancouver area Attractions:
http://www.findfamilyfun.com/mainarea.htm (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.findfamilyfun.com/mainarea.htm%27%29;)
Weather - Driving conditions:
www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/icbctravelalert (http://www.weatheroffice.pyr.ec.gc.ca/icbctravelalert)
http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/self_help_ad/pdfs/winterdriv_e.pdf (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/info_pro/self_help_ad/pdfs/winterdriv_e.pdf%27%29;)
Weather (look for BC): www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca (http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/)
Average Climate:
http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:ol%28%27http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html%27%29;)
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Alaska Marine Highway System: www.alaska.gov/ferry (http://www.alaska.gov/ferry)
US Customs: www.customs.gov (http://www.customs.gov/)
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ALBERTA Tourism: www.travelalberta.com (http://www.travelalberta.com/)
YUKON Tourism: www.touryukon.com (http://www.touryukon.com/)
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