Vancouver Island Bike and Ferry Loop

This is a three day, two night loop around the south of Vancouver Island. You could do it with a single overnight easily enough if you could coordinate the ferry rides.  It includes four ferry rides. The trip starts in Victoria on the assumption you would get there on the MV Coho from Port Angeles. You could start by taking the Washington State Ferry to Sidney from Anacortes just as easily, or even start in Vancouver BC. The actual riding distance is under 100 miles. Elevation gain is about 3000 feet, with only one big climb, on Salt Spring Island.

The main route north (about 65 miles) follows the Rotary Route (either option), and the part from Sidney to Victoria is on the Lochside Regional Trail and the Galloping Goose Trail. Salt Spring riding is on narrow surface streets. The Rotary Ride people say the shoulders are best if you ride south to north, so it’s best not to reverse the route.

The trip to camp on Newcastle Island in Nanaimo is optional, and the ferry to the park only runs in the summer. I have not worked out ferry schedules or places to camp yet.

Google map

Rotary Route PDF download

 

Ferries:

• Nanaimo – Tsawwassen ferry
• Tsawassen – Salt Spring ferry
• Brentwood Bay – Mill Bay ferry
• Salt Spring – Sidney ferry
• Port Angeles – Victoria ferry
• Anacortes to Sidney ferry

Rotary Route

(in case the PDF disappears):

Google Map (not adjusted to match Rotary Route)

Salt Spring Route

Google Map

Sidney to Victoria Route

Google Map

Bike Ride Day 1 Details

 

 

Victoria Cycle Trip Planning

This is a 4 day bicycle trip that takes you on a big loop west from the Seattle area to the Olympic Peninsula, north through Victoria BC and the south end of Vancouver Island, east through the San Juan Islands, and finally south through Arlington and Snohomish.

• 186 cycling miles total
• 4 days, 3 nights
• About 5000 feet elevation gain
• Three ferry trips totaling about 70 miles.
• Six different trails. Only about 20% of the ride is on surface streets
• Extend the trip by staying an extra day on Vancouver Island or in the San Juan Islands

Trails:

• Day 1 starts on the Burke Gilman Trail for a few miles, then follows the Olympic Discovery Trail on the Olympic peninsula.
• Day 2 is on the Olympic Discovery Trail to Port Angeles and then follows the Galloping Goose Trail and the Lochside Regional Trail to Sidney BC.
• Day 3 is mostly a long ferry ride and then surface streets.
• Day 4 starts with 30 miles on the Centennial Trail from outside Arlington to Snohomish, and later five miles on the Sammamish River Trail to Kenmore.

Google Map of the whole trip

(Note the 256 miles shown above includes about 70 miles on the ferries, and the time should be about 16 hours of riding at 12 miles per hour)

 

Day 1: Home => Sequim Bay State Park

• 56 miles total
• Home => Edmonds Ferry – 13 miles/1 hour
• Kingston => Sequim Bay Park – 44 miles/4 hours (Google Map)
• Camping – Sequim Bay State Park – $12

 

Day 2: Sequim => Sidney BC

• 42 miles total
• Sequim to Port Angeles – 22 miles/2 hours (Google Map)

• Black Ball Ferry
  • Departs 2 PM (Arrive early for customs)
  • Arrives Victoria 3:30 PM
  • (One other daily departure at 8:20 AM)
  • $24, including bike
  • Charge devices on trip
• Victoria => Sidney – 20 miles/2 hour (Google Map)

• Unknown – where to spend the night – downtown hotel?

 

Day 3: Sidney => Centennial Trail

• 36 miles total
• Ferry Schedule
  • Departs 12:05 PM (Arrive by 11:00 for customs)
  • Arrive Friday Harbor 1:55 PM
  • Arrive Anacortes 3 PM
  • $24, including bike
  • Charge devices on trip
• Anacortes ferry terminal to Trailhead via La Conner via surface streets – 36 miles/3 hours (Google Map)

 

Day 4: Anacortes =>  Home

• 52 miles total
• Centennial Trail from trailhead to Snohomish (30 miles), then mostly surface streets home- 52 miles/5 hours (Google Map)

 

Packing

• 110V charger and cord
• Phone and Nexus tablet
• Spare battery
• Passport