Bicycle Touring in Canada

Why go bicycle touring in Canada? Bicycle touring in Canada is about the variety you will see from natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies, historic Quebec City to the fishing villages of the Maritime Provinces.

Except for the province of the Quebec which has an extensive bicycle trail signed network there are only a few long distance cycling routes but many local routes which you can incorporate into your journey.

Top Bicycle Touring in Canada Regions

Atlantic Canada – Cape Breton National Park in Nova Scotia involves numerous climbs with great ocean views as the route circles the island including the historic fortresses of Louisbourg. Also in Nova Scotia is the coastal route from pretty Peggy’s Cove around the peninsula to Annapolis Royal with its lighthouses, orchards and fishing villages.

On Prince Edward Island the hard packed Confederation Trail runs from one end of the island to the other on a gently rolling route taking about five days. Stop for a seafood dinner, see Anne of Green Gables and the red sand beaches along the way. Nova Scotia and the Maritimes by Bike can help with your planning.

Quebec – Velo Quebec has developed La Route Verte with over 4,000 km of signed bikeways crossing the entire province. National Geographic ranks the route first in the top 10 bike routes on the planet, chosen for their beauty, length and excitement. Popular areas include cycling from Montreal to Quebec City and the Eastern Townships region south of the St. Lawrence River.

Ontario – the most populous region of Canada sadly lacks long distance cycling routes. The only major signed route is the wonderful  Waterfront Trail from Niagara continuing through downtown Toronto to the Quebec border taking about one week. Many who are bicycle touring combine this with the Seaway Trail in New York State for a circle trip of Lake Ontario. Available routes can be found in the Ontario Bicycle Touring Atlas.

Western Canada – Two popular routes in the Canadian Rockies include the Icefields Highway from Banff to Jasper along mostly paved shoulders. Also the Golden Triangle which crosses the continental divide from Banff National Park to Golden in British Columbia and back via another road.

The Gulf Islands located between Vancouver and Victoria offer quaint towns and gentl exploring, a favorite with tour operators.

Bicycle Touring in Canada General Information

Guided bicycle trips
Major guided bicycle tours include the Icefields Highway (Alberta), Rocky Mountains (Alberta/British Columbia), Gulf Islands (BC), Niagara (Ontario), Nova Scotia and Eastern Townships (Quebec).

Canadian operators include Freewheeling Adventures, Randonnee Tours, Butterfield & Robinson, Active Journeys, Great Explorations and Velo Quebec. American operators offering guided bicycle touring in Canada include Backroads, Bicycle Adventures and Experience Plus.

Where do I stay along the way?
There are numerous campgrounds, bed & breakfasts (see BBCanada.com) and hotels across the country. Most are not used to people bicycle touring so you will need to ask about storing your bicycle overnight. In the summer university accommodation is also an excellent option.

How can I transport my bike while in Canada?
Both Air Canada and WestJet carry bicycles for a fee. VIA Rail accepts bicycles on only a few trains shipped as cargo and should not be considered a good option. Some of the regional commuter trains such as GO Transit accept bicycles which can be handy to get to Niagara Falls in the summer.

This is a big country and most cyclists focus on a particular region when bicycle touring in Canada.