Find all of the most popular Vancouver cycling routes right here. Join thousands of local road cyclists and triathletes along these fantastic scenic roads! The majority of these Vancouver cycling routes are calculated as return trips starting from Kitsilano, but you could join the routes from any direction.
You will see everything that you need including distance and elevation gain with the ability to view the gradient of individual climbs. Simply drag your cursor along the elevation graph to see where each hill is on the map as well as the current gradient.
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Horseshoe Bay / Whytecliff Park – 58km +710m
This is one of the most popular Vancouver cycling routes for road cyclists and triathletes. With some spectacular views along the way, this ride will take your breath away!
Deep Cove – 55km +611m
Prepare to be blown away by the beautiful view when you arrive at Deep Cove. This is a very popular ride and a favorite for many cyclists. We’re very lucky to have so many great Vancouver cycling routes here in our back yard. This can be done as an out-and-back although it is shown here with an alternate return route along Seymour Parkway. The famous (or should we say “infamous”) Seymour Mountain can also be added if you’re up for the challenge!
Seymour Demonstration Forest – 70km +867m
Of all the Vancouver cycling routes, this is possibly the most peaceful ride that you can do. The full sized 20km out-and-back forest road is closed to vehicles with nice pavement divided for cyclists. The quiet shelter of the forest is a great escape from the busy city streets. This can also be added as an extension to some of the other local routes. Adding the Deep Cove cycling route would bring the total distance up to 84km.
Iona Beach – 63km +506m
This is possibly the most popular of the Vancouver cycling routes and is one of the staple rides for many road cyclists and triathletes in Vancouver. Iona is also a great place for doing specific uninterrupted interval workouts on flat terrain.
Steveston / Sanctuary Cafe – 69km +519m
This ride starts with some rolling terrain but is mostly a flatter ride. It ends at the Sanctuary Cafe , a bike-friendly, community coffee shop exclusively featuring coffee roasters and artisan baked goods from BC producers. Sanctuary Cafe is strategically located on a main cycling route in Richmond that is used frequently throughout the year. The cafe also has a room where you can hang your bike so that you don’t have to worry about your ride while you enjoy the coffee. This is a great location to start, finish or stop along the way for a drink or refreshment. You can extend this ride by riding out-and-back along Dyke Road or adding Iona Beach on the way out and/or back from Steveston.
Richmond / River Road – 76km +541m
This a great route if you’re looking to go long and keep it flat. Expect to see lots of other cyclists along the way. River road is also a good destination for doing intervals if you’re training for a race or an event. This is one of the most popular Vancouver cycling routes.
Steveston / Richmond Loop – 97km +591m
This route is perfect if you’re looking to ride for over 3 or 4 hours and you want to keep it flat. You can also modify and shorten this route by taking No. 5 Road or No. 6 Road and head directly North back to River Road. Another option, if you want to lengthen it, is to add Iona Beach at the beginning and/or at the end.
Cypress Mountain – 62km +1308m
Test your strength on this epic climb! The views from each lookout on the way up Cypress Mountain are magnificent, a well deserved reward for the hard work that it takes to reach the top. You can also refuel and soak up the magnificent view with some pizza and a drink at The Shed at the base of the climb.
The route shown here starts in Kitsilano. Once you get to West Vancouver, the route climbs gradually up to the base of Cypress Mountain via 13th street, Mathers Ave, 15th Street, and Highway 99. For the return, you can get back via Chippendale Road and Chartwell Road in the upper level British Properties if you would like to avoid the highway and include a few more views of Vancouver along the way. The return route can also be taken on the way up to include some extra climbing before arriving at Cypress Bowl Road. From there you can descend to the bottom to start at the base and experience the full climb.
The gradient on Cypress Mountain is between 7.1% to 7.5% for most of the climb, although due to the relaxed switchbacks, the overall average is approximately 6.2% for 10.5km starting just before the first switchback at the bottom of the climb. The main Strava segment for the climb is called “Shed to Powerlines”.
This map shows the climb all the way up to the Hollyburn Lodge where you can find bathrooms and water. You can also go all the way to the lodge at the downhill ski area if you choose. The 12km climb that starts at the beginning of the “Shed to Powerlines” Strava segment and finishes at the Hollyburn Lodge is the route which is used for the annual Cypress Challenge hill climb. This event attracts some of Vancouver’s finest cyclists.
Seymour Mountain – 76km +1419m
Have you got what it takes to ascend this awesome local climb? With over 1000m of elevation from sea to sky, this ride will be one to remember and talk about! The average gradient is approximately 7.3% for 12.1km although the initial 3.5km is a bit steeper with some segments around 10%. This is the most challenging of the local Vancouver cycling routes with regard to total distance and elevation for a single climb. The main Strava segment for the climb is called “Seymour Hill Climb”.
If you want to test your strength and climbing ability against some of the best local riders, there’s an annual race up the mountain every August called the Seymour Challenge. It’s usually one week after the Cypress Challenge, you could do both!
Lions Bay / Sea to Sky Highway – 77km +993m
The sea to sky highway is one of the most beautiful highways in the world, this is possibly the most stunning of all the Vancouver cycling routes. You may want to take a break to soak in the view, it’s amazing! This route turns around at the Lions Bay General Store and Cafe where you can take a break and refresh if needed.
The pavement surface is good with shoulders wide enough for cyclists, although it can get a bit gritty during the rainy season. Cycling is permitted on the Sea to Sky highway, but this route is recommended only for experienced and confident cyclists.
Britannia Beach – Outbound Station / Sea to Sky Highway – 117km +1802m
If you’re training for a long and hilly endurance event then this could be a good route for you. The views are fantastic, and there’s a restaurant/cafe at the turn-around called the Outbound Station where you can refuel and take a break. There’s also a traffic light at the Britannia Beach exit making it easy to turn back.
The pavement surface on the highway is good with shoulders wide enough for cyclists, but it can get a bit gritty during the rainy season. Although the highway is designated for cycling, please note that there is a 500m section right before Britannia Beach that has a narrow shoulder. This route is recommended only for experienced and confident cyclists.
Squamish / Sea to Sky Highway – 140km +2264m
Another variation on the Sea to Sky route, you can go as long and far as you want along this highway. This map turns around at Cleveland Ave which is the main intersection when you first get into Squamish. There’s a Nestor’s Market and a gas station to refuel and fill water bottles if needed.
The pavement surface on the highway is good with shoulders wide enough for cyclists, but it can get a bit gritty during the rainy season. Although the highway is designated for cycling, please note that there is a 500m section right before Britannia Beach that has a narrow shoulder. This route is recommended only for experienced and confident cyclists.
Tsawassen Ferry Terminal – 144km +770m
If you spend a lot of time on your bike and you’re getting bored of riding the same Vancouver cycling routes over and over again then here’s a good one that you can add to your repertoire. This mostly flat ride will take you all the way to the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal.
Triple Crown – Classic Route – 133km +2805m
If you’re looking for an epic hill climbing challenge, this ride is for you! The Triple Crown is one of the most challenging Vancouver Cycling Routes with three separate mountains to climb.
There are several variations of this route, the route shown here is a classic approach that’s fairly direct. This route includes a 750m section on the highway with a wide shoulder and no lane cross-overs, but the highway can be avoided using the following route – “Triple Crown Without Highway Section”. You can also refuel and soak up the magnificent view with some pizza and a drink at The Shed at the base of the climb.
Alice Lake / Sea to Sky Highway – 164km +2524m
So many great local Vancouver cycling routes! This is a good one for endurance cyclists or triathletes who are training for a hilly GranFondo or Ironman event. It covers approximately the first 2/3’s of the Whistler GranFondo but with the return trip is actually over 40km longer.
The pavement surface on the highway is good with shoulders wide enough for cyclists, but it can get a bit gritty during the rainy season. Although the highway is designated for cycling, please note that there is a 500m section right before Britannia Beach that has a narrow shoulder. This route is recommended only for experienced and confident cyclists.
0 Avenue / White Rock to Cultas Lake – 168km +964m
If you’re looking for a great place to ride with very few interruptions along the way then this is a great alternative to the regular mainstay Vancouver cycling routes. If you live in Vancouver it will require a little bit of extra travel time to get there but it’s well worth the trip if you have a long ride planned in your training schedule. Shown here is the long version of the route all the way to Cultas Lake although you can make this ride as short or as long as you wish by simply turning back at any point. There are gas stations along the route where you can refill bottles and buy food including one on Huntingdon Road at kilometer 38 as well as another on Yarrow Central Road at kilometer 66.