Suggested Routes, Province by Province

British ColumbiaBritish Columbia AlbertaAlberta SaskatchewanSaskatchewan ManitobaManitoba OntarioOntario QuebecQuebec New BrunswickNew Brunswick Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Newfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador
British Columbia

British Columbia

The Trans-Canada Mile 0 Marker in Victoria is located at Dallas Road & Douglas Street. Dip your wheels in the Pacific at nearby Holland Point Park.

Out of Victoria, follow the Lochside Regional Trail. It is a regional multi-use bike trail stretching along the Saanich Peninsula - Victoria to the ferries at Swartz Bay.

On the mainland, Tsawwassen to downtown Vancouver is not very direct. Bicycles are not allowed in the George Massey Tunnel (too narrow), but there is free shuttle service. Catch the shuttle at Delta Town and Country Inn (south-side). On the north-side, the pick-up is on a service-road beside Rice Mill Road. I have placed two maps here for reference:

Downtown Vancouver is bicycle friendly with several linking bike specific paths. Getting out out of the city, heading east, bicycles are not permitted on the Trans-Canada Highway. Cyclists should travel on Route 7 (aka the Lougheed Highway) instead on the north shore of the Fraser River (through Port Coquitlam-Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge). In Mission one can cross back over the river and in Abbotsford get on a parallel road to the Trans-Canada. Check Google Map bike directions between Vancouver and Hope for specifics.

In BC's mountains watch-out for loose gravel in the slide tunnels and along shoulders.

The lower route travels along Highway #3 with several towns along the way to resupply from.

Along #3, at Castlegar there are two routes to choose from:

Stop in Cranbrook for supplies before the last push into the Crowsnest Pass and out of the Rockies.

From Hope, follow the Crowsnest Highway #3 though Manning Park and along the south edge of the Okanagan east to Castlegar and then north on Highway #6 to Revelstoke.

Crossing BC Option 2 - A more remote ride through BC is to start in Prince Rupert. This is the start of the Yellowhead Highway which crosses the western provinces and ends in Winnipeg.

1st night out of Vancouver...

Judy and Bernie at Sun Valley Trout Farm are happy to host bicycle tourers. The farm is located in Mission, about 80 km east of Vancouver. They have a covered area as well as a club house with cooking amenities and showers. A good first night out of Vancouver.

British Columbia Cycling Resources
British Columbia City Cycling Maps
Alberta

Alberta

Best pavement quality in the country! (slowly riding the country's highway shoulders really show which provinces invest back in their infrastructure)

The Icefields Parkway - amazing ride. The highway cuts through Banff and Jasper National Parks. Good shoulders, several wild camp locations, hostels or fancy resorts. Accordingly, camping is permitted in designated campgrounds only in National Parks - but . This is Grizzly country, so be bear-aware if sneaking off into the bush. Or just ride on to the next designated camping spot.

From Canmore, take Highway 1A to Calgary. There is a leisurely path along the north bank of the Bow River into Calgary with only one big hill east of Cochrane.

At Strathmore (east of Calgary) head north, then east on highway #9, which takes you through Drumheller (dig for Dinosaurs!). Continue east on #9 across the flat Alberta prairie past Oyen to Alsask on the border.

Alberta Cycling Resources
Alberta City Cycling Maps
Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

In western Saskatchewan, #9 turns into #44, which connects to #342, which connects to #4 to Swift Current, back on the Trans-Canada towards Regina.

The northern Yellowhead highway cuts through Saskatoon and the southerly Trans-Canada goes through Regina.

Southern Saskatchewan is flatter than the north.

Expect strong prairie winds, exposed sun and mosquitoes.

Not many places to wild camp. Always ask before setting up on someone's land!

How flat is Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan Cycling Resources
Saskatchewan City Cycling Maps
Manitoba

Manitoba

The Trans-Canada Highway in Manitoba has a bad reputation (speedy trucks and gravel narrow shoulders). Here is how to avoid it:

Before the town of Virden, take #83 north to Miniota, #24 east to Rapid City, #10 north to Minnedosa, and #16 east to Portage La Prairie. From there, take #26 which detours north through Poplar Point, ending up on the western outskirts of Winnipeg.

East of Winnipeg head along #15 east to Elma, up #11 and east on #44 through Whiteshell Provincial Park past Falcon Lake, finally hitting the Trans-Canada at the Ontario border

Manitoba Cycling Resources
Manitoba City Cycling Map
Ontario

Ontario

Some describe from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay as the most dangerous and terrifying part of their journey due to narrow shoulders and speeding trucks.

To avoid it, a detour through the US is required. Just after Kenora, take #71 south to Fort Frances on the Minnesota USA border. Cross the border and follow #53 to Duluth. Here, turn east along #2 and follow the well-settled south shore of Lake Superior to Sault Ste Marie. This avoids a very remote road, with narrow shoulders and heavy truck traffic, as well as a stretch with lots of carnivorous wildlife (like bears) which can make roadside camping awkward.

Another option is to head directly south From Winnipeg to Grand Forks, North Dakota. Then follow Route #2 eastward all the way to Sault Ste. Marie.

From Espanola, a bit west of Sudbury, head south via Manitoulin Island, taking the ferry from Baymouth to Tobermory, and down the Bruce peninsula to Owen Sound, and then east on country roads through Orillia, Bancroft and Renfrew in the lush Ottawa River Valley.

From Renfrew head along #3 and then #5 alongside the River, avoiding the very heavily trafficked 417 divided highway into Ottawa. In Ottawa follow the Ottawa River Parkway into the city. East of Ottawa take the old highway #17 (may not be the best choice, see Notes from Bruce below), again avoiding the 417 divided highway, and crossing into Quebec over the Ottawa River at Hawkesbury to Grenville, and then following #344 southeast into Montreal, via Oka.

Ontario Cycling Resources
Ontario City Cycling Maps
Quebec

Quebec

In 2009, La Route Verte was ranked #1 cycle route in the world by National Geographic.

This route contains more than 4,000 km of designated bike paths and rural roads across the province.

Word of caution: don't put all your trust in the signs along the route (see photo). They can sometimes lead to a detour far from your destination. Ask locals for the most up-to-date route information.

Don't be sad if you can't speak French. Lost bike tourists in small Quebec villages are a common site. Locals are always helpful pointing out the next campsite or a good restaurant. If you are travelling along the popular La Route Verte, you can always ask other cyclists for assistance too.

The island of Montreal is crisscrossed with bicycle paths. To get downtown, ask anyone how to get to Atwater Market or the Maisonneuve bike path. Mont Royal (Montreal's downtown hill) is also a good landmark to aim for.

To exit the island, follow the Maisonneuve bike path eastward. Go under the Jacques Cartier bridge and down to the river. Adjacent to Rue Notre-Dame is la Route Verte #5. Follow it north-east with the St. Lawrence River always on your right. Montreal to Trois-Rivières is 140km.

From Trois-Rivières to Quebec City it's another 140km.

At Quebec City cross over to the south shore, through Levis and continue north-east on Route Verte #1.

At Rivière-du-loup, head right towards Edmundston, New Brunswick.

Quebec Cycling Resources
Quebec City Cycling Maps
New Brunswick

New Brunswick

After Edmundston, follow the St John river all the way to Fredericton.

From Sussex, take #114 southeast along the Fundy Coast, and then up the Peticodiac River to Moncton. From Moncton, take #106 (closer to the waterway) rather than the #2 highway, into Sackville on the Nova Scotia border.

New Brunswick Cycling Resources
New Brunswick City Cycling Maps
Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island

It is illegal to cycle across the Confederation Bridge. A shuttle bus takes cyclists across. More information about the schedule and cost on the Confederation Bridge website.

Once over, find signs for Confederation Trail and follow it to Charlottetown.

The Confederation Trail is a well designated tip-to-tip 273km bicycle tour that runs more or less through the centre of the island. Information on the trail here.

The Woods Islands Ferry Terminal to NB is located in the south-east region of the island. Northumberland Ferries Limited information here.

Prince Edward Island Cycling Resources

Prince Edward Island City Cycling Maps

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

In Turo or New Glasgow, you decide to go south to Halifax or north-east up to North Sydney to catch the ferry to Newfoundland.

Cape Breton's Cabot Trail is a popular cycling destination. The "trail" is a circular highway that rings Cape Breton. It is nicely paved, has wide shoulders and several tourist rest stops along the way. A tour around the coast to see the vistas is worth it. Lonely Planet has ranked the route as #9 best in the world.

Nova Scotia Cycling Resources

Nova Scotia City Cycling Maps

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador

From North Sydney there are two ferry options to Newfoundland:
(1) North Sydney to Port aux Basques (everyday)
(2) North Sydney to Argentia (3 times a week)

Visit Marine Atlantic Ferries for sailing details.

If starting at Port aux Basques, you'll take the T'Railway Provincial Park across the island. This video slideshow shows some of the terrain (903 km to St John's).

If starting from Argentia, take #100 up to Trans-Canada and head east (134 km to St John's).

Lots of mountain climbs in Newfoundland...no easy end to the trip!

If crossing Labrador (mainland), there is much distance between towns. Be prepared to wild camp and the possibility of a meet & greet with bears. Some friends biked through in 2011 and posted photos on these two pages of their blog, A long way from no where and Goose Bay Goodness.

Newfoundland Cycling Resources

Newfoundland City Cycling Maps

Suggestions from Bruce

Route #17 from Ottawa to Hawkesbury on the way to the Newfoundland ferry in 2009 - found it very dangerous with little or no shoulder and heavy, speeding traffic most of the way. Also took route 289 to Edmunston NB. instead of route 185. It’s a great ride.