Ride Recommendations for BC in September

[Toby S]

I will be traveling the route shown in September, starting on 12/1, and traveling counterclockwise. I have a smaller motor home, and will be towing my Tacoma with my plated KTM EXC 350. I'm competent and self sufficient, and I like dual sport rides on mostly dirt, to scenic spots (fishing a big bonus). I love trail riding, but I'll be solo, and I weigh 150 lb, so no hard enduro stuff please.
If anyone would like to ride with me, that would be great. I won't bog you down. See picts of what I like to ride. Second pic shows where I chicken out when riding solo.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Toby

 

[lagbc]

North Vancouver island probably explore area West of Port Alice, seems like lots of great riding there, I haven't been yet, but seen some really cool spots.


For Terrace -> Smither do Telkwa Pass, you can get pretty close to the ends on Forest Service Road as there are some Rec Sites and then ride across, I don't know what the conditions are these days, but expect wet feet most likely. Trapline Mountain along the route to/from Telkwa Pass is another good one.

@Trich_WR is up north in Terrace, maybe he can show you around.

Up by Valemount (near Jasper on BC side) there is Canoe mountain - another cool spot with a super nice view, should be ez on 350.

 

[Toby S]

North Vancouver island probably explore area West of Port Alice, seems like lots of great riding there, I haven't been yet, but seen some really cool spots.
View attachment 384749

For Terrace -> Smither do Telkwa Pass, you can get pretty close to the ends on Forest Service Road as there are some Rec Sites and then ride across, I don't know what the conditions are these days, but expect wet feet most likely. Trapline Mountain along the route to/from Telkwa Pass is another good one.

@Trich_WR is up north in Terrace, maybe he can show you around.

Up by Valemount (near Jasper on BC side) there is Canoe mountain - another cool spot with a super nice view, should be ez on 350.

labc,
Wow! Thanks for the tips! I'm still processing this info on my Garmin Topo.
Is the purple line something I can ride? How about the dotted line with yellow?
Can we also do some of it with our Toyota pickup (2WD)?

 

[lagbc]

Get Gaia Premium, you can use this promo code to get 6 months free: https://www.gaiagps.com/premium/?PROMO=BIKEPACKING
Gaia will include Backroads Mapbook Layer, that's the best map for BC.
You can also buy Backroads Mapbook paper maps or Garmin maps, I have all of them.

As far as I know it's all or mostly logging roads so you should be able to drive fair bit in your 2wd Tacoma, if not all. I haven't done purple route myself so take it with grain of salt and go out and explore, but it comes from Van Isle motorcycle community. Vancouver Island is Forest Service Road web... South Island is mostly gated, but the farther you go up north, the less gates there are.

For island maybe this gives you additional info/ideas: https://northisland1000.com/

 

[filterx]

labc,
Wow! Thanks for the tips! I'm still processing this info on my Garmin Topo.
Is the purple line something I can ride? How about the dotted line with yellow?
Can we also do some of it with our Toyota pickup (2WD)?

Hey Toby,

I'm PhilthyX on TT but nice to see you hear, hope you get some ideas and enjoy your trip to BC

 

[Toby S]

I’ll be near Radium Hot Springs today, and probably riding tomorrow near Fairmont or Invermere. If anyone wants to ride, or has other rides in the area, let me know.

 

[Toby S]

I got some riding in at Invermere - Toby Creek road and off shoots.
I want to do Telkwa on the 17th or 18th, if anyone's game. I have satellite text capability via inReach, so I can communicate when off grid if necessary. Send a PM, and I can send my inReach number.

 

[Toby S]

I did the ride, and had a great time. I rode up from Telkwa, and got about a mile from the glacier, then turned came back. I was getting a little arm pump from riding on scree, and didn't want to have any problems on the way out.
It's a fun ride. If you count the dirt road from Telkwa, only about 5% of it is technical on a bike. Don't know about the Terrace side.

 

[Toby S]

South of Terrace right now, and tomorrow. If there's a magical change of weather, I'd like to ride. Partners or suggestions welcome.

 

[NW Coaster]

I don’t live in the area anymore, but I posted in this thread a couple years back with some suggestions that might work for you.

 

[LordEndo]

Enjoy the trip - how about some riding shots and ride report!

 

[Toby S]

I had a great time, but didn't get as much riding in as I might have. The highlight of my trip was Telkwa Pass on my bike. I didn't get to complete the whole thing, but got in a nice ride. Earlier in the trip I rode up Toby Creek (random occurrence of my name - had to try it. That was kind of a dirt road ride, so not too interesting (but beautiful). I met some guys on the way out that told me what I might have rode - Jumbo Glacier area, but didn't have time. I'd love to come back with a better idea of where to go, and maybe hook up with other riders so I could be a little bolder.

 

[tomcycle]

I don’t live in the area anymore, but I posted in this thread a couple years back with some suggestions that might work for you.

Some nice pics in your ride report

 

[Toby S]

Hi Tom,
I read your thread, and it was very good information, but I was already through the area. Also, traveling with my wife, I just didn't have enough time. Maybe next year. It's all beautiful country.
-Toby