BCAA

Fall Cycling destinations Vancouver's Seaside Greenway offers an easy urban ride; the Slocan Valley Trail (left) passes several popular spots for fishing. any point along the route then cycle back to it. Skill set: Easy, flat urban riding. Just watch out for joggers and rollerbladers! vancouver.ca 6 coaSt Mountain ciRcle Route Vitals: This epic loop from Vancouver to Lillooet can also start in Stanley Park, but it's no gentle city ride. It covers 695 km of relentless alpine scenery and includes some of B.C.'s most beautiful stretches of highway. Highlight: The Sea to Sky Highway through Squamish passes the towering granite dome of the iconic Stawamus Chief and the misty cascade of Shannon Falls. Access: The route is easily split into manageable chunks, with tour operators in Whistler, Hope and other hubs on hand to assist with all aspects of trip planning. Skill set: Very challenging. Any 695-km ride would be. hellobc.com 7 GallopinG GooSe ReGional tRail Vitals: Vancouver Island's commuter route takes its whimsical moniker from a passenger car that ran on the former rail line nearly a century ago. Then as now, the 55-km Goose passes pretty farms and bisects several bucolic parks as it winds its way through lush forest from Victoria to Sooke. Highlight: Crossing the rebuilt trestle bridge across the glittering Selkirk Waters. Access: You can cycle from Victoria to Sooke and back in one day, but most Goose riders spend at last one night at either end in the local B&Bs. Skill set: Easy. The rail trail is typically flat and some sections are paved. crd.bc.ca n Park, passes lively Granville Island on its way around False Creek, then skirts the beaches of English Bay. Highlight: Stanley Park's 9-km Seawall couldn't be better for biking, or for admiring the natural beauty of the Pacific coast and the city skyline. Access: Several pay parking lots can be found along the route. If you're using BCAA's Evo Car Share (evo.ca), park at 4 nelSon SalMo GReat noRtheRn tRail Vitals: At the north end of this 48-km rail trail there's Nelson, one of B.C.'s most colourful and artistic cities. At the south end there's Salmo, one of B.C.'s most colourful and artistic villages. In between, there's the non-stop majesty of the Selkirk Mountains. Highlight: Pedal about 6 km past Nelson, and after crossing several trestles you'll be rewarded with the sublime sands and views of Kootenay Lake's Five Mile Beach. Access: A two-day return ride makes sense here. Options for visitors are abundant in Nelson, and while Salmo offers less variety, you can still make yourself comfortably at home. Skill set: Easy, but ATV use can affect trail quality on some gravel sections. rdck.ca 5 SeaSide GReenway Vitals: Vancouver's recently completed urban route is aptly named. It loops for 28 km around the forests of Stanley BCAA Members save up to 20% at over 30 different hotel partners, including Sheraton, Westin, Best Western, Fairmont and more. bcaa.com/hotels MEMBERS SAVE TIP! Bike trouble? Just call BCAA. Included with your BCAA Membership, Bike Assist offers the same peace of mind to cyclists as Roadside Assistance provides to drivers. bcaa.com/bikeassist (top) city of Vancouver, (Slocan Valley Trail) Klaus Gattner fall 2015 bca a .com 15

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