Adventure Cycling Launches — The Vancouver Crossing Loop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Zephyrs
VP of Marketing and Communications
jzephyrs@adventurecycling.org
Adventure Cycling Nonprofit Launches Its First International Bikepacking Route — The Vancouver Crossing Loop
Missoula, Montana – For nearly half a century (our 50th birthday is next year), Adventure Cycling has been crafting America’s premier long-distance bikepacking and bicycle touring routes, including the first-of-their-kind Great Divide Mountain Biking Route and TransAmerica Trail. Now the nonprofit is announcing another milestone — its first fully international cycling route.
The 314-mile Vancouver Crossing Loop begins and ends in Victoria, British Columbia, and was designed by Adventure Cycling’s experienced route researchers to be e-bike- and beginner-friendly while still being a pleasure to ride for experienced cyclists. To that end, a majority of the route is on protected bike paths and trails, and riders are never far from amenities such as bike shops, hotels, cafes, and, of course, fresh seafood.
To better serve gravel cyclists — one of cycling’s fastest growing market segments — the Vancouver Crossing Loop also features a 50/50 split between paved and unpaved surfaces. Route highlights include:
- Three ferry crossings
- Multiple trestle bridges and waterfalls
- The BC Forest Discovery Centre, Stanley Park and, Pacific Spirit Regional Park
- Seaside communities, including Dundarave, Chemainus, and Ladysmith
- The Vancouver skyline from Spanish Banks Beach
- Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf in Richmond
“We brainstorm routes that strike the perfect balance between distance, diverse terrain, and the services cyclists will need along the way,” says Adventure Cycling cartography program manager Amy Wally. “We ride or drive every mile to verify road conditions, find those hidden gems, and ensure cyclist safety. No algorithm can replace boots (or wheels) on the ground.”
Adventure Cycling has released the digital route — and will release two more currently in development — FOR FREE through our partners at Ride With GPS.
The move will both help riders celebrate our Golden Anniversary in 2026 and further our nonprofit mission to increase access to bicycle travel through professionally designed routes in a marketplace increasingly filled with free, unvetted digital maps. To fund this work, Adventure Cycling relies on donations and the support of our members.
“Making these Adventure Cycling routes free is a perfect celebration of our 50th Anniversary,” says Maxton Caplanides, Adventure Cycling’s vice president of community engagement. “It’s a way of sharing the impact of our members’ support with more people. We’re opening the door for more people than ever to safely feel the magic that has made our members fall in love with bicycle travel.”
For more route information, check out the Adventure Cycling Route Network: https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/vancouver-crossing-loop/
For more information or interview requests, contact Jessica Zephyrs at jzephyrs@adventurecylcing.org or 406-721-1776
