California to Vancouver BC

So this summer I am planning on Riding from the Bay area California, to Vancouver British Columbia. the plan is to do some camping on the way there and back and probably stay in a hostel for a few days in Vancouver. im planning on riding the coast all the way up, spend a few days on Vancouver island and Vancouver doing a bit of hiking hopefully, then heading back through central Washington, Oregon, and California and riding through a lot of the state forests.
Im looking for my best options for campsites and nice scenery. I want to try and keep things pretty open, like not having reserved campsites and being able to just drop into one for the night when i get tired, although this isnt necessary if reserving a campsite is best.
Im doing this ride by myself and its going to be my first touring trip of this length. also looking for what to do and where to go in Vancouver and Vancouver Island. my options are anytime in June, July, or August. its going to be about a 2 week trip. what would be the best month to go? for weather and that kind of stuff. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

This is my tentative route:
http://maps.google.c...8,12,13&t=m&z=6

Some of the Vancouver Island guys will throw some great tips in for sure. I went to the island in 2010 - 2011 on 4 trips alone and can give you some advice.
If you pick July our holiday is Monday July 2nd this year. So the weekend of June 28th to July 2nd the ferrys and campsite will be full but I managed to find places to stay. to add, I will be on the Island myself w/ family about that time this year as well.
I stayed in Parksville and used that as my "homebase" and just traveled around the Island.
Victoria BC to Parksville is about 2 hour trip ( red lights - traffic etc etc )
BC Ferrys - Last year they had a $10.00 "sale" charge if you crossed on a Tue/Wed/Thur rather than the $23.95.Watch the BC ferry website: http://www.bcferries...planning/fares/
BC Provincial Campsite: http://www.travel.bc.ca/camping/
I had a listing on all campsites in the area, download it as a PDF and then saved it to my phone. Makes finding a site quick and easy.
Have a list of the local MC shops just in case you need to stop by. The Island is easy to ride, you can check out a lot of places from a home base.
Have fun !!

Thanks for the links! that will be helpful for sure. i have started researching campsites in the US, but not canada yet. also i have changed my plan a bit because i think i want to hit some of the Trans-Canada Highway and come down into Montana and go to the Glacier National Park.

Here is the new plan:

http://maps.google.c...7,19,20&t=m&z=5

link does not work........ or, my IT guys blocked me again.....

We did the opposite ride last Sept look for ride report Vic/Van I'd post the link but I have no talent. . BCMC rider Ian would help you out in Victoria. I'm 45min north of Vancouver enroute to Whistler. If youre up my way I'll help you out if I can.

Stay off 97 as much as possible. I can't see the map on my phone but I'll take a look tonight and give you some better route suggestions through Central Oregon. For sure you're going to need to stop off at Crater Lake.

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-Jake

Historically the weather before July 10th is a crap shoot, heavy on the crap.
Make sure to get this road in, down your way http://www.pashnit.c...l/Highway36.htm
I have and will be again riding down the Motogp this year. There are a ton of great rides, we usually criss cross all the way down just to hit the great roads.

In Vancouver there is a ton of things to see and do. I would search Vancouver events chandler for the time you plan on being here. Check this site for some rides http://members.shaw....cycle_pages.htm. The Duffey Lake ride is one of my all time favorites.
On Vancouver Island, Victoria is a nice city "newly weds and nearly deads", Long beach might be up your alley http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions
/towns/?townid=3985. Deceptive road on the way in, you need to be on your toes! The same goes for Gold river http://www.goldriver...-gold-river.php. That should get you started..
If you are interested I might be able to get you our ride route, which is awesome!

The section of Hwy 12  from Lewiston to Missoula, MT is a can't miss - National Scenic Highway - one of the best roads for 2 wheels in the US.  Stop near the summit at the ID/MT border and get your pic with the "Winding Road Next 99 miles" sign. Keep an eye peeled for deer though.  Prior to that, if you have a little extra time, you can get off Hwy 97 at Madras and take a detour to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.   The lodge is at 6,000 feet right on the flanks of the mountain and the views are spectacular - it wouldn't be too far out of the way.  It was built during the Depression and is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.   The lodge tour is very interesting  and there are a couple of restaurants and a bar.  Well worth the detour if you have the time.  There are tons of camp grounds in the area around Mt Hood - some on some very scenic alpine lakes - mostly run by the Forest Service.  

http://maps.google.c...l=en&tab=wl

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

If you don't do that, you could get off Hwy 97 (which is going to be pretty boring - think of it as 2 lane Interstate), and go through Antelope, Fossil and Condon to get to Arlington on I-84 - at least the traffic would be a lot less and the scenery better.

http://g.co/maps/579jw

I had a brief look at your map and would suggest a couple of modifications with respect to the Northwestern tip of your journey.

First is that you probably want to go from Port Renfrew to Mesachie Lake instead of to Gordon River and Caycuse.  I've not been to Gordon River but I think it's basically a logging camp and I think if the road is even accessible, that it's going to be gravel.  I know the road from there to the Renfrew/Mesachie road is gated at the Renfrew/Mesachie end.  The second is that you probably don't want to ride around the back of Lake Cowichan as the road from Mesachie Lake to Caycuse, Nitinat, Youbou is rough gravel with many many potholes.  If you want to get to Youbou for some reason, you should go via the town of Lake Cowichan as this is all paved.  Not a lot to see in Youbou but a nice pub for lunch.

If the time works out, I'd gladly be a tour guide for this part of the journey and can make other suggestions as to what to see.

Cheers, Ian

Okay. Adding to Cog's Fossill deour ('cause that's some awesome road right there) I came up with the following - Map Link!

If you wanted to save time you could skip 66 back to Klamath Falls and head down I5 to Mount Shasta. Dead Indian Memorial Highway and 66 are both awesome roads. Let me know if you're going to make it to my area and I can meet up with you or provide a couch to crash on.

-Jake

I'll volunteer to do the Duffy lake loop with you if that's on your list and I'm able to accommodate.

Thank you everyone for some great ideas and advice! My main concern for the trip is having a definite place to sleep every night! im not sure if i should book campsites ahead of time and just make sure i get there? or just look for places as i go. but next im going to have to get a Tent and sleeping bag and GPS!

I will be sure to post again when I have more definite details of when i am planning on going. At first i was thinking early June, but if the weather might be iffy, might do late June-July.

made a few small changes but this is what im lookin at so far.

http://maps.google.c...1,22,23&t=m&z=7

Among climbers in the NW who really depend on good weather, the best window is generally considered to be late July in to the first week of August.   It isn't that there isn't good weather to be had prior or after  - just that the odds for clear rain-free  weather are best then.

Just did a loop of that sorts last year.  Definitely have some alterations you may want to apply for killer hidden roads.
Will sort through my previous maps and see what I have.  Also, if you are using tyre or TomTom I may even have some routes still.

[image: View Post]didit, on 14 March 2012 - 08:15 PM, said:

Just did a loop of that sorts last year. Definitely have some alterations you may want to apply for killer hidden roads. Will sort through my previous maps and see what I have. Also, if you are using tyre or TomTom I may even have some routes still.
So i dont have a TomTom to transfer the maps to, ill be using a Garmin, but is Tyre still worth downloading and using to plan my trip? i dont know much about it.

I can be a tourguide/Accomodation site here in the NW and if timing permits ride with you up to VIctoria with bcmc tour guide or duffy lake loop with Squamishvfr tour guide ( I actually was the VVSF trip interpreter/videographer) You will have a blast! :tour:

[image: View Post]V-FORE, on 14 March 2012 - 09:46 PM, said:

I can be a tourguide/Accomodation site here in the NW and if timing permits ride with you up to VIctoria with bcmc tour guide or duffy lake loop with Squamishvfr tour guide ( I actually was the VVSF trip interpreter/videographer) You will have a blast! :tour:

that sounds great! i will be sure to contact you as well as Squamish and bcmc when i make definite plans. as for weather in WA and BC, i know weather is iffy in general in WA but what do you think would be the best time to go? i was planning early june, but if weather isnt so good then ill probably push it back to late june or early july. thoughts?

[image: View Post]tc339, on 14 March 2012 - 09:20 PM, said:

So i dont have a TomTom to transfer the maps to, ill be using a Garmin, but is Tyre still worth downloading and using to plan my trip? i dont know much about it.

dam straight.  Google, download and use.  It's the shizzle!  I've reserved a copy of the gold version to be released later this month.
Been using it for a few years.

With any luck someone with more time than me will plan a group ride this summer through BC as previous years. Maybe you can sync it up then follow us back over the Duffy and on to Victoria with BCMCrider. Keep an eye on ride planning. Sorry I just don't have the time. Where is Jasonsmith when you need him?

[image: View Post]didit, on 14 March 2012 - 11:59 PM, said:

[image: View Post]tc339, on 14 March 2012 - 09:20 PM, said:

So i dont have a TomTom to transfer the maps to, ill be using a Garmin, but is Tyre still worth downloading and using to plan my trip? i dont know much about it.

dam straight.  Google, download and use.  It's the shizzle!  I've reserved a copy of the gold version to be released later this month.
Been using it for a few years.

It says its only available for Windows and im on a Mac. :sad:

Also I personally wouldn't fret over camping. You're on a bike with lots of options. You don't take up space. I'd avoid the pressure of making your waypoints every night.