Vancouver cycling is wonderfully diverse. In this post we showcase some of our most popular posts about great bike rides in and around Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver cycling offers a range of options, from adventurous and athletic to easy and family friendly. This post includes great bike rides in Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, and Vancouver Island.
Also, encouraged by cycling activists such as HUB Cycling, Vancouver is working on developing its cycling infrastructure. For example, Maggie and I cycled to work in relative safety in downtown Vancouver for years in the late 1990s. It was common to see children riding bikes with their parents in downtown Vancouver, thanks to a basic network of physically separated bike lanes.
Read on to pick out a great bike ride in or near Vancouver!
Bike Trails in Vancouver
Stanley Park Seawall Bike Trail – Guide and Video
This post with a video is about the amazing Stanley Park Seawall bike trail. This is my all-time most popular Vancouver bike trail post. As well as probably my favorite bike ride in the world! It is mainly flat, very safe, and has endless interesting views and things to do along the way.
The Stanley Park Seawall offers family-friendly cycling
One of the many scenic spots on the Stanley Park SeawallSeaside Bike Route, Vancouver – Vancouver Cycling at its Best
This is a guide and video about Vancouver’s wonderful Seaside Bike Route. The Seaside Route is a multi-use recreational route. Cycle along this flat, off-road trail and enjoy amazing views all along the Vancouver Seawall. The Seaside Bike Route goes from the Convention Center at Coal Harbour on Burrard Inlet, all the way to Jericho Beach. Watch our video showing part of the Seaside Bike Route.
Convention Center to Science World – Post plus Video
This Vancouver bike ride goes from the Convention Center to Science World in downtown Vancouver, via the Hornby Street Bike Lane and the Seaside Bike Route. This post includes a narrated video that we made.
Second Beach Pool to Prospect Point in Stanley Park – Post plus Video – Adventurous Vancouver Cycling
This Vancouver bike ride goes from Second Beach Pool to Prospect Point in Stanley Park, downtown Vancouver via an off-road trail in the Stanley Park Forest. For some of the finest Vancouver cycling, try the Prospect Point bike trail, an off-road trail in the heart of Vancouver’s Stanley Park. It goes from the car park at Second Beach Pool, all the way up to Prospect Point, the highest point in Stanley Park. There you can enjoy stunning views of North and West Vancouver across the Burrard Inlet.
This trail is safe for family cycling, but younger kids might find it a bit tiring, as there is a lot of gentle uphill cycling. Kids should always do this one with adult supervision, as it is possible to get lost.
Central Valley Greenway (CVG) in Metro Vancouver – Guide plus Video
This is a guide plus video of the entire Central Valley Greenway (CVG). This Vancouver bike ride goes from the Science World at False Creek in downtown Vancouver to the New Westminster Quay on the north bank of the mighty Fraser River, via the Central Valley Greenway (CVG). The CVG is a challenging but very interesting bike ride. Parts are magical, other parts still need work to make them pleasant.
This trail is mainly flat. Uphill sections are so short that it is possible to just get off and push – for example, in Hume Park. So, people at most skill levels can tackle the CVG. However, children should only do it under adult supervision, due to intersections with major roads, and the possibility of getting lost. The section that runs through Burnaby near Winston Road offers the best opportunities to take your kids for a carefree off-road bike ride.
Here is a map of the entire Central Valley Greenway.
Cycling Trails on Vancouver Island
The Lochside Trail on Vancouver Island
A guide to the Lochside Trail on Vancouver Island. You can use to cycle all the way from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to the beautiful city of Victoria. It’s a gentle bike ride that will take about two hours. Along the way, there are great views, and a great place to stop for lunch – Mattick’s Farm. Most but not all of it is off-road. This would be a great bike ride for a family, but children should be under adult supervision for most of it.
The map below shows the Lochside Trail, and also the Galloping Goose Trail. The Lochside Trail connects to the Goose.
Related Post: Guide to Cycling the Galloping Goose Trail, Vancouver Island
This post is a guide to the world-class Galloping Goose Trail on Vancouver Island. You can cycle all the way from Victoria to Sooke and beyond on this trail. From the Swartz Bay Ferry, you can get to this trail by cycling along the Lochside Trail. Or, you can quickly access it from the city of Victoria. The trail is almost entirely off-road. Expect to see wildlife and horses.
Your kids would enjoy this mainly flat bike ride, but don’t let them go alone as it becomes very remote. And you do need to watch out for bears!
Not Quite Vancouver Cycling: Bike Trails in Cities Near Vancouver
The Traboulay PoCo Trail, Port Coquitlam
The wonderful Traboulay PoCo Trail in Port Coquitlam provides a day’s worth of fun and exercise. It is completely off-road, and passes through a variety of interesting terrains. Along the way you will find plenty of interesting things, including a pub, a play park, and information about the history of the region.
This is an outstanding family bike ride as it is almost entirely off road. However, it is a very long ride, so keep in mind family fitness levels. As the route is two-way, there is is nothing to stop you doing a short stretch, and then turning back.
Deer Lake Park Bike Trails in Burnaby, BC
Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park offers fun, safe cycling and hiking in a beautiful, lakeside environment – right in the heart of Burnaby (which is right next door to Vancouver). Read all about the Deer Lake Park Bike Trails in Burnaby here. This is an ideal place to take children for a relaxing family bike ride.
Below is a map of one ride I took on the Deer Lake Park bike trails. Of course, you can ride anywhere you like, as these are just loosely connected trails. For example, you can keep it flat by staying at lake level, or you can make it tougher by heading up the hills.
The West Dyke Trail in Richmond – Fun for the Whole Family
The West Dyke Trail in Richmond, BC, Canada, is a flat, six-km (3.7 miles) trail that’s fun for the whole family. An ideal family cycling activity is to park close to the beginning of the trail, cycle 6 km to either Garry Point Park or the lovely fishing village of Steveston (which are right next to each other), stop for an ice-cream or some fish and chips, and then cycle back again.
Barnet Highway Bike Lane (Training & Views!)
The Barnet Highway Bike Lane connects Burnaby and Port Moody, which are cities near Vancouver. It’s a wide bike lane on the side of a highway. It’s not separated, so it is not safe in bad weather or after dark. And this is definitely not suitable a family bike ride. Even for adults, it is not for the faint of heart. If you do want to take your kids for a bike ride in this area, there is a family-friendly mountain bike park halfway down the hill.
Halfway up the Barnet Highway bike lane is the Mountain Air Bike Skills Park in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Photo credit: City of BurnabyYou need to be a skilled cyclist to do the bike ride on the Highway, as you are right next to fast moving traffic. Also, there are short sections in urgent need of repaving. However, I enjoy the Barnet Highway bike lane for cycling training and working on my hill climbing abilities while enjoying amazing views and scenery.
Shoreline Trail in Rocky Point Park, Port Moody – Guide and Videos
This is a guide to the Shoreline Trail in Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC, Canada. This trail offers a short, pleasant, flat, family bike ride or walk, with beautiful scenery and clear signposting. Facilities include restaurants, food vendors, children’s play parks, a water park, and washrooms at both ends of the trail. This is the perfect place to take younger children for a bike ride.
The Osprey Loop In Pitt Meadows – Dog Friendly Trail
This is a gem of a rural family cycling trail, just 30 minutes east of Vancouver. Not only is it great for cycling, but the Osprey Loop is also one of the most dog friendly trails we have ever found.
Other Posts about Vancouver Cycling
The Amazing Evolution of Vancouver’s Cycling Infrastructure
In the years I cycled to work in Vancouver, I was privileged to witness an amazing improvement in the cycling infrastructure. Within just a few years, cycling in downtown Vancouver changed from a hair-raising experience to a fun experience.
Vancouver’s Cycling Culture
Read this post about Vancouver’s amazing and diverse cycling culture! From family-friendly bike trails to downtown commuting to bike polo, Vancouver has it all!
This is the Seaside Bike Route in VancouverRelated Post: Top 7 Bike Locks – and How to Choose the Right Bike Lock
Related Post: How to Have a Fun Cycling Vacation in Vancouver
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Minor point — that “The view from Barnet Highway” photo is not the view from Barnet Highway. It’s a view *of* Barnet Highway from an airplane or helicopter. You won’t see that if you do the ride.
That’s not a minor point – it’s a very good point. Thank you for pointing that out! I have changed the caption. It is heart warming to know that people are reading our posts 🙂