The Pacific Rim Highway
British Columbia | 170km
This scenic ride across Vancouver Island takes you from the sheltered shoreline of Parksville and Qualicum Beach to the wild Pacific Coast at Tofino. In between, you’ll experience an incredible variety of landscapes in just a few hours, from the rugged Vancouver Island Mountains to the towering ancient redwoods of Cathedral Grove, with smooth lakeshore riding along Sproat and Kennedy lakes but plenty of twisties along the way to keep you on your toes.
Access the route by taking the ferry from Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay on the Mainland to Nanaimo, then darting up to Parksville. It’s worth a stop early in the ride at Coombs to visit the quirky Old Country Market, better known as Goats on the Roof – where, you guessed it, goats nibble away at grass on the green roof.
A year-round ride
While much of Canada is in hibernation mode, B.C.’s roads are open to motorcyclists all year long (as long as you pack your best rain gear). Tofino is a well-known storm-watching destination throughout the winter, when visitors are awed by the raging swells of the wild waters on the open coastline.
First published in 2023.
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