Road Biking and Cycling around Squamish and the Sea to Sky Highway

Yes, Squamish is famous for mountain biking, but that does not mean that road riders are out of luck.  In fact, Squamish has some excellent road rides in great atmosphere.

Squamish Valley Road

This famous flat ride hosts the road bike portion of the Squamish Triathlon every year and frequently hosts the BC Time Trial Championships.  As you head north from Squamish, this road starts at Highway 99 opposite the Alice Lake turnoff.  A steep downhill into the Squamish Valley brings you over the Cheekeye Bridge at Sunwolf, and a fork.  If you want to get a few more flat kilometres in, then fork right up Paradise Valley Road.  The out and back is 11 extra (mostly flat) clicks.  Forking left, the Squamish Valley Road continues alongside the Squamish River, winding through trees that overhang the road with the odd clearing that offers great views of the forests and mountains that surround.  The turn around is 19 km from the fork, where a cattle guard makes further progress unwise, and the road turns to gravel about 100 past this anyway. 

Squamish Valley Road is relatively quiet as far as traffic goes with only the odd resident, recreationist, or logging truck passing by.  On a good day one sees more other cyclists that cars. 

Cycling between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish

This road is characterized by spectacular panoramic views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains.  It is one of the most popular scenic drives in BC, and on a bike it is even better if you don’t mind the traffic.
The distance from downtown Squamish to Horseshoe Bay is 45 km and the road is pretty undulating, with a couple of major uphill/downhill sections as you approach or leave Squamish, most notably north of Furry Creek and entering and leaving Britannia Beach.  In some areas there are good shoulders, but for much of the way the shoulders are a little on the rough or narrow side.  It is a great ride, and the winding highway means that drivers pay attention to the road, but it is not for those who are not comfortable with highway riding and the occasional big truck or RV cruising by closer than one might like.

Highway improvements, already underway, should substantially improve the cycling facilities over most of the route.

Cycling North of Squamish

Wide Shoulders and serious uphill characterize the cycling north of Squamish as you move inland towards Whistler. Going north from Squamish the road is fairly flat for the first two or three kilometers, and then climbs past Alice Lake.  There is about 500m of flatter road, and then the Highway climbs to Brohm Lake, proceeding to a steeper uphill just past the lake.  There are a couple of brief down-hills mixed in with more climbs that take you past the spectacular Tantalus Mountain Viewpoint (perhaps a good rest stop).  A couple of more ups and downs take you to what used to be the rather harrowing Cheakamus Canyon.  Most everyone used to turn around at the Big Orange Bridge (BOB) over Culliton Creek as the narrow, shoulderless road beyond was not pleasant.  However, thanks to substantial highway upgrades, wide shoulders have been installed, and one simply must proceed on the brand new asphalt, (uphill again) through the canyon at least to the summit, where more good views await.  This ride is about 30 km one-way and climbs in the neighbourhood of 450 metres.

Most of the uphill sections are accompanied by two traffic lanes and wide shoulders and the road is usually relatively quiet, and thus one seldom feels crowded by vehicles as they grind their way over the mountains. 

Of course, there are steep descents as you head back to Squamish, however be aware of possible strong headwinds in the Summer.

The ride to Whistler is about 60 km depending upon where you start and finish and has a NET gain of 600 metres.  The Highway is currently under construction, and will be until 2009, so in some places the road is great, in others it can be a little rough and there may be traffic delays. 

Road Riding Groups

In the summer, group rides are in order and have been becoming more popular.  Usually going on Tuesday and Friday nights from Corsa Cycles in downtown Squamish, they are probably the best workout going in the corridor. 

http://www.corsacycles.com/

604-892-3331
info@corsacycles.com

The Garibaldi Village Shopping Centre.
604-898-2588
Email: tanbik@telus.net
http://www.tantalusbikeshop.com/