The Stanley Park Sea Wall
It would be criminal to start anywhere else. Often touted as the country’s best public space, the Stanley Park Sea Wall is a cyclist’s paradise. The entire Sea Wall is 22 km long, but our favourite route is the 8.5 km Stanley Park loop. Riding your cruiser bike, you get great views of the city and the sea and plenty of grassy hillsides to take a break, have a picnic, and people-watch. The paved path and small hills make this part of the Sea Wall a great ride for beginners and cyclists looking to relax. More adventurous riders can cycle out to the Telus World of Science or across the Burrard Street Bridge to Vanier Park.
The University of British Columbia
Located on Vancouver’s periphery, UBC has a great network of formal and informal bike trails, and thanks to its proximity to the wild, it’s one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses. (Are you noticing a trend here?) The UBC Loop, which starts around 10th and Blanca is a terrific architectural tour, with panoramic views of the ocean peppered throughout. Make sure to check out the Museum of Anthropology, the UBC Botanical Garden, Thunderbird arena, the Nitobe Memorial Garden, student residences Totem and Vanier, and the president’s house among many sights. If surfing and volleyball is more your style, take your fixie bike down to Jericho beach and spend the day along the waters of English Bay—you won’t be disappointed.
Steveston
For this trail, you’ll have to drive—or hopefully cycle—out to No. 5 Road and Dyke in lovely Richmond. Round trip, the Steveston ride is about 17 km, a beautiful gravel path showcasing heritage buildings, farms, and natural bird sanctuaries. Steveston was once a fishing hub, so stop by the Britannia Heritage Shipyard and try some seafood along the way. If you bike past the village, divert onto the Steveston Dyke, which winds along the Fraser River right into central Richmond.
Port Coquitlam
The Traboulay PoCo Trail in Port Coquitlam is a labyrinth of bike paths that intersects with natural and urban environments. This trail is roughly 24 km and layered with small hills, so it is slightly more difficult than the other paths on this list. But the work is worth the reward. Start at Lions Park near Coquitlam’s downtown before making your way to Colony Farm Regional Park. There, you will see plenty of wildlife and pastoral scenery. Then you want to follow the Pitt River where you will pass through Golden Ears Park and more majesty before looping back to the starting point. Then take a rest: you’ve earned it.
