“Big West Coast ” is a twisty, scenic, offroad motorcycle ride in British Columbia, Canada.
A long and very scenic ride with about 200 km of gravel. The off-highway section between Port Renfrew and Nitnat is remote, complicated, and there are few signs. There are lots of logging trucks in the woods and they are not expecting you. Beware.
This 530km ride visits Victoria, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Bamfield, Port Alberni, Parksville and 3 other places.
Saanich start
Victoria
at 1kmSooke outskirts
at 38kmCanadian cell coverage ends around here. Beware, your phone may roam into US coverage along this coastline!
Port Renfrew
at 106kmlast gas
Botanical Beach Parking lot
at 112kmIt's a short hike to the amazing Botanical Beach. Visit at low tide.
Port Renfrew
at 114kmAvatar Grove
at 127kmShort hikes on either side of the road through really big West Coast trees
Gordon River Canyon
at 132kmGood view of the deep Gordon River canyon from this bridge
Bugaboo Main Connector start
at 133kmStart of the technical crux of the ride. The connector is a bit steep and a bit rough, fairly bushed in (July 2020) and the most heavily used bear latrine I've ever seen. Didn't see any bears though.
Bugaboo Main
at 133kmEnd of the rougher section.
Walbran / Bugaboo intersection
at 143kmLots of logging trucks hauling on Walbran in July 2020
Walbran / McLure Main intersection
at 147kmStay on Walbran.
Haddon / Walbran Main intersection
at 158kmCarmanah / Haddon Main intersection
at 161kmActive logging
at 166kmJuly 2020 midweek, somewhere around here there was active logging both sides of the mainline, posted road closed until 4PM. I crossed about 2:30, loggers were all gone and machines shut down. Do not enter without permission when they are working or you could die.
Nitnat Lake turnoff
at 176kmJuly 2020 - village closed due to pandemic. No services available. No entry.
Nitnat River
at 181kmThere is damaged, potholed pavement mixed with gravel through to the Bamfield Main
Mainline Carmanah / Bamfield Main intersection
at 202kmBack to gravel mainline. Lots of industrial and private traffic on the Bamfield road.
Pachena Beach and West Coast Trail start
at 244kmProbably really beautiful, but closed for the pandemic.
Bamfield
at 252kmYou might be able to get gas at the gas bar here, but I couldn't July 2020.
Port Alberni
at 340kmParksville
at 391kmLadysmith
at 449kmDuncan
at 473kmLangford
at 517kmSaanich
at 529kmBack to the start, end of the ride.