Secret Cove to Vancouver

You're finally finished to wrap up this beautiful ride. The best part is that it ends in one of my favorite cities in the world, and it's a great journey to get there.

In leaving the Secret Cove Cottages, I head back to the Sunshine Coast Highway. Once on the highway, you will fairly quickly take a right turn on Redrooffs road so that you can ride with less traffic and stick with the coastline. It's still a bit hilly, but you'll get to ride underneath the trees and enjoy occasional glimpses of the water.

Redrooffs road eventually rejoins the Coast Highway, and you can continue on to Sechelt. Depending on when you left, you can grab a coffee or a late breakfast before continuing towards Vancouver. There's another chance to leave the main highway at Roberts Creek road, which I recommend because of the great views. You'll again rejoin the Coast Highway as it enters the town of Gibsons. Again depending on your hunger, you can grab a snack before heading down to the ferry terminal at Langdale.

The ferry crossing is more traditional and a lot less romantic than other crossings on this loop. The landing at horseshoe bay presents you with a steep climb out of the harbor. Once leaving Horseshoe bay, get onto Marine drive which you will follow most of the way to the Lion's Gate Bridge crossing to Vancouver.

Depending on your energy, you can ride on the busy main highway into downtown Vancouver, but I prefer to ride through Stanley park on my entrance. Vancouver has a wonderfully long waterfront biking/walking trail that follows the entire downtown waterfront. 

My favorite place to stay is in Vancouver's West End because you can walk to everything. I recommend either of the downtown HI hostels or .... The hostels have secure bike lockers which you should definitely use. Bike theft is a huge problem in Vancouver.

Once you're ready to head home, it's about a twenty minute ride to the Vancouver Amtrak station. Unfortunately, you'll have to do that ride very ealy in the day as the only Amtrak train from Vancouver leaves at.... Alternatively, you can take an Amtrak bus or BoltBus, but they are not as convenient for bring your bike. They may have space, but the driver doesn't always know how to use the under bus compartments, and you may have to figure it our yourself. You may also have luggage stored on top of your bike. Be sure to include the bike in your reservation if booking with Amtrak!