After bikepacking in Canada the last two years and really enjoying it, for 2024 we wanted to do some extended riding up north in areas entirely new to us.
Our plan is to start in Jasper, Alberta, Canada, where we are now, and make our way down to Banff via the Icefields Parkway, then pick up the Great Northern Bikepacking Route (GNBR) south to Fernie where we’ll hang a right and follow it to Vancouver and then to Victoria. From there, we’ll catch a ferry and make our way back to our car in Bellingham.
We have a bunch of possible variations to the route to choose from, and one fun part we anticipate is crossing paths with racers doing the BC Epic 1000, a 1000km independent bikepacking race that runs in the opposite direction to our planned route. Another anticipated section is the Kettle Valley Railway, a rails-to-trails track that goes over numerous old railway trestles.
From our Jasper Hostel we pulled out our boxed bikes, assembled them and then headed into town for some last minute supplies.
Later in the day we took a quick spin to check out the bikes.
We rode out on some biking paths, past a river and to a small lake along a golf course.
Heading back we encountered about 20 big horn sheep jumping down from some rocks and crossing the road to head off into the forest along the river. It was great to be so close to wildlife and it makes us eager to see what else we’ll see along our journey.
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