The Cowichan Valley 8 is a 190km figure-eight bikepacking route that starts and ends at the parliament buildings in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. This gem follows several regional trails, including the Galloping Goose Trail, Sooke Wilderness Trail, and The Great Trail. A mix of gravel, doubletrack, and paved paths create a scenic and rewarding route that can be easily ridden in a weekend or under...

Vancouver Island, located off Canada’s Pacific Coast, is a four-season playground for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Its mild climate and diverse terrain open up endless opportunities for year-round adventures. The Cowichan Valley 8 seeks to introduce these opportunities as a two- to three-day bikepacking route, sure to be appreciated by locals and visitors alike.

The route, roughly following the shape of a figure-eight, starts and ends in British Columbia’s capital, the city of Victoria. Not only is Victoria easily accessible for visitors, this vibrant city makes an ideal place to spend time before or after the ride. The Cowichan Valley 8 follows several popular, multi-use trails along the way, including the Galloping Goose Trail, Sooke Wilderness Trail, Cowichan Valley Trail, and Lochside Trail. Shortly after navigating Victoria’s urban pathways, you’re soon immersed in a scenic tour of what’s known as the South Island, eventually skirting alongside the Cowichan River before the return journey back to Victoria.

The Cowichan Valley lies within the Coast Salish First Nations territory, extending throughout British Columbia and northern Washington State. The route passes through several smaller parcels of First Nation land, including Songhees, Esquimalt, Malahat (MÁLEXEȽ), and Cowichan, the largest single First Nations Band in British Columbia. Along the way you’ll also see evidence of settler history, in the form of old railway, logging, and mining infrastructure.

The Cowichan Valley 8 makes for a perfect weekend escape for locals and visitors alike, and its diverse terrain and lush rainforests will have you wishing for more by the time you’re done.

Difficulty Having a route start and finish in the downtown core of a large city centre like Victoria means the route is accessible to a lot of people. This is exactly what we wanted, and we think that’s a good thing. That being said, the route is not without its challenges. The biggest climb is early in the route, just after passing Goldstream Provincial Park at about kilometre 24, topping out at about 1,480′. The majority of the route follows gravel doubletrack, and is non-technical. However, after heavy rainfall there are sections in the Sooke Hills Wilderness that can become rutted and soft due to runoff, which may be more enjoyable on a mountain bike with wide tires. When the trails are dry, the entire route can be comfortably ridden on most gravel bikes, assuming you’ve got proper climbing gears and the ability to tackle steep climbs and descents. Having a route start and finish in the downtown core of a large city centre like Victoria means the route is accessible to a lot of people. This is exactly what we wanted, and we think that’s a good thing. That being said, the route is not without its challenges. The biggest climb is early in the route, just after passing Goldstream Provincial Park at about kilometre 24, topping out at about 1,480′. The majority of the route follows gravel doubletrack, and is non-technical. However, after heavy rainfall there are sections in the Sooke Hills Wilderness that can become rutted and soft due to runoff, which may be more enjoyable on a mountain bike with wide tires. When the trails are dry, the entire route can be comfortably ridden on most gravel bikes, assuming you’ve got proper climbing gears and the ability to tackle steep climbs and descents.

Route Development: The Cowichan Valley 8 was inspired first and foremost by the good folks of the B.C Bikepacking Facebook Group, who assisted with the initial concept of a route starting and ending in downtown Victoria. Julian Brooks, a longtime Vancouver Island local, joined me to ride the route in its entirety, and was crucial to the development of the route and educating me on the history of the region.