Located in British Columbia on Canada’s west coast, Vancouver Island is home to one of the best adventure rides you’ve never heard of: the North Island 1000.
What is it? Picture dense old-growth forests, rugged mountains, waterfalls, lakeside camping, ocean views, and 620 miles of non-stop, big-bike friendly trail riding.
That’s what you’ll experience riding the North Island 1000.
We’ve got an insider’s guide to riding this incredible route in the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine, which you can get your hands on by clicking here.
If you want to discover more about one of Canada’s greatest adventure rides, read on to find out.
What’s the North Island 1000?
Looping its way around the north of Vancouver Island, the North Island is a 620 mile (1,000km) adventure riding route that mostly follows open gravel trails, along with options to leave the (slightly) more beaten path and explore countless trails that shoot off into the wilderness.
The main route takes you up mountain trails that offer incredible views of the island, and along the way, you’ll be able to get remote and camp in the forests and besides the lakes of the island, and visit charming small towns which are all very friendly towards adventure bikers.
What’s Vancouver Island like?
With a population of just 864,000 on an island a quarter of the size of England, there’s plenty of wilderness to explore on Vancouver Island.
The island’s unique West Coast geography combines rugged rocky mountains with lush temperate rainforest, an epic Pacific coastline, and vibrant rural towns that are worth visiting in their own right.
For adventure riders, Vancouver Island boasts an extensive network of trails. For those that prefer wide-open trails, there are graded logging tracks, gravel fire roads, and winding trails that are all perfect for big-bike riding.
If you’re after a challenge, there are also plenty of muddy tracks, rocky hill climbs, creek beds, and roads that only sometimes lead where they’re supposed to. That’s all part of the adventure, of course.
The north of the island is a particular haven for adventure riding, and that’s why the North Island 1000 exists.
How do I ride it?
Most local riders take between five and seven days to complete the route, but if you’re coming from further afield, we’d highly recommend that you set aside as much time as possible to ride it.
Any kind of adventure bike is suitable, from big GS Adventures to Ténérés to dual-sports. As always, smaller bikes are easier for trail riding when the going gets tough, but the North Island 1000 is designed with big bikes in mind.
You’ll need to have a fuel range of at least 125 miles, although there’s enough wilderness that it’s worth considering carrying extra fuel with you.
Discover the full guide to the North Island 1000
If this all sounds like the perfect adventure to you, read our full guide to riding the North Island 1000, complete with how to get your bike there, when to ride it, and the destinations you need to see while you’re there.
The full guide is available in the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine. Not only will you be able to discover everything you need to know about one of Canada’s greatest adventure rides, but you’ll get two incredible UK routes you can ride this weekend, reviews of the latest bikes and gear, inspirational travel stories from around the world, and loads more.
All this can be yours for just £6.99 with free UK postage. Click here to get yours today.
