British Columbia

Canada: Beautiful British Columbia

Maria Schumacher

6 min read

The view over Duffey Lake is just one of many of British Columbia’s iconic vistas, with turquoise waters in front of snow-capped mountains.

The slogan on British Columbia license plates is “Beautiful British Columbia,” and the riding here lives up to that reputation. The best time to avoid the Canadian province’s notorious rain ranges from July to August, but my partner Aidan and I have an extra long weekend in June and are determined to make the most of it. We leave Vancouver across the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, soaking up the views over the Burrard Inlet and the mountains beyond. The southernmost route along the North Shore heading west leads to the popular Marine Dr.

Today, our luck is in and we have the drive to ourselves. The smooth asphalt hugs the rocky coastline in sweeping bends and we glide through the twists and over the hills as one with our machines. The views open up over the blue sea glistening in the sunshine and tall, dark pines frame red tankers patiently waiting their turn in the bay.

Hwy 3 roughly follows the Canada-U.S. border east to west and is famous among riders for its sweeping bends and scenic views.

The road ends at a roundabout with different choices. We drop down into the quaint little town of Horseshoe Bay for coffee. This is a popular stop for riders and you’re sure to find a few motorcycles parked up along the seafront. Coffee in hand, we bumble between the bikes and down to the park to watch a ferry coming into the bay.