The Adventure Routes Canada (ARC) Initiative!
Adventure Routes Canada (ARC), or Route Aventure Canada (RAC) in French, is an exciting new initiative by the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC) that aims to map, enhance, and connect adventure riding routes across the country. Whether you’re an experienced adventure rider, a tour operator, or someone passionate about exploring Canada’s incredible landscapes, ARC is designed to inspire and involve you.
What is ARC?
ARC is a national effort to promote adventure motorcycling by leveraging existing routes and creating new ones to connect provinces and territories. From the breathtaking trails of British Columbia to the serene pathways of Atlantic Canada, ARC will be the ultimate guide for adventure enthusiasts. The vision is to develop a network of routes highlighting Canada’s diverse beauty and fostering community and economic growth through tourism and local engagement.
How Can You Get Involved?
We’re calling on adventure rider enthusiasts from coast to coast to help make this dream a reality. Here’s how you can contribute:
- Route Design: Help map out and refine routes in your area.
- Tour Operators: Join as a certified operator offering guided tours along these routes.
- Adventure Community Support: Share your insights and connections or spread the word about ARC.
Stay Updated and Explore More
The webpage will be your go-to source for updates, route maps, and participation opportunities. As we progress, you’ll find tools, resources, and detailed information on how ARC can benefit riders, tour operators, and local communities. Check out the Website and sign up for the Newsletter
A Collaborative Vision for the Future
The ARC initiative will include a growing network of routes, points of interest, and marketing opportunities for local businesses and economic development agencies. By uniting passionate riders and communities, ARC is set to transform adventure riding in Canada and beyond.
Thank you for being so supportive as we launch this incredible initiative. Stay tuned for updates!
So what makes up Adventure Routes Canada?
This is a very new and ambitious project! Some parts like the TQT in Quebec have existed for a while already and well established. Out here in British Columbia, many of the parts of what will become the BC-ARC have already been published in many of my existing maps on this site. But what is coming with be a clear and distinct route from the Rockies and finishing on Vancouver Island! The TOT in Ontario is in the works and will be out soon. Atlantic Canada has their own Route coming soon. The rest of Canada will be filled in once the anchor provinces are published. Exciting times to come!!
Québec In Adventure Mode
An “adventure” loop of 5600Km that will allow you to live and connect with the rural Québec that was built by our ancestors.
From the magnificent Gaspé Peninsula with its superb mountains and maritime views, to the superb Charlevoix panorama, to the western lands in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains and lakes, see and listen to the sounds of wildlife, while driving on a properly prepared vehicle, you will experience incredibly fun terrain with your adventure motorcycle, overland truck or even on a Gravel Bike.
The BC-ARC, exploring British Columbia on two wheels!
The actual BC-ARC will be out soon, but in the meantime wander around here at I Think We Missed a Turn.com!
Want to get ALL the current up to date info in the BC Moto World? Join the Facebook group! It’s a place for us to post all the goodness, but also a place for you! Ask questions, report trail conditions, and post up all those pics after you have that awesome adventure!
So, here’s how the map works. The massive network is broken up into smaller tracks based on the type of riding surface and difficulty. And colour-coded for your convenience!
D-0 Green is paved
D-1 Blue is smooth unpaved
D-2 Red is Rough Unpaved
D-3 Purple is Spicy, Either more technical or has something on it that may be trickier for some rider/bike combinations.
I’m never going to make assumptions about your skill level or enthusiasm, you know you. Always ride to what you’re comfortable with.
There’s a few ways to check it all out. You can download the .KML file to use in Google maps and Google Earth. There’s a .GPX file that’s optimized for GAIA, and another .GPX that’s built for Garmin users.
There are waypoints for Camping, fuel, beer, motels, motorcycle shops, food, and cool places to see!!
If you find what we’re doing here at all helpful or valuable, your support would be invaluable. Well, I guess it would actually have value! There’s nine billion digital services needing to get paid to do what we do. Not to mention keeping fuel in the bike and coffee in the belly. I know not everyone can contribute financially, but if you can…..
Atlantic Trail system Coming Soon!
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Granby / Whatshan / Shelter Bay Route
Want a way to get from Grand Forks to the Shelter Bay ferry avoiding all that pavement through Nakusp? Have we got the answer for you! Stellar gravel riding through the Granby, Edgewood, Whatshan Lake and along the West shore
Lemon Creek Route
Heading up Six Mile Lake and down Lemon Creek is a classic dual-sport ride. The typical loop is just up, down and back on the highway through the Slocan Valley. But…..there’s options!! Download the .KML Download the .GPX View in
Glacier Route
Riding the loop around the Kokanee Park is a must do! Travelling through Nelson, Balfour, Kaslo, New Denver and through the Slocan Valley. It has some of the most flowy twisties anywhere. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia
BC Fuel Stations
It’s sorta one of those things. If you travel around, you need gas. And when you need it, you really need it! Here’s a map of places to get fuel. Is this EVERY station? Of course not. If you’re headed
Campsites
One awesome part of travelling in British Columbia is the abundance of Recreational Sites to camp at! I’m a camper. I’ve always been a camper. Awesome day rides are great, don’t get me wrong. But seeing the sun set behind
Kootenay Pass Loop Route
Ok folks, this one is a classic! A paved, smooth, flowy cruise, it takes the rider through some spectacular scenery. Along the North Shore of Kootenay lake, across the longest free ferry in the world, through the twisties on the
Castlegar-Christina Lake Route
Do you like beautiful Lake views? Do you like groomed railbed gravel? Do you like getting around a mountain pass on the pavement? Do you like old railway trestles? But….are you afraid of the dark? Bulldog tunnel is almost a
Trout Lake Loop
Discover the Kootenays on a breathtakingly picturesque circle motorcycle tour through the heart of the Selkirks, a 390-kilometre loop that starts and ends in Nelson, B.C., with stops in New Denver, Nakusp and Kaslo. Get the .gpx or .kml file
Buchanan Lookout
The Buchanan Lookout stands tall at 1,912 m (6,272 Ft) and offers stunning views of the Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Goat Range Provincial Park and the Purcell Mountains. Get the .gpx or .kml file via Gaia Gaia Tutorial
Gray Creek Pass
The climb to Gray Creek Pass is 5,000 ft of elevation gain in 16.5 km making it the highest dirt pass in Canada! The 6,850 foot high Gray Creek Pass runs between Kootenay Lake on the west and Kimberly to