This route leads you along the water to the Iron Workers bridge where you jump on your first section of gravel following the Trans Canada Trail. As the route trends East through North Burnaby the trail is relatively flat with a minimal number of technical features. This most notable thing to keep an eye out for during this section is pedestrians; as it can see a high volume at times. Once you exit this section of trail, you’ll weave your way through Kensington Square, this is a good place to stop if you need to grab snacks or use the washroom. From there you’ll make your way to the South side of Burnaby Mountain. As you move through the neighborhoods, please be mindful of other people.

There are a few gravel trails surrounding the Burnaby Golf course which offer some fun little sections of single-track. This can get very busy at times, so if you are going to ride them, do so with caution. This will lead you into the start of the climb up the mountain, with the first bit being paved, it quickly switches to gravel. As your climbing the Trans Mountain Trail, you’ll come to a fork in the path. If you continue straight on the Trans Mountain Trail, it’ll take you down a small ravine and across a creek. Depending on the time of year this crossing may not be possible. Alternatively, you can branch right at the fork and then climb up the Forest Grove Trail. This is a tough, technical climb, but it is less dangerous than the previous option.

From there the route takes you on a quick stint along a service road while crossing Gaglardi Way. This road can be very busy, so please use caution. The next section is definitely my favourite part of this route; featuring a section of beautiful single-track climbing. In my opinion, the sidewinder climb offers the perfect amount of difficulty for climbing on a gravel bike.  At the end of the single-track you’ll join a service road again, leading you towards the top of the mountain. After traversing the east along the gravel path beside the road, you’ll meet up with the top of Cardiac hill. This hill is fairly steep and loose so be careful and keep your speed under control. Most notably, at the bottom of the hill you will need to take a sharp left-hand corner. From here you’ll follow the Trans Canada Trail to Burnaby Mountain Park; this is a great place to take a break and enjoy the view

From here you’ll travel through the park and cross Centennial Way, to continue on the Trans Canada Trail. This one presents a straight, fast descent to the bottom of the mountain. Now that your back on the bike route, you’ll retrace your steps through Kensington Square and back to the shop.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

This is a good winter/foul weather ride. The whole route handles precipitation well.