BC Epic 2017 route

The 3rd Grand Depart leaves Merrit at 7am on June 30th 2018!

This a offroad, unofficial, completely self-supported bikepacking ride/race in the spirit the underground 'Tour divide' style and under the same rules. No registration, no support, no insurance, no prizes - I simply plotted a route and suggest a time for a unofficial group ride of it. You show up and ride at your own risk. The BC Epic is a 1000km (1066 to be exact), 11 600m elevation traverse across South Central BC starting in Merritt and ending in Fernie (or vice versa if you choose) mostly along the Trans Canada Trail. The route is about 80% off road on mostly old decommissioned railgrades (Kettle Valley Railroad from Brookmere to Midway, Columbia Western from Midway to Castlegar and Great Northern from Salmo to Nelson), with a few sections of challenging singletrack and the rest mostly rough gravel forest service road and about 100km paved. It is spectacular ride crossing through a great diversity of terrian and ecosystems with remarkable scenery, trestles hundereds of feet high and multiple tunnels (longest almost a kilometre!) along the bed of some of the most expensive railway ever laid through the mountains. There are plenty of camping, re-supply points and services along the route. Take on the challenge and ride the Epic!
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Please take note - don't let the railgrades decieve you - this is tough route! In the ingaugural run only 7 of 15 starters finished. The railgrade is often very rough with loose gravel, washouts and washboard and often hard work to ride. A crossbike is not suited for this surface. Although it had been completed with a trailer it is not recommended and the singletrack section between Castelgar and Trail is not doable with a trailer (it was bypassed by the rider who completed the route with the trailer).

This route is Unsanctioned, Ride at your own Risk!