Cycling the Islands, Updated Edition

by John Crouch

Overview

The essential companion for exploring the stunning landscapes and coastal charm of the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands — now updated with the latest route details and travel tips.

With more than 30 carefully curated cycling adventures across 11 unique islands, this full-colour guidebook offers everything you need to plan your ride: detailed maps, local history, scenic highlights, points of interest, road types, route conditions, difficulty ratings, and start-and-end directions. Full of vibrant photographs and written in a clear, friendly tone, it’s both inspiring and easy to use.

Whether you’re pedalling through rolling farmland, hugging dramatic coastlines, or discovering local culture along the way, you’ll find unforgettable routes in both Canada (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Gabriola, Denman, and Hornby) and the U.S. (San Juan, Lopez, Orcas, and Shaw).

Ideal for casual riders, seasoned cyclists, and anyone craving a slow-travel escape, Cycling the Islands is the ultimate guide to discovering these iconic islands by bike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771607759
Publisher:	Heritage Group Distribution
Publication date:	04/26/2026
Edition description:	Updated Edition
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 5.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

John Crouch has cycled for most of his life. As an adult, cycling has become one of his abiding passions. He has toured extensively throughout Western Canada, including riding from Whitehorse in the Yukon to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital; crossing the province in five days; and exploring the back roads of southern Alberta. He has also toured through western Washington State and once rode from Victoria to San Francisco just to attend a friend’s birthday. All of the long tours in this book he has completed more than once. As a competitive athlete, John has won both the Canadian Masters’ long-distance triathlon and duathlon championships in his age group, and he claimed the World Endurance Duathlon Championship in the 60–64 age category. John lives in Victoria with his wife, Lorinda. In addition to cycling, he enjoys walking in his local neighbourhood and hiking in the hills surrounding the city. He has written five guidebooks: Walk Victoria, Hike Victoria, Bike Victoria, Cycling the Islands, and Cycling Vancouver Island, along with a cycling memoir, Six Highways to Home.