Distance

339km
% Unpaved

80%
Ascent

8849m
High Point

1724m
Difficulty

8/10
Fraser River Foray
The Fraser River Foray can be safely described as a tough and brutal route, which will challenge even the toughest riders out there as they take on the Coastal Mountain Range. With a majority of gravel and dirt trail riding, this route will test your technical riding skills. Peppered throughout with steep climbs, this route will challenge your legs and your mental willpower.
At 8849 metres in elevation, this route takes you up the equivalent height of Mt. Everest. This route is tough…and brutal. As said at the beginning.

This route was created by Chris Panasky, creator of the Bike Tour Adventures podcast.
Highlights
- Mighty Fraser River
- Ridge Riding
- Mountain Passes
- Huge Climbs
- Riveting Descents
Bike
At 80% gravel, this route will certainly challenge you. With the dry and dusty conditions around the Lillooet basin, you are going to want to make sure you have the right bike for the job.
- Mountain Bike: For mountain bikes, it is recommended to use tires on the bigger end of the spectrum, in order to provide as much comfort as possible. 3″ tires would be overkill, but something in the 2.25″ to 2.6″ range would be ideal. A full-suspension bike would be overkill.
- Gravel Bike: A cyclocross bike is not recommended for this route. That does not mean it is impossible to complete it on 38C tires, it just means that it would be overly difficult and possibly dangerous. If using a gravel bike with 700 wheels, you’ll want to have a newer style gravel bike that can accommodate tires in the 2″ or larger range. Many parts of the route can be ridden on smaller tires such as 45C, but some parts would be too difficult and risk injury.
- Setup: Run tubeless if possible. You can use bikepacking style bags or a hybrid setup with small panniers. A lighter set-up allows of easier riding, especially in the hillier and more technical sections. You are also going to want to have a wide-range of gear options for climbing the bigger and tougher hills.
Sleep
- Campgrounds: Check the POI’s for camping locations and use your diligence to look over the maps beforehand.
- Wild camping: The majority of the route would be off the beaten path and necessitate wild camping in order to get a good night’s rest. Be aware that you are in the mountains and bears are an ever present danger and should be well planned for. Keep your food away from your sleeping location and hang it high up in a tree. Also, do not cook close to where you sleep.
Food/Water
- Fresh water: Much of this route follows rivers and lakes, so there are ample opportunities to refill your water bottles. Be sure to carry a water filter or purification tablets to ensure you do not damage your stomach when you are away from populated areas.
- Restaurants/Cafes/Bars: There are few towns along the route where you can resupply food and snacks. Be sure to look over the maps carefully ahead of time to ensure you do not get caught out in the middle of nowhere without food.
Difficulty
I have not yet ridden this route, so any attempt at assessing the level of difficulty is being done by carefully reviewing the maps and looking at the terrain information. If anyone rides the route and has more clear and detailed information they can provide, please email me at bike@bikepackadventures.ca.
Average Physical Difficulty – 9
1-2 – Relatively level riding
3-4 – Regular rolling terrain with sustained climbing
5-6 – Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting
7-8 – Very rugged terrain with abundant climbing, some of which is very steep and unrideable
9-10 – Numerous very steep, climbs requiring bike-pushing and/or carrying
Average Technical Difficulty – 6
1-2 – Smooth riding surface with few obstacles (e.g., graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for novice mountain bikers
3-4 – Track has occasional obstacles and steep sections (e.g., maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); suitable for beginner mountain bikers
5-6 – Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for intermediate mountain bikers
7-8 – Narrow trail with regular obstacles, sustained steep grades; suitable for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers
9-10 – Very challenging riding with frequent large obstacles, exposure, very steep grades; suitable for advanced mountain bikers