Tips for Bikepacking the 10 Lakes Loop as a First Timer

Last year I got badly bug bitten. But there was no swelling or itching. The offending bug was content shared by a pair of bikepackers we sponsored with footbeds for their trip across North America. The symptoms were obsessive gear research and planning. The only cure was getting on my bike and getting out there.

For my first ever bikepacking trip, I chose the Ten Lakes Loop, north of Powell River, BC. The route is listed as an overnighter on bikepacking.com and ticked a number of boxes for my first ride: not too far from home, not too long, not too technical.

If you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’re considering the route as a first-time bikepacker yourself, and you’ve come to the right place. Here are my top tips for riding the 10 Lakes Loop as a first-timer.

#1 Inland Lake Provincial Park

Following the example of Sir Bikes A Lot on YouTube, I headed to Inland Lake Provincial Park after completing the 10 Lakes Loop. I followed the beautiful, flat, loamy single track along the lake shore to the back country hiking area on Anthony Island, where I ended up spending two nights (more on why to come).

This beautiful lake and trail are well worth exploring, extending your trip by a night on either end.

When you get to the island, be sure to follow the path beyond the hiking shelter and outhouse, through some bush, where you’ll find a more private site and a little path down to the beach on the lake.

#2 Dodd Lake Rec Site

When you reach Nanton Lake rec site you might be tempted to stop for the night, especially if you leave Powell River in the afternoon as I did, having left Vancouver in the early morning. 

I thought that Dodd Lake was particularly beautiful, and had an amazing site right down by the water with access to a private little beach. I would recommend pressing on as far as Dodd Lake if you have the time in the evening. 

#3 Signposting

The different rec sites and camping spots are signposted differently, and in some instances not at all. Don’t make the mistake of missing your turnoff because you’re looking for a wooden sign painted with white paint, when the sign is actually green steel with yellow print, or there's no sign at all.

It’s best to keep an eye on where you are using your GPS or phone, and head down the random side roads that will lead you to where you want to be.

#4 You don’t need an expensive GPS 

If you’re weighing up the expense of all the gear you need, here’s one area you might be able to save. On the bikepacking.com forum someone mentions that you need a GPS; that a phone won’t cut it. 

The truth is that a phone will work just fine with the right amount of preparation. I have a subscription to an app called onX Backcountry (there are others available, that's just what I use). This app costs a quarter of the price of a cycle GPS and works great on your phone. For most of the route there's no cell reception, so you'll need to prepare to use the app offline.

Download an offline version of the map area to your phone. Then upload the GPX file for the 10 Lakes Loop route which you can download from bikepacking.com) and save it to your profile on the desktop version of onX Backcountry.

Then, when you leave cell phone reception, turn your phone onto airplane mode to save battery, open the app, turn on offline mode, and open the 10 Lakes Loop route that you’ve saved.

I rode with my phone in my pocket for the whole journey. The route has sufficiently few turns that I had no problem stopping to take my phone out and double check I was going the right way every now and then. 

#5 Carry enough water

On the map, the route looks like it passes by the shore of many of the 10 lakes you pass, especially if you’re not well versed in reading topographical maps. The truth is that getting to the lakes can be a little bit of a trek down the unsignposted little side roads mentioned above. These can be rough going while pushing a loaded bike up and down. 

That being the case, I suggest carrying at least 2 litres of water, and filling from the streams and waterfalls you pass en route when the need arises.

#6 Don’t underestimate the stretch from Giovanno Lake to Duck Lake

You’ll have read about the rough gravel on the stretch of road that makes up the top section of the loop. Once you pass this section, heading south, you might expect the ride to get considerably easier as the road quality improves.

While the surface does undoubtedly get better, the elevation profile gets more hilly in the section south of Giovanno Lake. I found it pretty exhausting, especially as the fatigue of my first two days on a fully-loaded bike started setting in after Giovanno Lake.

#7 For most people, the main loop is probably a one-night trip

Due to my uncertainty about it being my first ever bikepacking trip, I had planned to spend two nights on the road in order to complete the loop in three days. But having camped at Dodd Lake on night one, the ride to Giovanno Lake on day two was too short to fill a day. Taking it pretty easy, filming as I went, I was at Giovanno Lake by just after lunch time. This would have left me sitting around all afternoon, so I decided to press on, all the way to Inland Lake. 

Now you’ve just read that you shouldn’t underestimate that stretch of road, but despite it ending up a pretty exhausting day, I don’t regret the decision to press on, all the way to Inland Lake. 

I think for most moderately fit people, planning to do the main loop in 1 night is a great option, with a second night at Inland Lake, even though it might feel a little daunting if you’re as inexperienced as I was. If you're planning to take it slower and spend two nights on the main loop, I'd recommend bringing a book or another way to kill some time.

#8 Yes, this is a great option, don’t overthink it

I loved this route. It was tough enough to feel like a proper achievement when I completed it, but not so tough that I felt defeated at any stage. 

There were beautiful views along the way. It felt isolated and wild enough. It tested my systems and gear thoroughly.