Vancouver Island

Cumberland

Photo by Mark Taylor

The unofficial epicentre of Island riding

Etched into the gnarly, forested hills spreading out from the Village of Cumberland are more than 80 km (50 mi) of Vancouver Island’s most legendary singletrack—where the trails range from fast and flowy to rugged and rocky, and where epic vistas are awarded to riders with the legs and lungs to get them there.

From the village’s decidedly chill downtown strip, you’re just a few pedal strokes from the loamy, rooty, and lovingly maintained trails that have made Cumberland one of British Columbia’s premier mountain bike destinations. Depending on which trails you choose, you’ll find combinations of flowy, forested singletrack (Space Nugget), fast, bermed descents (Bear Buns), man-made features like boardwalks and A-frames (Thirsty Beaver), or technical cross-country rides that will test your abilities and make you earn every exhilarating descent (Queso Grande).

Highest Elevation:

1,949 m

Trails:

easy: 17
intermediate: 102
difficult: 93
extra difficult: 14

Cumberland Inspiration

Uncover stories of this unofficial epicentre.

Getting Here & Trail Access

Situated on the east coast of central Vancouver Island, Cumberland sits in the Comox Valley which stretches from Fanny Bay to Saratoga Beach and includes the communities Courtenay and Comox.

From southern Vancouver Island, riders can drive to Cumberland by taking the oceanside route, Highway 19A, through the seaside communities of Fanny Bay, Union Bay, Royston before driving through Courtenay and onwards to Cumberland. For a quick drive, follow Island Highway 19 and get riding faster.

Driving Distances & Times:

Powell River via BC Ferries - 50 km (31 mi), 1 hour 50 minutes
Nanaimo - 100 km (62 mi), 1 hour
Victoria - 215 km (133 mi), 2 hours 30 minutes
Vancouver via BC Ferries - 180 km (112 mi), 3 hours 30 minutes

The Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) is centrally located, providing easy access to all points on central and northern Vancouver Island with daily direct flights from major cities including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and more on Pacific Coastal Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, and Harbour Air.