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Adventure Routes Canada (ARC) Initiative launches
A new Motorcycle Adventure Route Initiative launches to showcase Canada’s beauty and connect riders coast-to-coast.
The thrill of adventure riding, both on-road and offroad, is about to get even better for motorcyclists across Canada with the launch of the Adventure Routes Canada (ARC) Initiative, an ambitious new project aimed at creating, enhancing, and connecting adventure motorcycling routes nationwide. This initiative is the brainchild of the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC).
Designed to celebrate Canada’s breathtaking landscapes and unite the adventure riding community, ARC will highlight existing iconic routes while developing new ones that link provinces and territories. The initiative promises to provide unparalleled riding experiences for motorcyclists while fostering community engagement, boosting local tourism, and creating economic opportunities for communities across the country.
“Canada offers some of the most diverse and awe-inspiring terrains in the world, making it a dream destination for adventure motorcyclists,” said Dave Millier, President of the MCC and one of the founding members of the Adventure committee that is driving this project. “ARC is about more than just the ride—it’s about building connections, supporting local businesses, and showcasing the natural beauty and culture of our country.”
Key Goals of the ARC Initiative
- Enhance Riding Experiences: Develop and connect a network of adventure routes that take riders through Canada’s most stunning landscapes. Unique to the ARC will be routes that are entirely paved, along with more challenging Adventure routes made up of on-road and off-road riding, including gravel, forest roads, logging roads, and unassumed road allowance, all publicly available routes.
- Community Engagement: Unite riders, tour operators, and local businesses to create a thriving adventure motorcycling community.
- Support Local Economies: Boost tourism and generate economic opportunities in rural and urban communities along the routes.
- Foster Accessibility: Ensure routes cater to riders of varying skill levels, from beginners to seasoned adventurers.
We expect to launch our first 4 regions for the 2025 riding season, including British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. More routes and more regions will be added over time. NSORRA’s own, Shereef Elkoshairi is leading the effort in Nova Scotia.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider seeking your next challenge, or a motorcycle enthusiast passionate about exploring Canada, ARC invites you to be part of this transformative journey.
To stay updated on the progress of this exciting initiative, please go to www.motorcycling.ca and sign up under the ARC link to receive updates.
About the MCC
The MCC began in 2004 as an alliance of regional associations, clubs as well as manufacturers and distributors with the aim of serving motorcyclists and the greater motorcycling community in Canada. Its goal is to foster the growth and development of motorcycling, lobby for changes to restrictive legislation, and promote motorcycle safety across Canada.
Two-wheel Passion
Adventure riding is one type of two-wheeled motorcycling. Your adventure can be a ride in the woods. It could be connecting trail systems on a linear journey. It could mean the grander concept of a transcontinental trail offroad system or could even involve crossing international borders. Bottom line is, we all have something in common as motorcyclists. Passion for and adventure on two wheels.
Depending on the KIND of bike we ride, our motorcycles are covered by two very different types of legislation. Blue-plated motorcycles in Nova Scotia are governed by the NS Public Highways Act which falls under the Department of Public Works. Dirt bikes from small to mid-displacement engines up to 500cc, by and large fall under the regulations contained in the NS Off Highway Vehicle Act. These bikes, when registered with red and white plates with an up-to-date permit and supporting insurance, are allowed access to designated and established trails contained within networks of private and Crown land by way of land-use agreement through OHV clubs that manage trails and infrastructure contained within these agreements.
Photos supplied by Robert Starkes, Rob Poirier and Shereef Elkoshairi
Photo 2 - Riding on the power line road from Taylor’s Brook to Hawkes Bay, Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland, August 2024 (riders Craig Goodwin, Rob Poirier - photo by Robert Starkes)
