McBride sits in the Robson Valley, a broad, quiet trench between the Rocky Mountains and the Cariboo Mountains, with the Fraser River flowing through it on its way north before turning west and south. The village has a population of just a few hundred, and the feel of a place where everybody knows everybody. The valley is unusual because it holds an inland temperate rainforest, one of the few in the world, where western redcedar and hemlock grow in the damp, cool conditions created by mountains on both sides.
The Yellowhead Highway, Highway 16, runs through the valley, and so does the railway, with long freight trains rumbling past at all hours and the passenger train, The Canadian, calling in at the small station. The village has a handsome old railway station, a main street with a few shops and cafes, and a pleasant park by the river. Farms and hay fields spread across the valley floor, and on clear days the snow-covered peaks of the Rockies stand on the eastern horizon.
For a rider, this is a gentle, easy section. The road is wide, smooth and relaxed, with long curves and few steep gradients, and the scenery is lovely. Traffic is light outside the summer holidays, and logging trucks share the road, so give them room. Wildlife is plentiful, with moose, deer and black bears often near the road, particularly at dawn and dusk, so slow down at those times.
McBride has fuel, a small grocery store and a few places to eat, so it is a sensible stop on the long run between Jasper and Prince George, about two hundred kilometres to the west. Further along the highway lie giant old cedars and the Ancient Forest park, with a boardwalk through trees that have stood for centuries. Bring a warm layer, because evenings are cool even in summer, and keep an eye on the weather, since afternoon thunderstorms are common.