Design a route: Use maps, guidebooks, websites and word of mouth to find roads and trails you can ride on. As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, I struggle with the lack of a true bikepacking scene here. 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And whats more, there is no water in the park so youll need to carry it all with you for the entire trip. This could easily be called 10 of the 100 best bikepacking routes in the USA this country is made for wild, wonderful self-supported adventures, and there are trips of a lifetime in pretty much every state. We all gave double thumbs up for trail etiquette. All rights reserved. Its well worth descending from the trail to towns along the way for coffee and snacks, and stocking up for the less populated second half. Having been re-directed around Sandy Bandy and Rapture Ridge dirt, I road on Highland Valley road. American bikepacking adventures from desert to mountain top and suitable for all abilities. Sign up to receive the free downloadable bikepacking town day checklist to help with your resupply stops: Youll also receive occasional emails with other bikepacking and touring resources. There is minimal trafficonly safari vehicles for sightseers and a few locals driving between the only two towns of Avalon and Two Harbors. Widely recognized as the birthplace of mountain biking, the Mt Tamalpais and Marin region is a special place where the ocean, coastal hills, and redwood forests converge. While cycling on Catalina is steep in all directions, the amenities available make it very comfortable, even decadent by bike packing standards.. On the morning of our third day we road 17 miles from the West side of the island ascending 2,400 feet on fire roads through the central valley eventually connecting to the coast and the steep descent into Avalon. With an elevation gain of only 1,805 ft, you may think this ride is on the easy side. Your obvious solution is to base yourself in Moab for at least a fortnight and immerse yourself in the endless riding opportunities. Read More Canaan Valley and the Forks of Cheat Depending on recent weather and use, the dirt track can be fairly smooth, or quite rocky. California Gravel Ride Recaps, Gravel Race Recaps, Gear Reviews | Ohio Gravel Grinders. As any endurance athlete will attest, the biggest challenge in long distance events is often voices of doubt that have the space and time to ferment in the mind, pedal stroke after pedal stroke. Bikepacking Central Oregon: High Desert and Volcanic Geology from K Falls to Bend. Its doable in three days and neither of the two on-route camping options require a reservation, though making it between them might require a push. I finished the pct this September 2021 for my 60th birthday havent used my bikes for at least ten years due to an autoimmune disease but with fortitude and planing I did hike from Mexico to Canada been training on an e bike and hope to put a few thousand miles on dirt this next year love your site and will stay tuned. I recently had the chance to do a quick overnighter in the southern portion and it did not disappoint. Summer, not surprisingly, will fry you. To bypass the bike-illegal sections and extend the route, several folks have mapped out variations that incorporate a mix of jeep roads, pavement, and other local trails. Climbing is plentiful and sometimes steep, and surfaces are varied. For example, Bikepacking.com has routes covering about 50 countries and totaling 85,000 miles complete with . It would make a lot of sense to extend that loop to the south and include the famous trails of the Marin Headlands, perhaps linking up with this North Bay Overnighter. We rolled our loaded bikes onto the ferry, secured them at the back of the vessel as choppy waters were forecasted, and found a bench on the upper deck for the 90-minute ferry from Dana Point ($75 round-trip + $8 for the bike). From the tough technical riding of the Ozark mountains, to the mentally grueling plains of the midwest, the exposed high passes of the Rockies and the huge stretches of unpopulated Nevada desert, this is utterly character-forming stuff. / 180 km 3-4 days SF Peninsula Traverse comment 137 time Oct 27 compose Guest Routes USA 146 mi. These routes are all rideable throughout the year thanks to a moderate coastal climate, though its best to avoid riding during or right after heavy rain. Two alternative tracks are included for making the route shorter. While 90% of the route is inaccessible to cars, there is a . If youre looking for spectacular scenery, this may be the route for you. The route today starts abruptly with a climb up a quiet mountain road, but the reward is a . Read more on the About Me page. There are stretches of this route that have no amenities for some time so its important to do some careful planning beforehand. You may not have heard much about the southern US state of Georgia, but its seven times the size of Wales, and spans a tantalizing mix of coast and mountains. BikePerfect is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Bikepacking & TouringRides and RoutesTips and SkillsBikes and PartsGear and Reviews, Hiking & BackpackingTrails and TripsGear and ClothingTips and AdviceTrip Planning Workbook, Adventure TravelExplore by RegionCamping and OutdoorsMindful Travel. Day 4: 66 miles | 3,300 feet. The North Dakota Badlands are an extraordinary maze of striped-rock canyons and grasslands classic Western movie territory. Theres a varied mix: dirt and pavement, seat bags and panniers, races and leisurely tours, short and long, solitude and good company. From Aqua Caliente the route follows the old stagecoach route to Ocotillo Wells passing parched cattle skulls and wind-carved sand dunes, eventually arriving for the requisite burritos in Borrego Springs. The Baldy Bruiser is a burly 150 miles of dirt road and 44 track through the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests. Triathlon and adventure racing fit into his meandering cycling past, as does clattering around the Peak District on a rigid Stumpjumper back in the day. Multi-day bikepacking routes. Cut out the climb over to Susanville (and the Bizz Johnson Trial). 5% singletrack. Check back regularly. Both challenge riders from low-elevation areas with a peak elevation of over 9500 feet. Elevation: 4000 ft. Start/End: The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA. As a proud Californian and bikepacker, Id like to help change this. The Bay Area Triple Crossover links up a lot of the best options in the north and east bay, and includes three bridge crossings! For this area I can only offer a few general leads, since I have yet to explore it much outside of Mendocino National Forest. Black bears can be a problem; youll want to hang your food at the very least, and ideally use a bar-resistant bag like the Ursack Major. In this post Ive collected a wide range of California bikepacking routes and trails organized by region. Its crisscrossed by gravel tracks so you could break it down into day-rideable chunks, but the opportunities for sleeping under the stars, and the campsites along the way make this cry out as a classic bikepacking adventure. To help share our favorite local routes Rockgeist will be publishing single overnight trips in the Blue Ridge Mountains and other areas on the East Coast. The new 700c x 50mm gravel bike tires are all exclusively available in Hutchinson's top tubeless-ready 127tpi construction with Hardskin puncture protection & dual-compound rubber, and only with natural tanwalls. Or wed load our bike onto Amtrak train for a few hours and then spend the weekend riding back home down the Pacific Coast. I only recommend and link to products I know and love. The Log Driver's Waltz and our other routes were created to encourage people to explore this region by bicycle. / 166 km 2 days Hereford Express Overnighter comment 9 time Feb 27 compose Guest Routes Canada 84 mi. The SF Peninsula Traverse is an easy-to-reach and easy-to-bail, weekend-warrior-compatible bikepacking route that will bring you deep in the forest where you will forget civilization, and high up on the ridgelines with expansive ocean and bay views. Both routes have a fair bit of singletrack, though Bones to Blue has more, and its ratio of climbing to miles is higher. We watched dolphins surfacing in the harbor before cooking dinner over a campfire as the sunset. I was donemy legs said yes, but my head was saying no. Still, were lucky to have many open space preserves here in the bay, and motivated local bikepackers have managed to link them up in some creative ways. A great time for this ride would be in the springtime when the temperatures are cooler and the wildflowers are in bloom. All the maintained campsites in Cuyamaca and Mount Laguna require reservations, but you can also find camping along the streams and meadowsbring your water filtration devices. Zeichne deine eigene Strecke mit App auf, lade den Trail hoch und teile ihn mit der Community. 364. / 135 km 2 days The bikepacking routes in southern California take you through the mountains and peaks, forests, high and low deserts, and badlands. I absolutely love the Lost Sierra region for outdoor adventures of all kinds. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Gravel bike; Bikepacking kit; Garmin with pre loaded route; 2 nights B&B accommodation; Lunches & dinners; This ride is usually done as a point to point but there are variations, including the 277-mile Fools Loop straight out of central Phoenix, for more experienced desert riders. Come and find yourself immersed in the endless network of lonely backcountry gravel and dirt roads, forested paths and charming towns. Puis ces . After years of riding and evaluating 650b it became clear that, like on the mountain bike, the one set up that was more confidence . The route mostly follows the Old Boboyan Road, which is a management trail through the area. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. I rode it in 2022 and was impressed. . Bikepacking in southern California often means desert landscapes and everything that comes with them: sand, rocks, rattlesnakes, hot summer days, and cold winter nights. You need to be logged in to use these features. Bikepacking 101 Bikepacking Routes The source for original bikepacking routes, guides, and dirt touring itineraries from off the beaten path. It is split up into 4 tiers and 10 segments. May 24, 2019 7 AM PT. And the ride to Pamo Road was some of the best night riding ever. We arrived just in time to catch Catalina Express back to Dana Point. Weather is often sunny year-round, and wide-open desert landscapes are good for the soul. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about bikepacking and bicycle touring. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams: Affiliate Disclosure: This site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. When I think about how big California is, and how much beautiful public land we have, Im embarrassed that this list is so short. Highly recommended! Thanks for reading! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Les destinations sympa pour le bikepacking en France : Les spots les plus populaires. Some riders may be more comfortable on a mountain bike with suspension than a drop bar rigid gravel bike. Los Angeles certainly isnt famous for its bike routes and trails, but there are some great options not far from the city. Hello! Henry Coe State Park, down south near Gilroy, is the only Bay Area park where true backcountry camping (outside designated sites) is allowed. The northernmost section (Arroyo Seco to Gorda) and southernmost section (from New Cuyama to Santa Barbara) are the highlights in my opinion. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. The next day we rode the smooth gravel on Isthmus Road to our campsite at Little Harbor. Theres a lot of variety on this route, from coastal riding to ridgetop views, and singletrack trail to paved highway. RSF Gravel Route. More flag On KUMEYAAY, COCOPAH, CUPENO, Agua Caliente & Serrano Land Distance 497 Mi. A string of national forests, state parks, and other public land can be linked together for days of access to backcountry dirt roads and 44 tracks with free dispersed camping. Pack the Coast (bikepacking) - Morro Bay 10 - Truckee Dirt Fondo, Truckee. I hear the section through Nevada is tough and very sparse on water and resupply options; research before attempting! Microwave Pizza Pockets, dill pickles, and hot chocolate were on the Chevron Station menu. Given the proximity of the mountains, lakes, forests, and deserts, youre able to have a variety of options, so hop on your bike and enjoy the ride. Add mellow bike paths, remote forest roads, fantastic camping real estate, and an abundance of swimming spots and it makes a wonderful introduction to this beautiful area. Great Divide Bikepacking Route: Essential Q&A. Some of the best mountain biking trails close to my home are found in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (40 miles east of San Diego). BT 700 BIKEPACKING - Home Situated in Southwestern Ontario, the BT 700 is a 798 km loop (used to be 700) in southwestern Ontario designed for any rider who revels in unpaved backcountry roads, testy climbs and trails through thick forests. October 12, 2020. Picking the right season is everything, as is planning your transport, knowing where your water is coming from, and knowing how to fix your bike 100 miles from anywhere. My little trip just barely scratched the surface of this vast web of forest service roads. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. Thank you for your site and blog. Day 3: 76 miles | 6,900 feet. Youll be amazed at how remote this ride feels in places, and how glorious the views are. Bikepacking in Central California is dominated by the extensive Los Padres National Forest. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route: The biggie, the classic, the route that this style of bikepacking bike was basically designed for. I havent had a chance to explore these yet, but here are some other areas of northern California that look intriguing: More of those backcountry discovery route ideas here. Share your location with friends and loved ones during an activity. Think of bikepacking as a camping trip you take with your bike. Discover the most beautiful places, download GPS tracks and follow the top routes on a map. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. The route heads out east from the relaxed city of Boise, towards the Sawtooth Mountains and takes you through sagebrush, ancient forest, valley edges and wild open spaces, on quintessential smooth gravel, singletrack and forgotten access roads. . The 50mm gravel tires are made-in-France and sell for 50 for the smoother Overide, or 53 for the more knobby Touareg & Tundra. As one of the closest national forests to the Bay Area, Mendocino National Forest is an intriguing possibility. Short description. October 17, 2020. I only recommend and link to products I know and love. Descending Black Canyon in the darkness and waves of orange blossoms scents was glorious. Dont expect to have any of the trails or roads to yourself in this busy area, especially on weekends. As I was thinking about how much pavement lay ahead of menearly 100 detour miles on highwaya large truck passed by me and its rear-view mirror almost clipped my head. Our full list of bikepacking routes and off-road bike touring routes from off the beaten path, logged and chronicled by contributors from across the globe. Your experienced riding buddy in digital form: 140 mobile-friendly pages packed with how to's, problem solving tips, and hard-earned wisdom from the trail and road. Go in spring, and you may see the desert bursting into flower. Since I too live in the Bay Area, Ill be looking at some of those trails to get started but also love the Sierra Nevada. We have so much gorgeous land to explore! Be sure to take the option of the wild endless Porcupine Rim descent down into Moab. We called our trip the TransGabriel Challenge: three days, 78 miles and 18,000 feet of climbing by bike on dirt and gravel . Im an old mountain biker that got his bike stolen about 7 years ago and took up backpacking. Its relatively straightforward (and memorable, if you havent done it) to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, for anyone who wants to add a visit to San Francisco into their trip! Wild plains, jaw-dropping mountain views, classic desert, pine forests and snowy passes its all here. Traversing the spine of the continent and crossing the Continental Divide 30 times, theres no shortage of climbing, and the states it passes through are like a Top Trumps of North American landscapes. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Its not a pushover though youll need to plan your logistics well, there are a couple of significant river crossings, and its worth planning to avoid rainy periods the regions infamous bentonite clay is death to drivetrains. Carrizo Plain National Monument: Flat-ish gravel roads and wildflowers in the spring, with opportunities for wild camping in a vast landscape. The area offers lakes, a few campgrounds, and lots of forest, along with plenty of climbing. Still, there is a lot of potential for bikepacking in the Sierra Nevada. Only a small fraction of our trails and public land have been mapped and described from a bikepacking perspective. JULY - 2023. It travels through breathtaking mountain ranges, unusual volcanic landscapes, towering forests and picturesque lake vistas. Lower elevation in the desert can be brutally hot during summer. For bike packing resupply, the shops in Pine Valley are centrally located in the Cuyamaca area. Gravel Routes in California - Gravelmap Map Search Hi , Just did my first bikepacking trip riding part of the baldy bruiser and my knees are still angry, lol. Riding through the ashes of the catastrophic wildfires that plagued California in Summer 2020, this overnight bikepacking route takes in a contrasting variety of charred and unburned ridgelines through Henry Coe State Park that will inspire your spirit and test your legs Set within the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Tahoe Twirl circumnavigates the vast and mesmerising Lake Tahoe. Gravel Bike with Shimano Dura Ace 6 years warranty & 30 days Return Policy Bikes directly from the manufacturer Discover here! Pretty much any long ride is sure to involve some pavement and at least a bit of busy road riding. bikepacking roots and our logo are registered trademarks. Nous avons cr pour vous des aventures et micro-aventures en gravel, en triathlon, en vlo de route, en VTT sur une journe, deux journes, une semaine, deux semaines. Perhaps like many of you reading this, Ive come to deeply appreciate a time just weeks ago when we could roll out of our front door, or drive to a trailhead, and meet a couple of buddies to ride to a campsite. I love unstructured rambles, but lets face it, when vacation time is short sometimes an established and pre-mapped route is exactly what you need. Completed in 1997, the GDMBR was developed by Adventure Cycling Association, who continue to maintain highly detailed route maps and a guidebook. With these considerations in mind, I mapped out the following route favoring gravel roads, paths, and small roads: San Bruno - Pacifica/Linda Mar - Half Moon Bay - Pescadero - Big Basin - Skyline - Los Gatos Day 1: San Bruno to Half Moon Bay My adventure began with a ride to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. / 800 km 10 days The SoCal Desert Ramble, Southern California comment 146 time Mar 10 compose Cass Gilbert USA 112 mi. I dont recommend coming to the bay just for the bikepacking, but if youre in the area or passing through and want to explore what the area has to offer, here are a few routes to check out. While I really enjoy making up my own routes, I would also love to see more established routes that would make bikepacking in California a bit more accessible. You will need to carry all your water with you for this trip since there are no reliable water sources along this route. Beginning in Reno, it blends burly desert jeep roads with classic Tahoe singletrack. Even the legendary Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which often crests above 10,000ft in its 2,700 miles, fits this category. Wider handlebars: Gravel bikes intended for rougher terrain usually feature wide flared drop bars for better control. Sacoche de cadre bikepacking; Sacoche de guidon bikepacking; Sacoche de selle bikepacking . The Wolf Bikepacking is offering 3 routes (180, 167, 167 km) for gravel bike. It's about exploring places less traveled, both near and far, via singletrack trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads. All rights reserved. If youre looking for something short, sweet, and close to the city, the LA Observer Route may be your ticket. Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. Winter can work well for lower-elevation routes (check snow conditions for any sections over 6000 feet or so). Cheers! 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Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved, Route Guide: Central California Mixed-Terrain Bike Tour, Bikepacking Grand Staircase Loop in Southern Utah, Mendocino National Forest Bikepacking Overnight: Letts Lake Loop, California Bikepacking: Route Ideas in Every Region, Bikepacking Boise to Elko: Big Skies and Endless Gravel in Idaho and Nevada, Bikepacking Central Oregon: High Desert and Volcanic Geology from K Falls to Bend, Cycling the Alps 2 Ocean Trail in New Zealand: Overview + 4 Day Itinerary, Cycling Boise to Klamath Falls: Quiet Highways + Oregon Outback Bikepacking Route, How NOT to Bikepack the New Mexico Off-Road Runner, Black Mountain Overnight: Mini Bikepacking Adventure in the SF Bay Area, Idaho Smoke n Fire 2022: Rewarding and Fun Despite Tough Last-Minute Reroute, Bikepacking Bones to Blue: Singletrack Trial By Fire around Lake Tahoe, Pinyons and Pines Bikepacking Race: Dust, Rocks, and Sunshine in Northern Arizona, Tour de los Padres 2022: Burly Bikepacking Adventure in Central California, The Big Lonely 2021: High Desert Bikepacking with a Snowy Twist, Smoke n Fire 2021: Third Times the Charm, Idaho Smoke n Fire 2019 (and 2020) Bikepacking Adventure, Bike Nonstop US 2019: Lessons Learned From 3500 Miles at the Back of the Pack, Bike Routes Across America: Top Touring and Bikepacking Routes Compared, Oregon Bikepacking: 6 Scenic Routes For All Styles and Experience Levels, 6 Epic USA Bikepacking Routes with (Mostly) Non-Technical Riding, 7 Long Rail Trails in the US (Perfect For Bike Touring). This 376-mile route has it all. bikepacking roots is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization (ein 81-2622394) all content and route data copyright 2022-2023 bikepacking roots. Summer is the best time to bikepack in the Tahoe area, since high-elevation areas will be blocked by snow through winter and spring (theres a reason the area is famous for its ski resorts!). Four hundred miles of lung-busting alpine climbs, desolate desert terrain where you need to carry many liters of water, wind-swept highways and peanut butter mud, and frequent hike-a-bikes in unrideable canyons and soul-sucking sand. Guide pointing to a snow-covered Four Peaks! After a long stretch alongside the winding Youghiogheny River youll eventually climb to the top of the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,392 feet, but its super-gradual - the gradient is rarely over 1 percent, as youd expect from a disused railway line. The winter, spring, and fall are the best seasons to tackle this route; given the extreme heat in the summer months. Thirty riders showed up in the morning for breakfast fuel at Higher Grounds as snow and sleet fell outside. The switchback road ascends for three miles through eucalyptus forests with gradients reaching 14%. Starting and ending in Borrego Springs, the Anza-Hapaha Loop covers 83 miles of canyon, desert, and badlands. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. AU, Leg 1 - Perth to Adelaide, complete! It includes a long stretch of Bolinas Ridge road, which jumps off the map to anyone looking for long ride possibilities in the area. The new Pony Express Trail is hardly just a California bikepacking route; it extends all the way to Missouri! If 670 miles is a smidge too much for you, there are lots of ways to enjoy bits of the trail - this 120-mile loop is easily accessible from Portland, for instance: Anaxshat Passage (opens in new tab). The utter bliss of bikepacking in the backcountry. The full 500-mile version traverses five mountain ranges and three distinct biomes, always choosing the more challenging option at each junction. But if you like gravel roads, they seem like a useful starting point. Its roughly based on a classic extreme motorbike route, around 70% off-road. Youll also find simple campsites more often than in the UK. Canada. If you're a city dweller in search of a hearty, long weekend adventure, then this is the challenge for you! Highlights: Fun singletrack, river crossings, beautiful roads, remote canyons, steep climbs. This is as much a tour of Vermonts fine smalltown eateries and microbreweries as it is a meander through its countryside. With 67 miles of unpaved road, this route takes you through a desert landscape of rock formations, Joshua Trees, and some great viewpoints. The Doing Miles ride report, 2022 TDLP, and my Central California loop all include parts of this area. I was keen to shave a day off my time this year. Difficulty Challenging Accommodation 4* Nights 2. Rides: Specialized Chisel Comp; Canyon Inflite CF SLX; Canyon Aeroad; Roberts custom road bike.