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. One of the astonishing things is that routes can be utterly wild yet almost 100 percent rideable on a gravel bike. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. Riders embark from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and then cross the San Francisco Bay three times on a multi-day journey through coastal prairie, chaparral, redwoods, rolling hills, and marshland. . I wished all the other riders safe pedaling in and out of San Diego, texted the organizers of the Stagecoach 400 to thank them, and turned off my Spot Tracker near Escondido. Eventbrite - Trek Bicycle Fort Wayne presents Bikepacking Clinic-Trek Bicycle Fort Wayne - Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Trek Bicycle Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN. The COLT bikepacking loop is a 450-km mix of rail, ATV and snowmobile trails with some good climbing on loose gravel roads. Most people start on the California border, where youll start with miles of high, open singletrack and endless views of some of the biggest mountains in the state, and then youll work north through a fabulous range of ecosystems towards the Cascade Range and the Washington State border. Gravel Guides; . The LA and Southern California bikepacking trips are best for riding in the spring or fall. The winter, spring, and fall are the best seasons to tackle this route; given the extreme heat in the summer months. Design a route: Use maps, guidebooks, websites and word of mouth to find roads and trails you can ride on. Southern California is known for its perpetual perfect weather, but it can get hot in the summer. The herd grew to over 4000 in the subsequent decades and decimated the islands vegetation. It happens to overlap with a bit of the Mendocino NF route I linked to above, and if thats any indication of the rest of the route, its probably tough! It seems like we currently have a wide-open slate on which to scout and explore our own routes. And, those more astute noted that should there be an injury on the bike, the time of vital health care professionals and a hospital bed might be taken at a time needed for those critically ill from COVID-19. 103 mi. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. One of these days Ill get back to the area and try out some bikepacking routes! RSF Gravel Route. With mounting points everywhere and big chunky tyres. To learn more Click Here. The Bay Area Triple Crossover links up a lot of the best options in the north and east bay, and includes three bridge crossings! The wide elevation range, from around 1500 feet up to nearly 8000 feet, means this route is best ridden in fall or early winter when temperatures arent too hot and snowpack at the high points is manageable. Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved. Descending Black Canyon in the darkness and waves of orange blossoms scents was glorious. There are some highly rideable miles, but these routes are still a step up from simple dirt road touring or gravel grinding. 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. Read more The itinerary. Come and find yourself immersed in the endless network of lonely backcountry gravel and dirt roads, forested paths and charming towns. One of the really great things about bikepacking is the online community, so theres often plenty of opportunities to find out about the logistics and trails in detail, including conditions on the ground and potential diversions. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. 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. We may not have endless dirt roads and camp-wherever-you-want land regulations, but bikepacking in the bay area has its own charms. Described by Logan Watts as an epic medley of singletrack, doubletrack, sand and tarmac, youll never forget the rocky, technical climbs, the sand, the canyons, the views and the nights under desert stars. I was over the moon to see my personal project of 2021/22, the 185km East Devon Trail bikepacking loop, was named in Bikepacking.com's 2022 Awards. Les diffrences entre le vlo Gravel, vlo de route, vlo de voyage traditionnel : Les caractristiques techniques qui distinguent ces types de vlos, notamment au niveau des pneus, des portes bagages, du poids total, et de la philosophie du choix de matos. Completed in 1997, the GDMBR was developed by Adventure Cycling Association, who continue to maintain highly detailed route maps and a guidebook. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. California Gravel Ride Recaps, Gravel Race Recaps, Gear Reviews | Ohio Gravel Grinders. It's easy to see why the national capital region has emerged as a bikepacking hot spot. 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. It evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, but with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. I absolutely love the Lost Sierra region for outdoor adventures of all kinds. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Forest roads and jeep tracks north of Highway 49 lead to ghost towns like Poker Flat. And whats more, there is no water in the park so youll need to carry it all with you for the entire trip. We share our tips and tricks for a successful bikepacking adventure. Quite different from the other expeditions here, this is a gentle but beautiful route thats ideal for bikepacking beginners: super-accessible, and dotted with campsites and accommodation, markets and eateries. 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. The Boboyan Divide Route. Beginning in Reno, it blends burly desert jeep roads with classic Tahoe singletrack. While 90% of the route is inaccessible to cars, there is a . After years of riding and evaluating 650b it became clear that, like on the mountain bike, the one set up that was more confidence . la mise en route a t laborieuse avec un beug persistant ncessitant une assistance de Sigmasupport. The small town of Julian on State Highway 79, just north of Cuyamaca, offers an excellent starting and ending point to a day ride or multiple day bikepacking excursion. 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. 35% pavement. Hi there, Im Alissa. Wild rocky scrub, huge empty spaces, tough canyons, and hurrah singletrack that weaves through swathes of the iconic saguaro cactus, which can grow up to 12 meters tall, will see you on your way. Awesome! The Julian Bikepack Challenge (JBC) is worth noting because Cuyamaca is at the heart of the mountain bike sectors of the challenge. Oregon Outback. I hear the section through Nevada is tough and very sparse on water and resupply options; research before attempting! The next day we rode the smooth gravel on Isthmus Road to our campsite at Little Harbor. In mid-February, my best friend joined me to circumnavigate Santa Catalina Island, one of the eight California Channel Islands due west of Los Angeles. Ranging from 25 to 150 miles wide, it's a stunning landscape of rugged coastlines, beaches, and inland mountains, and this route showcases it spectacularly. 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. Here are a few good places to start when looking for a bikepacking route in Central California: Tour de los Padres: This is a bikepacking event held annually on a variety of different routes in the region. 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. It's all about exploring the roads, gravel roads (or groads), and trails less travelled. We all gave double thumbs up for trail etiquette. Day 3: 76 miles | 6,900 feet. You can find routes created by adventurers across the globe on bikepacking websites. We had a late lunch at the only caf in Two Harbors grabbed a bottle of Chianti and frozen burritos at the General Store, and skirted the coast to Parsons Landing where we camped on the beach. Also check out my review of the Apidura bikepacking gear I road on Santa Catalina, Cuyamaca, and the Stagecoach 400 HERE. I've read about SF Traverse but am hoping for something a little farther away from home. Sandwiched between the misty beaches of the Pacific and the urban sprawl of the San Francisco Bay, stand peninsula mountains that beckon. There is dispersed camping along the way and accommodations at Big Bear Lake. Bikepacking, is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping, simply put, bikepacking. Though remote in some places, it also takes in a bit more civilization than the Baldy Bruiser, including quirky desert communities and sights like Joshua Tree, Salton Sea, and the unforgettable Slab City. Possibly one of the most exciting MTB bikepacking routes in the USA, this was designed from scratch for two wheels and is over 50% singletrack. Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath (opens in new tab). More flag On KUMEYAAY, COCOPAH, CUPENO, Agua Caliente & Serrano Land Distance 497 Mi. This route packs it all in just 40 miles, the first route in our 2019 Gravel Adventure Series #DirtChurch. The riding in Cuyamaca and the nearby wilderness areas weaves through oak and pine forests, across alpine meadows, sage-brush covered canyons, and frequent stream crossings. JULY - 2023. I recently had the chance to do a quick overnighter in the southern portion and it did not disappoint. Soon (most) everyone understood how staying put meant there would be less chance of contagion, especially by asymptomatic carriers. As one of the closest national forests to the Bay Area, Mendocino National Forest is an intriguing possibility. Carrizo Plain National Monument: Flat-ish gravel roads and wildflowers in the spring, with opportunities for wild camping in a vast landscape. Its seriously hilly - in fact, it averages more climbing per mile than the Colorado Trail (160ft vs 133ft) so its not for you if youre not on top form. This scenic 80-mile lollipop loop winds through parts of Joshua Tree National Park and can be completed in 2-3 days. This is meant to be a growing list, and I add reader suggestions from time to time. Patterson, and fly down the accompanying backcountry singletrack descents. Bikepacking.com and others have already developed several routes in this area, and there are many more options waiting to be explored. Hi , Just did my first bikepacking trip riding part of the baldy bruiser and my knees are still angry, lol. Climbing is plentiful and sometimes steep, and surfaces are varied. bikepacking roots is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization (ein 81-2622394) all content and route data copyright 2022-2023 bikepacking roots. 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. 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. 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. 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 combination of these two historic routes takes bikepackers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, all the way to Washington DC. Tour Divide racer winners may smash the whole route in a fortnight, but most riders would allow at least 6-8 weeks, with time to loll in pools, enjoy company and rest when you need to, and be sanguine about setbacks. Here are several standout bikepacking routes in Southern California, ordered roughly from north to south. Astonishingly almost all rideable, it takes you on dirt roads and jeep trails from Banff, in Alberta, Canada, to the Mexican border in New Mexico, via British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. If the 2,700-mile North-South Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (above) seems too tame, the East-West Trans-America Trail route will give you plenty of scope for dreaming. 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). Youll be amazed at how remote this ride feels in places, and how glorious the views are. Head into the wilds of West Wales; cross remote moorland, descend tranquil valleys, traverse forest tracks and get up high for big sky views. Original AR700 Coleman to Hinton, Alberta Route Details: 6 Days | 5 Nights | 720 km (447 mi) | +9,148 m (30,013 ft) | Start: Coleman | End: Hinton There are a few hotels in Borrego Springs, otherwise, its dispersed camping the entire time. Mountains, beaches, golden hills, desert There is something here for every kind of outdoor enthusiast. If youre anywhere near Phoenix, Arizona, and you want a taste of desert bikepacking, this one-nighter through the Sonoran Desert is your go-to. 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. The Fargo's versatility is important on such an epic route, since the 2700 miles include many long sections of fast-rolling gravel but also significant stretches of pavement and a few short rough spots. Expect to climb several long passes, including the day-long hike-a-bike up Mt. Bikepacking Central Oregon: High Desert and Volcanic Geology from K Falls to Bend. Highly recommended! This beautiful singletrack ride weaves through them and will feel like an endless geology and nature lesson. Close proximity to major metropolitan areas, particularly LA, keeps transportation time reasonable. Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). Thanks! Between Borrego and Idyllwild, there is the hike-a-bike through two miles of densely packed willows (think canyoneering but through branches), desert pedaling past abandoned bandit hideouts, ascending Coyote Canyon to cross the Pacific Crest Trail and then the long climb back to the where the route started. Routes are mapped and chronicled by a core group of experienced route designers and a thriving group of contributors from around the world. Orro has equipped it with a fast-shifting Shimano GRX400 2x10-Speed groupset and . Bikepacking in southern California often means desert landscapes and everything that comes with them: sand, rocks, rattlesnakes, hot summer days, and cold winter nights. It brings race competitors to tears, but when youre not riding it against the clock, its all just part of the adventure, right? Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams. 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. Recommended itinerary: Day 1: 70 miles | 3,500 feet. Gravel bike; Bikepacking kit; Garmin with pre loaded route; 2 nights B&B accommodation; Lunches & dinners; This gravel adventure bike features a durable and lightweight alloy frame and a reliable and stylish carbon fork. The whoosh of truck knocked us into the gravel shoulder. This route boasts giant metal sculptures, narrow canyon walls, with picturesque rocks and geological formations. 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). Some of the main features of this trek include Mt Baldy Ski resorts, Lake Arrowhead, Baldy Notch, and Angeles National Forest. 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The mountain loop of the JBC is serious mountain bike terrain over 158 miles with nearly 22,000 feet of climbing. But this year, because of the extreme precipitation, it meant even more road riding than I was willing to ride and still feel safe. It is more than 50% single track which helps to make this one of the most exciting bikepacking trails in the world. Amazingly, as well as cactus and juniper, the route takes you through a lush canyon of walnut and oak trees, and you may encounter a number of river crossings. Heres a short 46 mile loop that includes some of the highlights, and an even shorter 36 mile overnighter. Green Mountain Gravel Growler (opens in new tab). Arroyo Seco Indians Road / Coast Ridge Road / Fort Hunter Liggett: The northern part of Los Padres National Forest features some nice options for short bikepacking trips. 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. Bikepacking Scotland by Markus Stitz features 20 great multi-day off-the-beaten-track cycling adventures across the Scottish mainland and islands. You need to be logged in to use these features. The SoCal Desert Ramble is a staple of the bikepacking routes in southern California. See below for details on those other two routes. And the ride to Pamo Road was some of the best night riding ever. This 497-mile route takes you from San Bernardino, near Los Angeles to San Diego on the Mexican border. Learn more. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Its a perfect late autumn and early spring route; its rideable all through winter, but it can get super-cold at night. . I think youll like them, but you can unsubscribe at any time. Find our growing list of California bikepacking routes and content below. It travels through breathtaking mountain ranges, unusual volcanic landscapes, towering forests and picturesque lake vistas. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Cycle through the best terrain the Peak District has to offer, from gravel tracks to country lanes and stargaze from a giant tepee The route consists of small rural roads, stoney tracks, flagstone paths and ancient trails used by packhorses and drovers. Sierra Madre Road: As depicted in The Long Traverse film, this is an 80 mile day ride instead of a bikepacking route, but Sierra Madre Road jumps off the map to anyone interested in bikepacking in Central California. I came across this Catalina Bikepacking route while looking for a solo overnighter route during my winter trip out west. This is as much a tour of Vermonts fine smalltown eateries and microbreweries as it is a meander through its countryside. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about bikepacking and bicycle touring. Some of the best bikepacking routes are short trips found right in your backyard. Unlike the familiar coastal route, this trek takes you through the San Bernardino Mountains, Anza Borrego Desert, Joshua Tree National Park, and Cleveland National Forest. A great hint to help you choose your outdoor gear and clothing! Its accessible by ferry, crisscrossed by dirt roads (heres a map), and has several campgrounds and primitive campsites (reservations likely needed). Summer, not surprisingly, will fry you. The Stagecoach 400, originally established as a bikepacking race of the same name, is 380-ish mile loop out of San Diego. American bikepacking adventures from desert to mountain top and suitable for all abilities. The information found here is simply a resource for planning and inspiration to be used with your own due-diligence. Its 90 percent off-road, with less than 5 percent singletrack. 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The bikepacking routes in southern California take you through the mountains and peaks, forests, high and low deserts, and badlands. For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share Issue 07 Issue seven is a celebration of courage and discovery of what were capable of when we dont let others expectations define us Issue 06 examined a diverse range of topics, including embracing aloneness, rekindling a sense of adventure, grappling with failure, and many more Theres loads of gold in the hills and mountains of California. The five-part account by Tom and Sarah Swallow (opens in new tab) of riding the route before it became a race gives you an evocative picture of stunning landscapes, wild weather and human kindness. Les destinations sympa pour le bikepacking en France : Les spots les plus populaires. It was tough deciding between this and the 100-mile White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park just west of Moab. 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. I rode it in 2022 and was impressed. Bring a lot of water since the only reliable water is at Red Box Station. Congrats on the new bike and best wishes for some great adventures. The Stagecoach organizers didnt want to send us to the highways but this year it was inevitable given the flooded and unrideable trails. bikepacking roots and our logo are registered trademarks. Samen met collega Hans Tacken op pad geweest. It's well worth descending from the trail to towns along the way for coffee and snacks, and stocking up for the less populated second half. Only a small fraction of our trails and public land have been mapped and described from a bikepacking perspective.