The Big Ride - Local Advice Please

[Mark]

OK - I now have a rough route planned for 2012.

- Western side of the US and Canada.
- 38 Stages
- 10,617 km (6,636 ml)
- 10 States / Provinces

The big question is, am I missing some gem in the form of a road or a destination that is a must do/see?

Keep in mind this is a riding trip and the primary reason for this expedition is to ride.
This is about the journey and not the destinations, so although we have linked in some obvious locations to pass through it has been a focus of this plan to find the best bike roads and avoid the highways.

We are looking to do this during the US summer - July-August.
I know this will be hot in the southern deserts but it makes the north accessible and the coast pleasant.

For anyone who can spare some local knowledge or experience with any of the areas we a looking to pass through - please let me know if there are any omissions or "don't bother" sections.

I've broken the map down into three sections on Google Maps but they are still quite large and the links can be a little problematic at times - hope they display OK.

Map Route - Section 1 of 3 – Portland, OREGON to Grand Canyon (Sth Rim), UTAH
Distance: 4,047 km.
Google Map Reference -

http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=e ... .54248&z=6

Map Route - Section 2 of 3 – Grand Canyon (Sth Rim), UTAH to Banff, ALBERTA
Distance: 3,419 km.
Google Map Reference -

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&sour ... 578125&z=6

Map Route - Section 3 of 3 – Banff, ALBERTA to Portland, OREGON
Distance: 2,607 km.
Google Map Reference -

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&sour ... .27124&z=7

[sweatmark]

Mark-

Great trip. Since you have emphasized the ride, I strongly suggest the following:

From Prospect, OR to Grants Pass, OR... best to overnight and rest for an epic day of riding.

>From Grants Pass take 199 to west O'brien, OR
>take Waldo Road / Indian Creek Road to Happy Camp, CA
>follow 96 along Klamath River to Willow Creek, CA
>then 299 to Weaverville, CA
>then continue on 299 (via short segment CA3) to Redding, CA
>shorth run southbond on I-5 to Red Bluff, CA
>from Red Bluff to Fortuna, CA on CA36
>Stop for the night and revel in the best day's riding you'll ever experience.

Continue south on 101 to Leggett and Hwy 1.

You might also consider the route from Lake Louise to Vancouver through Lillooet and Whistler.

[Mark]

Thanks for the input - so like this?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 876709&z=7

Does this provide the opportunity to ride through the large redwood forests?

[Mark]

Sweatmark,

Can you give me a little more info on the Canadian leg?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... e=UTF8&z=7

This is mostly on Highway 1 - CA1.

Why do you think this is preferable to the out of the way journey I had (with no knowledge at all) added to my map?
I know nothing of this part of the world so I was trying to go "back road" and cross a couple of rivers.

[Caol]

Hi Mark,

From your initial post - a small modification, if you'd like to avoid a seasonal/gravel road between Kimberly and the ferry landing at Kootenay Bay:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&sour ... 7&dirflg=d

The rest of that area should be awesome.

Kyle

P.S. - Hopefully I'll be living in Creston (southeast BC) by then!

[Caol]

This might help too!

http://www.destinationhighways.com/


(I'll admit I am a bit biased - BC DH1 is Creston -> Kootenay Landing! )


kmw