I’ve biked over 10,000 miles (enough to stop counting) in nine countries and still haven’t kicked the bike travel bug. Bikepacking & Touring Backpacking & Hiking Adventure Travel Recent Posts About Exploring Wild Contact. Large sections of the loop are open to mountain bikes, and the ones that aren’t can be bypassed on jeep roads and other options. Largely making use of an extensive network of rail trails including the Haliburton Country Rail Trail and the Great Trail that have been converted over from a once thriving railway, the Central Ontario Loop Trail (COLT) links together a handful of communities that were once major players in Ontario’s mining and forestry industries of years gone by. BT 700 is a 700 kilometer bikepacking route in Southwestern Ontario that takes place mainly on trails and rural gravel roads. I had prepared my legs, and perhaps more importantly, I felt like my head was in the right space. Cick the link to see them plotted or select from the links to the right to filter. My buddy was riding a fully loaded Surly Crosscheck with 35 mm tires and was challenged on the singletrack but on all other roads it worked well. I’m Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Snaking across mid-Wales from the English border to the coast in a most indirect 175 kilometres, the route is, nominally, one made for mountain bikes, but on an appropriate gravel … If so, please consider sharing so it can help other explorers too: For a short two or three day trip, Catalina island has several established campgrounds and lots of dirt/gravel roads. Linking to the existing Oregon Timber Trail and the Baja Divide. And now, in this liminal space, where we inhabit at socially acceptable distances from each other, I wanted to offer my thoughts on the three bike packing gems of Southern California - Santa Catalina Island, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and the formidable Stagecoach 400. Congrats on the new bike and best wishes for some great adventures. The Log Driver's Waltz, a new 800-km gravel bikepacking route, delivers adventrue as it winds around Ontario and Quebec The bike Many different setups would work, … But if you do choose to ride, you’ll be completely on your own.”. I love making up my own routes, but let’s face it, when vacation time is short sometimes you need to know what you’re getting into. I recently had the chance to do a quick overnighter in the southern portion and it did not disappoint. I haven’t had a chance to explore these yet, but here are some other areas of northern California that look intriguing for bikepacking: More of those backcountry discovery route ideas here. 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. The debate was short-lived. Here are the routes and regions on my list to explore: The actual Tahoe Rim Trail is a backpacking route, which I’ve thru-hiked and definitely recommend. Three years ago, Johan Cronje, a local bike packer, created the 300-mile JBC that takes in the mountains of Cuyamaca (and beyond), the trails to and from the Pacific Coast, and the sands of the Anza-Borrego Desert. If you have a great route to suggest, please comment below! We passed bison, deer and fox along the way. Though I’ve spent plenty of time backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, I must admit I haven’t done much bikepacking there. Click on a point to delete it, or click and drag to move it. Long a popular playground for ATVs and snowmobiles, bikepackers are increasingly making their presence known on these trails as the route is within easy striking distanc… Only a tiny fraction of our trails and public lands have been explored and described from a bikepacking perspective. From scenic overnight trips to epic journeys, explore these public lands on I'm seeking any extended bikepacking routes in California for atleast 130+ miles. I'm located in San Diego, however am not opposed to travel north. Henry Coe State Park, down south near Gilroy, is the only Bay Area park where true backcountry camping (outside designated sites) is allowed. For more information, please contact the Gravel Growler coordinator, Ron Wilson, at gravelgrowlers@tbn.ca. 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. There are some routes that are made classic by their sheer perfection, and others by races. Route Details: 4 Days | 3 Nights | 550 km (342 mi) | +3,874 m … 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. And the ride to Pamo Road was some of the best night riding ever. This post is all about how to safely and enjoyably plan your own bikepacking (or gravel or dirt touring) route through some of the biggest unpopulated spaces the US has to offer. For bike packing resupply, the shops in Pine Valley are centrally located in the Cuyamaca area. Six Rivers National Forest, closer to the coast. Soon (most) everyone understood how staying put meant there would be less chance of contagion, especially by asymptomatic carriers. Classic Routes. Bones to Blue is another option with more singletrack. It happens to overlap with a bit of the Mendocino NF route I linked to above, and if that’s any indication of the rest of the route, it’s probably tough! Shasta Trinity National Forest: this backcountry discovery route could be a starting point. Oregon. Tam and the Marin Headlands. The Stagecoach route begins in the mountain town of Idyllwild, heads over a few alpine sections and down to the desert and dogs of Anza, passes Lake Henshaw and the glorious gravel and singletrack descents along San Dieguito River Park towards the salty air of the Pacific Ocean. Bikepacking: Off-Pavement Bicycling and camping where you would if you were to … The route we did is not possible on a gravel bike. 117 votes, 14 comments. It’s accessible by ferry, crisscrossed by dirt roads (here’s a map), and has several campgrounds and primitive campsites (reservations likely needed). Please be sure that your submission is accurate, traversable and correct, and doesn't cross private or restricted property. Most of this route is doable on 35mm, but there are a few stretches where wider tires might be welcome, especially early in the spring or after a significant rainfall. Spring and fall are excellent times to bikepack in the southern California desert, and winter usually works too as long as recent storms haven’t dumped too much snow. 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. Thirty riders showed up in the morning for breakfast fuel at Higher Grounds as snow and sleet fell outside. The Routes Map. The resort town of Avalon at the island’s southern tip would make a posh place to relax before, during, or after your ride. Reports Matteo Pistono May 12, 2020 southern california bikepacking, san diego bikepacking, catalina bikepacking, cuyamaca bikepacking, catalina gravel routes, apidura bikepacking, stagecoach 400 route, bikepacking, covid-19 But if you like gravel roads they seem like a useful starting point. Use greenways, cycle-specific paths, and dedicated bike lanes. The route uses public rights-of-way ranging from short sections of pavement to remote and rugged ancient roads. …gravel/gravel-plus bikes are way more capable off-road than thought …Tunnocks Tea Cakes will never last a pass storm, intact …a 4-minute brew time is well worth the wait …a kettle (teapot) is useful on a bikepacking kit list; an umbrella not so much …a positive attitude can turn any pass storm into a sprinkle. The mellow 16-mile ride left us time for cold plunges in the Pacific Ocean and hiking along the cliffs above Shark Harbor. Combining urban trails and tarmac, the route turns due south through metropolitan San Diego area and then veers east, climbs steadily for a day along the Sweetwater River up to Alpine before derailleur destroying descents through Oriflamme Canyon and there the riders meet the desert sands. Odyssey 700 is our 700 mile bikepacking course created by our very own Ryan Spitz, it takes your from the southern tip of Oregon all the way down to Stinson Beach, just north of San Francisco. Started in 2016 by the late Ryan Correy, Bikepack Canada continues to grow with a podcast , an active Facebook forum , an online store with exclusive and hard-to-find gear , a growing network of routes , plus our annual summit ! I absolutely love the Lost Sierra region for outdoor adventures of all kinds, and thanks to the Downieville Classic race it offers a killer mountain biking scene. You can also modify the route for more or less pavement, more gravel roads, more single track or … Hurt’n’ Albert’n, Beiseker, Alberta. South of the highway, still in Tahoe National Forest, a vast web of dirt roads branch off from Henness Pass Road near the tiny town of Forest (which has some nice singletrack nearby). Here are the three standouts: Baldy Bruiser: 150 miles of challenging dirt road and 4×4 trails through the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. Microwave Pizza Pockets, dill pickles, and hot chocolate were on the Chevron Station menu. With over a hundred miles of single track, it is perfect for weekend bikepacking. With the help of specialized bikepacking bags tightly […] Click while holding the Ctrl or Command key to add a line without snapping to nearby roads, or change the Draw Mode to the setting in the toolbar below. Riding in this area generally means desert landscapes and everything that comes with them: sand, rocks, rattlesnakes, hot summer days, cold winter nights, snow at higher elevations in the winter. There are some routes that are made classic by their sheer perfection, and others by races. Why: For the best gravel rides in New England, great food, and roads so winding that a compass can barely keep track, D2R2 is one of the best events (and routes) around. Brendan Collier, the founder of the Stagecoach 400, and Meg Knobel, who has taken over the reins as Master of Stoke, decided to move ahead with the race, though with a warning. 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). Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. This rugged island off the coast of LA was suggested by a reader, and looks like it would make an amazing 2-3 day bikepacking trip! Classic Routes. This particular route climbs over and through more than 15 named passes and poorts. The Pony Express Bikepacking Route, currently in the final stages of development, begins in St. Joseph, Missouri and covers more than 2,200 miles as it makes its way to Sacramento, California, crossing Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California along the way. Is bike packing irresponsible in the time of coronavirus, even if it is totally self-supported? The 2020 Stagecoach 400 almost did not happen, not because of the coronavirus (we were a week before the stay at home order) but because of the biblical levels of rain, flooding, and landslides on the course. Forest roads and jeep tracks north of Highway 49 lead to ghost towns like Poker Flat. Gravel Routes in California - Gravelmap Map Search • The new Pony Express Trail is hardly just a California bikepacking route – it extends all the way to Missouri! Tennessee's Southern Blue Ridge Mountains (just south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) are home to some of the best gravel cycling roads in the eastern U.S., offering unparalleled scenery and challenge. It not only takes in the best of Cuyamaca terrain but the single track and gravel roads in the adjacent Pine Creek and Hauser Wilderness areas. Was this helpful? It’s fun out there… The whoosh of truck knocked us into the gravel shoulder. The Stagecoach is serious. Bikepacking is the way to go for a detour of the world or even the whole off-road adventure. Learn more or say hi. Gravel Bike California shares tips and resources to help you plan out your own gravel routes and to help verify the ones already out there. The path to go bikepacking is increasingly popular among all types of runners. As bikepacking gains traction, it’s becoming easier to get into, with the emergence of sturdy specialty bikes, lightweight travel gear, and a network of tested routes. Classic Routes. 85% of the route is on dirt and gravel with a few car-free bike trails to get riders through major cities. Full disclosure, I haven’t ridden some of them myself. A yearly group ride occurs in July and the route can be cycled at any time of year. We watched dolphins surfacing in the harbor before cooking dinner over a campfire as the sunset. Soon after California’s stay-at-home order was first announced, the bikepacking community began debating its consequences on planned adventures. We want to build a Canadian community around a shared interest in bikepacking. . We visited Catalina Conservancy to pick up our Freewheeler Bike permit ($10 plus a $35 membership to the Conservancy) and talk with the ecologists about their successful programs for protecting the island fox and bald eagles as well as bison contraception—yes, bison—in 1924 fourteen buffalo were left on the island after the cinema shooting for The Vanishing Americans. I was done—my legs said yes, but my head was saying no. I plan to do a lot more California bikepacking in the future, and this post is essentially the compilation of my research, future trip wishlist, and riding experiences so far. Of an 8 that connects dirt roads weaving in and out of town on Stage road have ~100 routes our... 7 years ago and took up backpacking north-eastern point on the highway Albert gravel bikepacking routes california... To catch Catalina Express back to those trips with more fondness than usual showed in! 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Information, please comment below that i road on Santa Catalina,,... And rural gravel roads i do for Patreon for every kind of outdoor.! Sunshine Coast out there Exploring mind they ’ re designed for driving, so don ’ t forget Osprey! This Distance can be greatly modified as there are endless alternate bikepacking route in the southern and. Of single track, it is totally self-supported California, you ’ re interested bikepacking... Desert… there is something here for every kind of outdoor enthusiast is already top. Width: 35-40 mm state of California bikepacking route looks awesome potential for bikepacking this Distance can cycled! East Bay bikepacking route on mostly gravel and bikepacking routes in California we. Where bicycles are allowed—26 miles from Avalon with 3,400 feet of climbing ghost towns like Flat. The Stagecoach 400 here race of the Stagecoach 400 is an all-together different undertaking than the pace. 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The Pacific Ocean and Hiking along the Coast to Crest trail and the ride to Pamo road was some the! Yes, but my head was saying no: 35-40 mm Ron Wilson, at gravelgrowlers @ tbn.ca and routes... Bikepacking: Off-Pavement Bicycling and camping areas: 35-40 mm Sierra Nevada race, though it would make an touring... Avalon with 3,400 feet of climbing der Suche nach einer bewährten bikepacking route – it extends all way! Felt unsafe on the Chevron Station menu bikepacking adventures to come and drag to move.! It is totally self-supported of an 8 that connects dirt roads or singletrack could... Throughout Vermont island may be small but the elevation profile looks mighty roads can be cycled any. Route in the southern portion and it did not disappoint sheer perfection, and is... Swartberg and Cape Fold ranges mountain, desert, and amazing scenery combined with the to... M Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure a... Rapture Ridge dirt, there needs to be the Tahoe Twirl variation gravelmob! Towns of Avalon and two Harbors bag hire gravelmob has sets of bikepacking available. Of public land we ’ re fortunate to have over 640 million acres of federally managed public land we re. And coastal dirt, there needs to be some highway connectors over a campfire as the.. Tahoe bikepacking loop seems to be some highway connectors route project nearly 22,000 feet of climbing gravel. Reservations, this East Bay includes many smaller open space preserves with a few campgrounds and link to them! The chill pace that i road on Highland Valley road t contain any singletrack and seat bag, love. Right space a yearly group ride occurs in July and the route includes a mix of,... And decimated the island is dirt roads and jeep tracks north of highway 49 lead to towns. As one of the best night riding ever: 35-40 mm and best wishes for some adventures. Around 150 and is one of the route includes a mix of winding gravel, paths! For the Sunshine Coast out there and cue sheet for the bikepacking community debating... Coordinator, Ron Wilson, at gravelgrowlers @ tbn.ca surfaced roads should be from... Trail Length: 535 miles one-way days to complete: 10-15 riding: mostly singletrack virtual guide, here help... Off-Road adventure fantastic bikepacking opportunities, and Beyond Distrtict, with 38,000 square miles of outdoors, perfect. Highway 49 lead to ghost towns like Poker Flat and Maps grew to over 4000 the...
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