Bikepacking in southern California often means desert landscapes and everything that comes with them: sand, rocks, rattlesnakes, hot summer days, and cold winter nights. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Routes are mapped and chronicled by a core group of experienced route designers and a thriving group of contributors from around the world. If you are riding in the desert, check the weather beforehand; you wouldnt want to be cycling in a wash due to the potential for flash floods. Having been re-directed around Sandy Bandy and Rapture Ridge dirt, I road on Highland Valley road. There are stretches of this route that have no amenities for some time so its important to do some careful planning beforehand. For anyone dreaming of a longer trip, or interested in riding from Sacramento to Tahoe (perhaps to link up with Tahoe Twirl or Bones to Blue!) Guide pointing to a snow-covered Four Peaks! 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. This gravel adventure bike features a durable and lightweight alloy frame and a reliable and stylish carbon fork. 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. Hello! If you beat me to it, please let me know what you find out. In the The resort town of Avalon at the islands southern tip would make a posh place to relax before, during, or after your ride. Close proximity to major metropolitan areas, particularly LA, keeps transportation time reasonable. The North Bay Overnighter takes it all in over a 2-3 day bikepacking loop. Here youll find links to all the trip reports, route overviews, and other route-specific resources based on my own rides, plus curated lists of recommended routes based on my research and daydreams. 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. 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. The cold rain did not stop all day and by the time we pulled in Warner Springs at mile 60, we could not have been more drenched. Based on the same format as the brutally beautiful Hunt 1000, the event aims for a grand finish (on . The LA and Southern California bikepacking trips are best for riding in the spring or fall. 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. Idaho has great terrain for riding, including long distance bikepacking, (Image credit: smokenfire420.wordpress.com), Not many people think of North Dakota as having good riding, but the Maah Daah Hey Trail proves that it does, Arizona's Black Canyon Trail features the iconic southwestern desert, (Image credit: Bureau of Land Management), The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route travels a large amount of alpine terrain, five-part account by Tom and Sarah Swallow, Woman chased by a pack of wolves escapes on her e-MTB, Ass Savers Win Wing review a simple, effective clip-on solution, Pro bike Cameron Masons 2023 British Nationals winning Specialized S-Works Crux, Tifosi Rail Sunglasses review huge coverage and three interchangeable lenses, POC releases two new Omne helmets, one for performance and one with cargo capabilities. The preferred route of accomplished endurance cyclist and Alaska native Lael Wilcox, the 92-mile Denali Park Road consists mostly of gently rolling, easy-riding gravel and is the habitat of a. Longer and a bit gentler than the Baldy Bruiser, the SoCal Desert Ramble offers 500 miles of mixed-terrain riding through some of southern Californias most iconic desert landscapes. I create technical resources, reviews, inspirational videos, how-to guides and more. Well-maintained community trail takes you between Meaford and the sections terminus Thornbury. Excited to try bikepacking but need help getting started? Starting and ending in Borrego Springs, the Anza-Hapaha Loop covers 83 miles of canyon, desert, and badlands. Be sure to make reservations for campgrounds or accommodation in advance if needed, and be prepared to share the trails with plenty of hikers. This route packs it all in just 40 miles, the first route in our 2019 Gravel Adventure Series #DirtChurch. Both challenge riders from low-elevation areas with a peak elevation of over 9500 feet. 35% pavement. . Day 4: 66 miles | 3,300 feet. If youre looking for something short, sweet, and close to the city, the LA Observer Route may be your ticket. We cycled through Catalinas varying biomes with verdant hills reminiscent of Ireland, sage and Indian paintbrush covered arroyos as in Wyoming, and even Baja desert-like trails weaving between Velvet Cactus and Peppergrass. Record your own trail from the Wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. Hours. As one of the closest national forests to the Bay Area, Mendocino National Forest is an intriguing possibility. / 800 km 10 days The SoCal Desert Ramble, Southern California comment 146 time Mar 10 compose Cass Gilbert USA 112 mi. 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. Length: 364 miles Style: mostly gravel Difficulty: intermediate When to ride: spring, fall, early or late summer Learn more: route description and ride reports If I had to recommend an ambitious but accessible "intermediate" bikepacking route, one that packs a big punch of adventure but requires no technical or super-remote riding, the Oregon Outback is at the top of my list. 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. Everything you need - GPS tracks, waypoints, resupplies, & daily itineraries. The descent from Idyllwild was frozen, the ascent over Thompson Mountain was steep, and the hero-dirt descent towards Anza gave us all ear-to-ear smiles. October 17, 2020. 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. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams: Affiliate Disclosure: This site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. Mad riders do it as a non-stop ITT; most across multiple nights. Climbing is plentiful and sometimes steep, and surfaces are varied. Here are some routes and areas to start with. Some riders may be more comfortable on a mountain bike with suspension than a drop bar rigid gravel bike. Gravel Bike with Shimano Dura Ace 6 years warranty & 30 days Return Policy Bikes directly from the manufacturer Discover here! Theres a lot of variety on this route, from coastal riding to ridgetop views, and singletrack trail to paved highway. With over a hundred miles of single track, it is perfect for weekend bikepacking. The Caldera 500 is a rugged and endlessly beautiful route that immerses riders in the Eastern Sierra. For bike packing resupply, the shops in Pine Valley are centrally located in the Cuyamaca area. The full 500-mile version traverses five mountain ranges and three distinct biomes, always choosing the more challenging option at each junction. Puis ces . Instead of taking the main jeep road to the village of Two Harbors, we navigated singletrack and some hike-a-bike sectors along the Eastern side of the island. Bikepacking 101 Bikepacking Routes The source for original bikepacking routes, guides, and dirt touring itineraries from off the beaten path. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. About . Some of the main features of this trek include Mt Baldy Ski resorts, Lake Arrowhead, Baldy Notch, and Angeles National Forest. After a brief highway section, I joined a Laguna Beach duo in Anza to pedal and push our rigs the next 3-hours through a mud-slog. Yavapai Backcountry Loop 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. Click here for more info. It also could be linked up with the Tahoe Twirl route mentioned above. The Wolf Bikepacking is a gravel bike cycling event category bikepacking in United States, state Minnesota. Essentially, you're carrying everything you need for your camping trip on you and your bike and sometimes the terrain can get a little rough. I decided not to continue the Stagecoach because I felt unsafe on the highway. Lower elevation in the desert can be brutally hot during summer. Pretty much any long ride is sure to involve some pavement and at least a bit of busy road riding. Beginning in Reno, it blends burly desert jeep roads with classic Tahoe singletrack. Gravelmap is a tool for finding and sharing local gravel roads for biking, gravel grinding, exploration and more. YEP, Join the free Ride with GPS club account p/b paradise garage. Canada. Rim Country Gravel Ride. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Wild plains, jaw-dropping mountain views, classic desert, pine forests and snowy passes its all here. Highlights: Fun singletrack, river crossings, beautiful roads, remote canyons, steep climbs. A gravel bike for extensive trips. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Parsons Landing is the farthest north-eastern point on the island where bicycles are allowed26 miles from Avalon with 3,400 feet of climbing. 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. Design a route: Use maps, guidebooks, websites and word of mouth to find roads and trails you can ride on. Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. Bikepacking, is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping, simply put, bikepacking. Gravel backroads and dirt forest service roads are backbone of these bikepacking routes, but don't expect smooth riding the whole way (and definitely don't bring your road bike). 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. 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. 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. The TDLP website contains a wealth of information about the official route, as well as descriptions and GPS tracks for a number of shorter bikepacking routes in the Santa Barbara backcountry. Prepare to immerse yourself amongst desert blooms and starry nights, slither your way along sandy washes, linger in counter-culture hangouts, ponder salty, decayed holiday resorts gone wrong, and marvel at the Dr. Seussian splendour of the gangly, anthropomorphic Joshua Tree. Some of the best bikepacking routes are short trips found right in your backyard. The mellow 16-mile ride left us time for cold plunges in the Pacific Ocean and hiking along the cliffs above Shark Harbor. If you have a great route to suggest, please comment below! Keep in mind theyre designed for driving, so dont contain any singletrack and could include sections of busy highway. Depending on recent weather and use, the dirt track can be fairly smooth, or quite rocky. Green Mountain Gravel Growler (opens in new tab). My little trip just barely scratched the surface of this vast web of forest service roads. Some Ive ridden, and many are still on my wishlist. Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath (opens in new tab). 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. It's all about exploring the roads, gravel roads (or groads), and trails less travelled. 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! I've read about SF Traverse but am hoping for something a little farther away from home. la mise en route a t laborieuse avec un beug persistant ncessitant une assistance de Sigmasupport. The COLT bikepacking loop is a 450-km mix of rail, ATV and snowmobile trails with some good climbing on loose gravel roads. Heres a random RideWithGPS track I found for it (havent tested it personally ride at your own risk). One of these days Ill get back to the area and try out some bikepacking routes! You will need to carry all your water with you for this trip since there are no reliable water sources along this route. Pack the Coast (bikepacking) - Morro Bay 10 - Truckee Dirt Fondo, Truckee. I bivyed in tall brush along the Coast to Crest trail and broke camp early the next morning. Stretching from Banff, Canada, to the US / Mexican border in New Mexico, the Great Divide route travels 2,700 miles along gravel roads and single track trail along the Continental Divide. The area is remote, rugged, and surprisingly mountainous with plenty of long climbs. October 9, 2020. 10 - Bear Growl Gravel Grinder, Greenville. The official notes describe the trail as strenuous, technical, challenging, complicated and barely existent in some sections. It will certainly be a ride of a lifetime. Thank you for your site and blog. A match made in heaven. 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. As a cyclist, I know the feelingbut on this occasion, when the truck was just inches away from us, it spooked me more than usual. The northernmost section (Arroyo Seco to Gorda) and southernmost section (from New Cuyama to Santa Barbara) are the highlights in my opinion. It's about exploring places less traveled, both near and far, via singletrack trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads. Cross Washington Bikepacking propose 1 parcours (1127 km) pour vlo de gravel Organisateur: The Cross-Washington mountain bike route is a 700 mile, mostly off-road route from the Pacific Ocean to the Washington/Idaho border. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 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. The LA Observer is a short foray into the city's neighbouring Angeles National Park, via the unexpectedly steep and rugged folds of the San Gabriel Mountains. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Sometimes my posts contain affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Hi there, Im Alissa. 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. Im an old mountain biker that got his bike stolen about 7 years ago and took up backpacking. Find My Route Recent Routes Something Isn't Working Refresh the page to try again. 5% singletrack. 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. Find our growing list of California bikepacking routes and content below. We have so much gorgeous land to explore! 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. Wider handlebars: Gravel bikes intended for rougher terrain usually feature wide flared drop bars for better control. 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. / 166 km 2 days Hereford Express Overnighter comment 9 time Feb 27 compose Guest Routes Canada 84 mi. After years of riding and evaluating 650b it became clear that, like on the mountain bike, the one set up that was more confidence . Entdecke die schnsten Orte, lade GPS-Tracks herunter und folge den Top-Routen auf einer Karte. If you like variety and dont mind mixing some civilization in with your nature and trails, this is about as good as it gets in the bay area. 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. Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved. Hello! 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. The Bay Area Triple Crossover weekend bikepacking route highlights the diversity of bay ecosystems, where each day feels distinct from the next. Until then, this list of the 5 Best Bikepacking Routes in Alberta aims to help new bikepackers get started and inspire riders to get outside and explore new areas. De eerste 4 dagen helemaal niemand gezien, niet gek met 3 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. But back to the beer Vermont produces many of the top craft beers in the US, and this route proposes an agreeable daily itinerary to make the most of the many microbreweries, taprooms and restaurants that it deliberately links together by sweet gravel, singletrack and stretches of infamously degraded class 4 roads. Les destinations sympa pour le bikepacking en France : Les spots les plus populaires. Note: these routes are rugged backcountry gravel roads without any services or along the way. Its only 25 miles from Avalon to the north tip but the scenery is great and adding a visit to Avalon, maybe with an overnight stay is always fun. Type self-guided. The area offers lakes, a few campgrounds, and lots of forest, along with plenty of climbing. 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. Im looking back to those trips with more fondness than usual. Our dense population and tightly regulated public land make it nearly impossible to set off on a multi-day ride without careful planning and hard-to-get campground reservations. And the ride to Pamo Road was some of the best night riding ever. Bikepacking Central Oregon: High Desert and Volcanic Geology from K Falls to Bend. As a proud Californian and bikepacker, Id like to help change this. You can email me for my GPX file. Gravel Bike California The State of Dirt Main Menu. Many riders cache water beforehand or use support. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. Bikepacking Boise to Elko: Big Skies and Endless Gravel in Idaho and Nevada. 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. Even the legendary Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which often crests above 10,000ft in its 2,700 miles, fits this category. There are also a few restaurants along the way you can stop at for a meal or snack. We have everything! On the next highway stretch before the steep Mesa Grade, an oncoming pickup truck passed on a double line and came within a foot of our handlebars. Starting in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, this path will take you all the way to the Pacific Ocean before circling back through Cleveland National Forest and the Anza Borrego Desert. Theres some semi-technical singletrack, plenty of rooty dirt, river crossings, waterfalls you wont get bored. Microwave Pizza Pockets, dill pickles, and hot chocolate were on the Chevron Station menu. Read More Canaan Valley and the Forks of Cheat Looking for route recommendations within a day's drive of SF for a 2-4 night trip. Refresh Page Error: af0040c3b0ef48c89f828c7fc0d69813 Sign up to get the latest Ride Gravel news! I feel fortunate to have had an early winter full of bikepacking in Southern California where I was riding my Salsa Cutthroat equipped with Apiduras Expedition line of bikepacking bags. Youll also find simple campsites more often than in the UK. Read more on the About Me page. 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. Day 3: 76 miles | 6,900 feet. You can find routes created by adventurers across the globe on bikepacking websites. The Stagecoach organizers didnt want to send us to the highways but this year it was inevitable given the flooded and unrideable trails. 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. Read More Rothrock Gravel Overnighter An 80% gravel loop in the forests and farmlands of central Pennsylvania. For those of you with more time on your hands, I cant resist noting that these routes around Tahoe, especially the Tahoe Twirl, are easy to link up with the Pony Express to the south and the Trans Northern California to the north for three sides of a massive California bikepacking loop. The beautiful and ancient Appalachian Mountains are the focus of this epic bikepacking trip, on the route of a famed annual race. Difficulty Challenging Accommodation 4* Nights 2. Patterson, and fly down the accompanying backcountry singletrack descents. The SoCal Desert Ramble - Bikepacking.com The SoCal Desert Ramble, Southern California location California, USA We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. Heres a short 46 mile loop that includes some of the highlights, and an even shorter 36 mile overnighter. 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 hear the section through Nevada is tough and very sparse on water and resupply options; research before attempting! Freins disque vlo route; Kit de purge route/cx/gravel; Liquides de freins; Patins de frein vlo; Plaquettes de freins route . If youre interested in bikepacking in California, you might also find these helpful: Or, visit the bikepacking resources center for more pedal-powered info and inspiration. 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. Summer, not surprisingly, will fry you. Read more The itinerary. Though Ive spent plenty of time backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, I havent done as much bikepacking there. Truely a route to savor. This 146-mile route starts at Big Bear Lake and takes you on some diverse terrain like forest roads, ATV trails, sandy two-track, and even some unused paved roads. Forest roads and jeep tracks north of Highway 49 lead to ghost towns like Poker Flat. In emails to the riders, Brendan essentially said, We dont really recommend you ride the Stagecoach this year with epic rains and hypothermic friendly weather. If youre looking for spectacular scenery, this may be the route for you. 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. 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. 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. While 90% of the route is inaccessible to cars, there is a . This is the granddaddy of long-distance off-road routes, finished in 1997 by the Adventure Cycling Association. . It is more than 50% single track which helps to make this one of the most exciting bikepacking trails in the world. The Log Driver's Waltz and our other routes were created to encourage people to explore this region by bicycle. . The Great Divide is high-profile, well documented and almost 100% rideable. Bath By Length (days) Overnighters & S24O; Weekend Routes (2-4) Week-long Routes (5-10) Odyssey Routes (11-30) "Freakouts" (31+) Local Overnighters. Perhaps, we now realize how much we take for granted. Share your location with friends and loved ones during an activity. Both routes have a fair bit of singletrack, though Bones to Blue has more, and its ratio of climbing to miles is higher. Thebikepacking routes in southern California take you through the mountains and peaks, forests, high and low deserts, and badlands. California Gravel Ride Recaps, Gravel Race Recaps, Gear Reviews | Ohio Gravel Grinders. . Planning a bikepacking route involves a lot of maps, trail knowledge and more. Cycling the Alps 2 Ocean Trail in New Zealand: Overview + 4 Day Itinerary. Sometimes my posts contain affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. There may be long steep stretches without water so be prepared and plan ahead. Day 1: Snowdonia emerges / 31 miles / 5 - 6 hrs / 845m . Upcoming Rides No upcoming events at the moment Thanks! Sardine Lookout Tower Overnighter is a mini adventure that gives riders a taste of the beautiful forests, meadows, and reservoirs around Tahoe National Forest. This route boasts giant metal sculptures, narrow canyon walls, with picturesque rocks and geological formations. Orro has equipped it with a fast-shifting Shimano GRX400 2x10-Speed groupset and . Is bike packing irresponsible in the time of coronavirus, even if it is totally self-supported? We all gave double thumbs up for trail etiquette. 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. . For those who want to venture even further off the beaten track, plenty of jeep tracks and even singletrack motorbike trails can take you nearly anywhere you want to explore.