This page was last updated Di 04 April 2023.

Contents: Tours (131)    Trails (7)    Cycling info pages (2)    Organizations and clubs (1)   

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America (local)

This page lists all reports that for America only that do not involve other countries.
Click here for a list of all reports involving America.
All descriptions are in English, unless otherwise noted.

Tours (continued)

Touring Bolivia and Argentina
by Manuel Terra, tour started August 2007, submitted 22 December 2007
America: Bolivia, Argentina
language: pt

Sajama - Salta 1350km. Agosto de 2007 (Andes2) touring bolivia cycling.

Após o primeiro contato com a cordilheira, em 2005 surgiu o projeto de percorrê-la de Norte a Sul. Decidi fazê-lo sozinho e o fato de não contar com um companheiro me fez redobrar a atenção nos detalhes para garantir o bom término da viagem. Foram 17 etapas onde encontrei frio, gelo, vento, cascalho e muita areia. No caminho parei para descansar em algumas cidades para recuperar forças e conseguir suprimentos.

Journals of a few modest bike tours in the Western US and Canada
by Peter Hoffman, tour started January 2007, submitted 4 December 2007
America: USA, Canada

I live in Berkeley, California and my friend John lives in Los Angeles. Since 2003 we've been getting together each year to do a modest 7-12 day bike tour. Our criteria include, if possible, light traffic, beautiful scenery, reasonable odds for good weather, and no more than 80 miles between indoor accommodations (so we don't have to lug camping gear). The journals of other bike tourists have been so helpful in planning these trips I thought I should share ours as well. As of 2007 we've ridden on the Oregon Coast, the Central Oregon High Desert, Wyoming (Yellowstone NP, Teton NP, Wind River Valley), Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, and Southwest Utah (Zion, Bryce & Capitol Reef NP).

Chilly morning in Yellowstone National Park
Cycling around Cuba
by Linda Spadolini, tour started April 2007, submitted 25 October 2007
America: Cuba
language: en, it

On April 2007 I left for 3 weeks of cycling around Cuba.

Flying into and off La Havana, I decided to concentrate on the centre and western part of the island.

After a couple of days in the capital, I left for a loop in Central Cuba, touching both the Northern and Southern coasts and passing Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus and Santa Clara. I spent the last week riding in Pinar del Rio Province.

See all 3 reports by Linda Spadolini

On the road to Vinales
Jerry's Tour of Colorado 2007
by Jerry Nilson, tour started July 2007, submitted 10 October 2007
America: USA

A shorter tour of Colorado on a race bike, including two days on a mountain bike. Visiting: Ophir Pass, Imogene Pass, Corkscrew Pass, Red Mountain Pass, Lizard Head Pass, Independence Pass, Cottonwood Pass, Loveland Pass, Mount Evans, the lovely Trail Ridge Road and more.

See all 13 reports by Jerry Nilson

Imogene Pass 3997m
Colorado, Utah & Arizona
by Nicolas de Hemptinne, tour started July 2006, submitted 16 August 2007
America: USA
language: fr

From Denver to the Grand Canyon and return...

See all 5 reports by Nicolas de Hemptinne

1 fille, 2 roues, 3 amériques... (1 girl, 2 weels, 3 Americas...)
by Martine Hubert, tour started July 2007, submitted 13 August 2007
language: fr

De l'Alaska à la Terre de Feu, SortiePleinAir.com vous invite à suivre le périple extraordinaire de Martine Hubert: la traversée à vélo, en solo, des 3 Amériques.

Martine, Canada (Alaska)
Day Rides in San Diego County
by Kirby James, tour started April 2007, submitted 29 June 2007
America: USA

These pages describe a series of day rides around San Diego County, these include

  • Mount Laguna and the Sunrise Highway
  • Mount Palomar
  • San Diego's South Bay
  • The Anza-Borrego Desert
  • Julian, and
  • La Jolla

See all 6 reports by Kirby James

Queen Califia's Magical Circle, Escondido
The tour Home
by Courtland Bibb, tour started December 2006, submitted 29 May 2007
America: USA

Last year I decided I wanted to go home for Christmas, but I previously stated that I would only leave Orlando if it was under my own power.

I spent seven days covering the 610 miles between Orlando Florida and Birmingham Alabama.

The page tells some of the highlights and realizations I encountered along the way as well as a map showing some of the places I stayed, I think this trip was a great warm up to my eventual goal of riding across country one day.

camping near a trail in Florida
Bicycle Journey Chile/Argentina 2006 - ¡porque la vida es un viaje!
by Marco Voegeli, tour started April 2006, submitted 23 May 2007
America: Chile, Argentina
language: en, de

A two month bicycle journey through Chile & Argentina in the year 2006. A detailed travelogue waits for you. The journey began in Santiago de Chile and was a round trip. From there to Patagonia - Argentina - and over the Andes back to Santiago de Chile.

See all 4 reports by Marco Voegeli

camp in the pampa in argentina
Bicycle Tour 2k6
by Ira Cox & Andrea Newberry, tour started May 2006, submitted 11 May 2007
America: USA, Canada

We are two cyclist from Chicago who have taken a year off to ride a large part of the U.S. perimeter and some of coastal Canada. We have only a rough plan of where we are headed at any time, and spend nearly every night camping or with people we meet along the way. Our only goal is to see interesting parts of North America and meet the people who live there, so you will notice our journal is less about riding than the places we've been.

Bicycle tour from CA to VA
by Forest Baker, tour started May 2005, submitted 21 April 2007
America: USA

The plan is to pedal from Southern California to Virginia, or Canada if we don't feel that 3,200 miles is enough. Barring accidents, failed joints, or break-ups, we'll get to dip our tires in more than one ocean. We hope to succeed or fail before August.

Palm Springs...where the days are red hot and the hair is light blue.
Le Vent dans le Dos
by Josephine, Loïc and Faustine, tour started April 2005, submitted 28 March 2007
America: Canada
language: fr

From Vancouver to Montréal

Banff, Canada to Montana, USA - Back Country with Lodging
by Gene Nacey, tour started September 2005, submitted 25 February 2007
America: Canada, Canada, USA

This trip had riders and non riders alike. This might be the most beautiful experience in Canada that any American can have. Even the cabin in the woods (which outside of no electricity and running water, was phenomenal - see pics from day 3) was impressive. Non riders could hike in and out to this location, or spend 2 nights in Elkford. Only the motel in Elkford was modest - even though it also had high speed internet. The remaining accommodations would all be rated 3 or 4 stars, yet were very modestly priced. While food selections were limited in some locations, the food was outstanding in others. All in all, I would not be afraid to take even the most seasoned traveler on this trip.

There is a button that details each day of our trip. Lots of pictures, my diary of what happened each day, and I've posted both the original itinerary as well as the packing list (which turned out to be just right). The map we used was from the Adventure Cycling Association, and it was right on! It only lacked good information about climbing. I've added that myself as I uploaded it from my GPS.

See all 3 reports by Gene Nacey

Banff, Alberta, Canada - The first view as we started the trip
Telluride, CO to Moab, UT - 6 Day Back Country Epic Ride
by Gene Nacey, tour started July 2004, submitted 25 February 2007
America: USA

Six men set out on a journey that would build character in body, mind and spirit. Physical challenges, scenery and surroundings ``to die for'', and a spiritual emphasis made this trip truly ``one of a kind''. There are many photos, detailed route maps, a list of everything we packed, the expenses for the trip and a daily ``blog'' or diary of each day. If your planning on doing this trip, it probably is worth your reading. If you've never done a multi-day trip in the ``back country'', it's a ``must read''. It was a trip none of us will ever forget - in the best sort of way! Enjoy!

See all 3 reports by Gene Nacey

Sunset & Rainbow in Gateway, Colorado
toPatagonia: a cycle ride from Mexico to the tip of South America
by Eleanor Wilson and Tom Lavender, tour started March 2006, submitted 24 January 2007

We are a couple from London who are taking a year out, from 1st March 2006 to complete our adventure of a lifetime. We plan to cycle from Cancun in Mexico through Central America, then from Equador to Patagonia at the tip of South America.

In doing this, we are hoping to raise money for our two favourite charities; Medecins Sans Frontieres is an humanitarian medical agency providing medical aid wherever needed. The Psychiatry Research Trust raises funds for research into mental illness and brain disease.

Day rides on or near California's Coast
by Kirby James, tour started October 2006, submitted 24 December 2006
America: USA

These pages describe a series of day rides on or near California's Coast.

The rides include visits to

  • King Ridge, Meyers Grade, Cazadero, Healdsburg, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and the Jimtown Store in Sonoma County;
  • Tiburon, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito in Marin County;
  • Paso Robles, Peachy Canyon, and the Klau and Buena Vista Mines in San Luis Obispo County;
  • Lake Piru in Ventura County and
  • Calabasas, Topanga, Fernwood, Saddle Peak, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Manhatten Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County.

See all 6 reports by Kirby James

Autumn in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Bicycling Utah's summits and passes
by Michael Fiebach, submitted 18 December 2006
America: USA

Utah is better known for its colorful canyon geography than its lofty summits. But it order to get to the summits, you have to traverse the canyons first. A cycling climb in Utah often involves a combination of arid canyons, mountains and forested plateaus. These pages derive from day rides or short tours taken over many years. They contain elevation profiles, pictures, route descriptions, maps and history for numerous summits. Some of these summits are part of popular touring routes, such as Ut12 connecting Capitol Reef and Bryce National Parks, or the Kokopelli's Trail near Moab. Many others see cyclists very seldom - includes paved and MTB summits - new summits added regularly.

See all 8 reports by Michael Fiebach

Kokopelli Trail near Moab
Spinning Southward - Alaska to Argentina for Brain Tumor Research
by Mike Logsdon, tour started July 2005, submitted 16 November 2006

In 2002, my brother Mike and I began to talk about an epic, tip to tail, bicycle trip spanning the length of the Americas. At the time, however, our geographic separation and respective professional endeavors would force us to shelve our dream ride and hope for more accommodating circumstances. Two years later, that opportunity presented itself in the fall of 2004 when our lives converged in the mountains of Colorado. Over the course of our stay in Colorado, my brother and I began laying the groundwork for a bicycle trip that would take us from the far northern shores of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southern most city in the world. On July 26, 2005, having cleared all financial and logistical hurdles, we will start pedaling on the long road south.

The motivation for our trip is a reflection of our life-long ambitions - to explore new places, to make meaningful connections with other people and cultures, and to test the boundaries of our physical endurance and mental resolve. These ambitions are inspired by the enduring spirit of our late mother, Jean, herself an accomplished world traveler who always supported and encouraged our explorations of the world. We dedicate this trip to her memory.

In 1996, our mother Jean was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor that took her life in the winter of the same year. To honor our mother's lasting legacy and help those confronting the same illness that eventually took her life, Spinning Southward has partnered with Racing Ahead®, a program created by the National Brain Tumor Foundation that celebrates the passion of cyclists, runners and other athletes. NBTF is a non-profit organization dedicated to innovative brain tumor research and patient care. We are committed to raising both financial support and awareness for the NBTF through our nine-month, 15,000-mile ride across 13 countries. We hope that our ride will inspire you to join us in support of this worthy cause through a contribution to Jean's Journey.

Heading for Patagonia along the road through La Pampa
Cycling the Northern California Coast
by paul Stockton, tour started August 2001, submitted 2 November 2006
America: USA

The gap was bothering me. I had done San Francisco to San Diego and Astoria to Eureka. The ride from Eureka to San Francisco would take about a week. Which, coincidentally, was about all the vacation time I had after starting a new job. So I flew to San Francisco, took the bus to Eureka, and filled in the gap, on my first solo tour.

See all 2 reports by paul Stockton

Joshua on Highway 101
Biking Quebec
by Maurizio Billo, tour started 2006, submitted 28 October 2006
America: Canada

Biking Quebec crossing migration routes

See all 5 reports by Maurizio Billo

Entering the autumn
Cycling Through South America
by Nif Minnick, tour started 2006, submitted 25 October 2006

I am a 37 year old GIS professional who decided that it was time to leave the big city of New York for awhile and explore places and cultures unknown to me.

The website is mainly a blog about my travels (which I sometimes get behind in) and many photos, as well as pages showing basic maps, information about me and why I am doing the trip.

Like any website mine experiences periodic problems so if there are no new photos or postings - there is usually a problem that I am trying to desperately fix at an internet cafe somewhere on the South American continent.

The steed on the shores of Lake Titicaca
Round the World Tandem Tour
by Art & Judee Wickersham, tour started September 2005, submitted 25 October 2006
language: english

We are 60 somethings, retired but inspired to ride our tandem around the world over the next five years. We rode out of Los Angeles, California September 2005 and proceeded south into Baja California, over by ferry to mainland Mexico. We have woven our way back and forth across the various countries as we have proceeded south. We plan to fly to New Zealand and Australia December 2006 and then after several months of exploration, begin to ride north through Asia. Our web site is a regularly updated journal with pictures. Visit us!

See all 2 reports by Art & Judee Wickersham

Mountainbike trip from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean
by Florian Mayer, tour started August 2006, submitted 14 September 2006
America: Canada
language: de

My trip startet in Calgary and ended in Vancouver. I visited Banff and Jasper, passed Kamloops and spent some days at the famous mountainbike park in Whistler.

Two cyclists on the icefield parkway, shortly after sunwapta pass
California's Central Coast
by Kirby James, tour started May 2006, submitted 26 August 2006
America: USA

These pages describe a series of day rides in California's Central Coast.

The rides include 17 Mile Ride, See Canyon, Figueroa Mountain, Camino Cielo and a loop of Lake Casitas.

See all 6 reports by Kirby James

Camino Cielo, Santa Barbara
Bicycle World Tour
by Eric Wehrheim, tour started June 2005, submitted 23 August 2006
America: Europe, America, Africa, Asia
language: de, en, es, kr

Bicycle world tour part II from Mun Suk and Eric Wehrheim. Actual tour in South and maybe Central America. Open end. On the homepage you will find also some information and fotos from our bicycle-world-tour part I who was from Germany to South Corea by crossing Africa.

If the link to our homepage doesn´t work well (sometimes in South America this happend to me) please go to http://aventurero.cjb.cc. It´s the same page only on another server.

See all 2 reports by Eric Wehrheim

Subnixus: A Bicycle Tour of America
by Eric Reynolds, tour started August 2006, submitted 18 August 2006
America: USA

Why would I bike around America? Why not? Or better yet, because I can. After first reading about cross-country bicycle tours on Crazyguyonabike.com I was hooked!

There it was, a great adventure that almost anyone could do, and I had all the free time in the world. Before reading about bike touring, I had dreams of hiking the 2500+ mile Appalachian Trail. But 75 mile days on a bike and real food quickly trumped 15 mile days on foot and oatmeal.

So I sold all of my stuff, opted to not renew my apartment lease, and bought a bike. It took me three months and almost $2,000 to aquire the knowledge and equipment to pull off this trip, but now I am ready to start it.

A lot of people ask me why I would want to do something like this. They either assume that I am either crazy, or poor. And while I may be a little of both, I just think it sounds like a good time. Cars, planes, and big cities are three things I try to avoid when I travel. So a nice slow bike ride through the Rocky Mountains sounds like a dream.

While most people will spend $20,000 on a new car, or $5,000 on a one week vacation, I spent $2,000 on a three month vacation with no bills to worry about. Everything I need, will be carried with me on my bike.

So, while it may seem a little crazy at first, I guess the main reason I would do something like this would be the journey itself. As one old Chinese guy once said, `The journey is the reward.'

Cycling California--The Do-It-Yourself Way
by Norman D. Ford, tour started April 2006, submitted 1 July 2006
America: USA

Ten Days Of Cycling Through The Best Of California: Starting off with an awesome 150-kilometer ride high on the cliffs of America's wildest seacoast--past beaches filled with monstrous elephant seals--I pedaled on around surrealistic 17-Mile Drive and on through the Cannery Row of Steinbeck's novel into the famous resort of Monterey. Next, I soared across vast San Francisco Bay on the Golden Gate Bridge, and on across bike-friendly Marin Country to Point Reyes National Seashore for two nights in a traditional cyclists' hostel. Then came more exciting bike travel, through towering redwood forests beside the Russian River and across the Napa Valley Wine Country to the university town of Davis, famed for its many bicycle paths. Finally, I cycled part way around beautiful Lake Tahoe and ended the trip at the Nevada State Line. My website gives full day-by-day info on how I made the tour;and how to make the same trip yourself, including overnighting at economy lodgings, and where to get maps, when to go, and other helpful literature.

See all 13 reports by Norman D. Ford

Huge elephant seals sprawl on beaches within a few metres of Highway One
Riding the volcano: Haleakela, Maui
by Patrick Morris, tour started 2006, submitted 25 June 2006
America: USA

Seven tips, ride description, and map for a one-day ride from the sea up the mammoth 61-kilometer climb of the Hawaiian volcano Haleakela on Maui. At over 3,000 meters, this climb will take literally into thin air - some planning should be undertaken.

La Routavelo (British Columbia)
by Nicolas de Hemptinne, tour started July 2006, submitted 9 June 2006
America: Canada
language: fr

To discover British Columbia with a bicycle is an interesting experience : Mountains, lakes, icefields, wonderful landscape and...bears.

See all 5 reports by Nicolas de Hemptinne

Blue Skies and Dust Trails
by Erik Nomden, tour started August 2003, submitted 25 April 2006
America: Peru, Bolivia, Chile

Even in this remote western corner of Bolivia, I feel the impact of the political unrest. There is practically no traffic. In fact traffic is virtually impossible because around La Paz and the other big cities, people have thrown thousands of big stones on the road. I can easily circumvent the stones, cars and trucks cannot. The situation causes me problems as well. There is nearly no food available any more. There are only few villages and nowhere I can obtain anything substantial. I have to do with a few biscuits the whole day.

So far the trouble. Further, The Andes countries have the cyclist a lot to offer. High passes, deserts, rain forests. Add the colourful markets, nice villages and friendly people and you have the complete picture. Ehh.. nearly complete. The food in the poor villages on the Altiplano is occasionally substandard.

See all 19 reports by Erik Nomden

Church of Sajama. Bolivian Altiplano
A North American Bicycle Journey
by Leon Steber, tour started May 2004, submitted 19 March 2006
America: Canada, USA, Mexico

When I quit my job, bought a bicycle and rode out of San Francisco, most of my friends thought I'd be back within 3 weeks. With no map, no compass, my sense of direction was flawless. Hence the route from San Francisco to the Yucatan in Mexico via the Alaskan arctic circle.

A stormy alberta afternoon
South America Bike Expedition (Chile/Arg.) 2006!
by Marco Voegeli, tour started April 2006, submitted 17 March 2006
America: Chile, Argentina

We are two Swiss guys and will start a bike expedition in Spring 2006 (sarting 03.04.2006) in South America. We will travel with our bikes about 2500 to 4000 km in 2 months. Our route will go through Chile and Argentina.

Critical ways of the expedition will be the Altiplano and crossings of Andes, South America's highest mountain massive with routes over 5000 meters above sea level.

Track our trip online via http://expedition.voegeli.li from 03.04.2006! we will update the site during our trip!

See all 4 reports by Marco Voegeli

Logo
Cycling Patagonia
by Nick Cowan, tour started January 2004, submitted 10 February 2006
America: Chile, Argentina

The winds in Patagonia are living up to their reputation. Although we had them blowing at our back this morning as we rode into Puerto San Julian, they have been cross and head winds for the last number of days. The desolation and emptiness of the land has reached an unprecedented level. We have not seen running water in days and it has become simply impossible to find any shade. We have given up finding quaint places to pitch our tent and now simply throw our sleeping bags in the ditch and lay down to sleep after an exhausting day. We wake up with the rising sun, often with a thin layer of sand covering our gear. On the upside, we have been seeing lots of wildlife of late, including flamingos, guanacos (like llamas), and rheas (like ostriches). We've also figured out that we can carry a combined 21 liters of water, which comes in handy when the ``towns'' on the map turn out to not even have a gas station :-)

See all 3 reports by Nick Cowan

Late afternoon on the Patagonian steppe.
Vancouver to Montreal on Bike
by Nick Cowan, tour started May 2001, submitted 8 February 2006
America: Canada

We awoke to cloudless skies and a strong headwind. Breaking camp we hit the road only to learn that Saskatchewan highways don't always have paved shoulders. We assumed the alpha formation whereby Nick takes point and Dave is the rear guard. Appearing inebriated, Dave would sometimes swerve into the road to scare cars into the far lane. Making possibly the smartest decision of his life, Dave stopped to ask road workers if we could have two pairs of disposable earplugs to drown out the wind. These were great for the moral and allowed us to phase out of this world and create sci-fi stories which became entertainment for our breaks.

As we were getting into Maidstone, Dave got a flat back tire. Inspection of said tire revealed multiple punctures: two staples, three pieces of glass and a small rock. These had all managed to work there way through Dave's ``Perfect'' (brand name) tire. Much to Nick's dismay Dave decided to swap front and back tires. This took a few hours since Dave makes bike repairs at a Tectonic pace. As we mounted our Cromoly steeds Nick realized that he too had a flat tire. (Just ask us about road tar, we dare you) Dave's response: You're shitting me, right?

See all 3 reports by Nick Cowan

Biking Carretera Austral - Chile Patagonia
by Maurizio, tour started January 2005, submitted 29 January 2006
America: Chile

A travel bike from Villa O'Higgins to Puerto Montt.

See all 2 reports by Maurizio

Rio Baker Valley
Seattle to San Francisco Bicycle Tour
by Chuck Anderson, tour started October 1991, submitted 28 January 2006
America: USA

A number of articles in rec.bicycles and rec.travel about the Oregon Coast inspired me to take my first long distance bicycle tour. I flew to Seattle from Denver on the 10th of July with a plane ticket to return from San Francisco on the 28th. If there was anything that I didn't like about this trip it was that deadline. I felt free except for the schedule I had to keep. This article is a personal narrative about my journey from Seattle to San Francisco following highways 101 and 1 along the Pacific Coast.

Every day is different. If you bring expectations from yesterday into a new day you increase the chance for disappointment and you waste time and energy trying to overcome that disappointment. Everyday unto itself.

This tour changed my life. I had never felt more alive. I left seeking a new way to see the world and I found me.

See all 5 reports by Chuck Anderson

Overlook - Nehalem Bay, Oregon
Touring Oregon's Columbia River Gorge
by Norman D. Ford, tour started October 2005, submitted 22 January 2006
America: USA

Paved all the way, Oregon's Historic Columbia River Highway takes cyclists on a breathtaking 75-mile ride through the Columbia River Gorge, a region so spectacular that in 1986, Congress declared it a National Scenic Area. Almost every mile of the way, I pedaled past steep, rocky cliffs and evergreen forests and I cycled next to 5 roadside waterfalls, one cascading down a sheer 620-foot drop. Most of the ride is on low-traffic, secondary roads with about ten miles on car-free bikeways. (To by-pass an as-yet unfinished 14 miles, cyclists are permitted to ride on the wide shoulder of I-84.)

Comfortable, affordable motels are spaced every 20-30 miles and you can take either 2 or 3 days to ride the Gorge--surely one of America's most awesome cycling experiences. En route, I pedaled up two superbly scenic--and fairly gentle--climbs, each around 750-feet in elevation gain--and with stunning panoramas from both summits. Along the way, I also spent a couple of hours touring Bonneville Dam where salmon were leaping up fish ladders. My day-to-day report tells exactly how I made this two-day tour and it's packed with advice and map sources for anyone wishing to duplicate my route. (Tip: it's just a six-hour drive between the Gorge and Spokane WA, end of my ``Touring the Northwest'' trip (see report on home page menu) and you can squeeze both tours into a one week vacation.

See all 13 reports by Norman D. Ford

Cycling high above the Gorge near Hood River
Touring New York's Finger Lakes and the Erie Canal
by Norman D. Ford, tour started May 2005, submitted 22 January 2006
America: USA

New York State's long, spindly Finger Lakes are webbed by roads that take you pedaling along lakeshores or over rolling hills, past world-class vineyards and picturesque farms, to quaint towns and villages with elm-lined streets bordered by elegant Victorian houses and gardens. From high ridges, I viewed breathtaking panoramas of the sparkling lakes below. On quiet backroads, I met Amish carriages drawn by high-stepping horses. And I spent the final two days on a flat 90-mile ride along the car-free towpath of the Erie Canal, cycling next to a series of still-operating locks and 19th Century towns, each with a unique lift bridge across the Canal.

My trip took 14 days and covered nearly 600 miles and I spent each night at a comfortable, affordable motel in traditional towns like Auburn, Geneva, Watkins Glen, Penn Yann, Canandaigua, Brockport and Lockport. Small wonder this is one of America's most popular bike tours! And if you'd like to ride it yourself, my full report not only describes my day-to-day cycling experiences but also gives full map and info sources for duplicating my route on your own.

See all 13 reports by Norman D. Ford

Colorful Federal-era houses line bike route through downtown Geneva
Touring the Northwest on the Hiawatha-Norpac-Coeur d'Alenes-Millenium Trails
by Norman D. Ford, tour started September 2005, submitted 22 January 2006
America: USA

Up in Northern Idaho and Washington, a series of 4 car-free bike trails linked together form one of America's newest bicycle tours. My 4-day tour began high in the Bitteroot Mountains with a wildly scenic ride down the Milwaukee Road's Trail of the Hiawathas, former route of the famous Hiawatha Scenic Vista Dome train. The line went bankrupt in 1977 and the Hiawatha stopped running. Today, though, you can enjoy the same scenic adventure on a bicycle, including traveling through the same 9 cavernous tunnels and across the 7 high steel trestles used by the train.

Next, I rode a 12-mile stretch of the former Northern Pacific railbed through emerald forests then switched to a paved stretch of the former Union Pacific Road that led for 66 spectacular miles through a wilderness of tall mountain peaks, rivers, lakes and wetlands and past historic mining towns to the Victorian village of Harrison, perched on a hilltop overlooking beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene. I completed the trip by riding another 62-miles on the paved Millenium Trail beside Lake Coeur d'Alene then west along a cascading river into Washington and the city of Spokane.

My day-by-day report not only describes how I biked this 160-mile tour but also gives full map and info sources for duplicating my route. Using a unique routing strategy, for instance, I was able to ride the whole way either on the flat or downhill. And I found comfortable motels or guest houses a day's ride apart the entire way.

See all 13 reports by Norman D. Ford

Cycling the paved Centennial Trail beside the Spokane River
Biking and Kayaking at Frisco, Colorado
by Norman D. Ford, tour started September 2005, submitted 21 January 2006
America: USA

Almost every year, I spend a bike touring vacation at Frisco CO, staying in the same motel while each day I bike out and back on a complex of paved, car-free bike trails that wind past colossal mountain scenery to famous ski resorts like Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Vail. One easy trail hugs the shore of huge Dillon Lake to Keystone. Another winds up to the posh resort of Breckenridge. And a third climbs through awesome Ten Mile Canyon to Copper Mountain and on up over Vail Pass (10,600 feet, 3250m) then drops down to the Alpine-style town of Vail.

Using fat tires, I usually spend a day cycling up the unpaved road to Boreas Pass (11,480 feet, 3500m) where America's highest railroad depot still stands. Then for a change, I'll rent a kayak and paddle around Dillon Lake for a few hours. But there's lots more. It's just an hour's drive to nearby Georgetown, an unchanged Victorian mining town and from here a paved bike trail leads up to Silver Plume, a fascinating old mining town still much as it was in 1880. Heading back down, a low-traffic paved road leads to Idaho Springs, your motel base for cycling America's highest paved road that leads for 28 miles to the summit of Mount Evans (14,264 feet, 4360m). And with a mountain bike, still more exciting rides await, all in a world class setting of breathtaking grandeur. My website describes how I biked each trail, then gives loads of advice, and full map and info sources, for riding these trails on your own.

See all 13 reports by Norman D. Ford

Cycling up North America's highest paved road to the summit of Mount Evans CO, 14,260 feet (4,360m)

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