On the back of the Trans America Trail trip I've organised this year, I will be staying on for a few weeks to have a run around the following route with a couple of fine tossers and a couple of ordinary people. Just about everything is in order so can take a few more folk if you are interested.
The bikes will be securely containered to and from San Francisco and the trip length is 3 weeks all in. I've been planning this for a while and there are some fantastic places we are going to like Las Vegas, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley with Yellowstone being the highlight. If you've never been, it's just a fantastic place and September is a great time to be there for the wildlife i'e Bears, Bison, Elk and assorted others.
There is no off road and is all excellent tarmac so any bike will be good for this. It's also sensible mileage so new and novice riders will be OK and would be more than welcome.
Dates will be depart San Francisco on Saturday 10th September and back on Friday 30th September. This is a great time to ride in the area as the weather is really good (80's in California) and perfect for riding. It will be a bit chilly on the high passes but everywhere else should be good. The roads are quiet and accomodation cheaper as well as it avoids the main US season.
If you want any more info, have any questions and want projected costs etc, pm me or e-mail me on chrisbiltcliffe@btinternet.com.
Here is the basic route with mileages:
Day 1 Depart San Francisco and ride Skyline Blvd to Alice’s Restaurant. Overnight in Monterey. Mileage 212
Day 2 Ride through Carmel Valley and the superb R198. Overnight in Three Rivers Mileage 222
Day 3 Ride through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Giant Redwoods and General Sherman tree. Overnight in Oakhurst Mileage 232
Day 4 Ride into Yosemite National Park via Glacier Point. Ride out of the East entrance at 10,000ft. Overnight in Lee Vining. Mileage 156
Day 5 Ride to Bodie Ghost Town. Overnight in Lee Vining. Mileage 212
Day 6 Ride across Death Valley into Las Vegas. Mileage 251
Day 7 Day off in Las Vegas Mileage 0
Day 8 Ride over the Hoover Dam and along an old section of Route 66 to Grand Canyon. Mileage 250
Day 9 Early start to see the Grand Canyon before riding to Monument Valley. Overnight in Mexican Hat Mileage 200
Day 10 Ride the Moki Dugway and on through Cortez. Overnight in the ski resort of Telluride Mileage 220
Day 11 Ride the R141 and on through Colorado. Overnight in Dinosaur Colorado Mileage 260
Day 12 Ride through the Dinosaur and ancient fossil beds of Wyoming. Overnight in Riverton. Mileage 260
Day 13 Ride the Wind River Canyon and overnight in Cody Wyoming Mileage 150
Day 14 Ride Dead Indian Highway and over the 11,000ft Beartooth Pass and head into Yellowstone National Park Mileage 180.
Day 15 Ride round the incredible Yellowstone National Park with geysers and hot mud springs. Overnight in West Yellowstone Mileage 150
Day 16 Early start and a ride across the Sierra Nevada’s to the overnight stop in Lewiston Idaho. Mileage 320
Day 17 Day off the bike and a raft ride into the incredible Hells Canyon. Mileage 0
Day 18 Ride some brilliant and rarely ridden roads through Northern Oregon to overnight stop in John Day Mileage 280.
Day 19 Ride down through Oregon and to Crater Lake, Overnight stop in Klammath Falls Mileage 280
Day 20 Ride across the West Coast through the spectacular Redwood National Forests. Overnight in Eureka California Mileage 180
Day 21 Ride down the best section of the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco Mileage 225
Day 22 Drop bikes off for loading and fly home.
Total Mileage is @ 4275
The bikes will be securely containered to and from San Francisco and the trip length is 3 weeks all in. I've been planning this for a while and there are some fantastic places we are going to like Las Vegas, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley with Yellowstone being the highlight. If you've never been, it's just a fantastic place and September is a great time to be there for the wildlife i'e Bears, Bison, Elk and assorted others.
There is no off road and is all excellent tarmac so any bike will be good for this. It's also sensible mileage so new and novice riders will be OK and would be more than welcome.
Dates will be depart San Francisco on Saturday 10th September and back on Friday 30th September. This is a great time to ride in the area as the weather is really good (80's in California) and perfect for riding. It will be a bit chilly on the high passes but everywhere else should be good. The roads are quiet and accomodation cheaper as well as it avoids the main US season.
If you want any more info, have any questions and want projected costs etc, pm me or e-mail me on chrisbiltcliffe@btinternet.com.
Here is the basic route with mileages:
Day 1 Depart San Francisco and ride Skyline Blvd to Alice’s Restaurant. Overnight in Monterey. Mileage 212
Day 2 Ride through Carmel Valley and the superb R198. Overnight in Three Rivers Mileage 222
Day 3 Ride through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Giant Redwoods and General Sherman tree. Overnight in Oakhurst Mileage 232
Day 4 Ride into Yosemite National Park via Glacier Point. Ride out of the East entrance at 10,000ft. Overnight in Lee Vining. Mileage 156
Day 5 Ride to Bodie Ghost Town. Overnight in Lee Vining. Mileage 212
Day 6 Ride across Death Valley into Las Vegas. Mileage 251
Day 7 Day off in Las Vegas Mileage 0
Day 8 Ride over the Hoover Dam and along an old section of Route 66 to Grand Canyon. Mileage 250
Day 9 Early start to see the Grand Canyon before riding to Monument Valley. Overnight in Mexican Hat Mileage 200
Day 10 Ride the Moki Dugway and on through Cortez. Overnight in the ski resort of Telluride Mileage 220
Day 11 Ride the R141 and on through Colorado. Overnight in Dinosaur Colorado Mileage 260
Day 12 Ride through the Dinosaur and ancient fossil beds of Wyoming. Overnight in Riverton. Mileage 260
Day 13 Ride the Wind River Canyon and overnight in Cody Wyoming Mileage 150
Day 14 Ride Dead Indian Highway and over the 11,000ft Beartooth Pass and head into Yellowstone National Park Mileage 180.
Day 15 Ride round the incredible Yellowstone National Park with geysers and hot mud springs. Overnight in West Yellowstone Mileage 150
Day 16 Early start and a ride across the Sierra Nevada’s to the overnight stop in Lewiston Idaho. Mileage 320
Day 17 Day off the bike and a raft ride into the incredible Hells Canyon. Mileage 0
Day 18 Ride some brilliant and rarely ridden roads through Northern Oregon to overnight stop in John Day Mileage 280.
Day 19 Ride down through Oregon and to Crater Lake, Overnight stop in Klammath Falls Mileage 280
Day 20 Ride across the West Coast through the spectacular Redwood National Forests. Overnight in Eureka California Mileage 180
Day 21 Ride down the best section of the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco Mileage 225
Day 22 Drop bikes off for loading and fly home.
Total Mileage is @ 4275