Somewhat similar, Seattle to ABQ. But I continued east until Missoula before heading south towards SLC (lots of great bike trails!), and went Provo-Moab-Durango-Santa Fe-ABQ to end my ride. You’ll have more time with car traffic on your route, but you’ll get to skip two monster mountain climbs.
Central Washington will be HOT in August. Be prepared for 90+ degree heat and almost no tree cover for about a week at your pace. Oregon and Southern Idaho will be similarly hot with limited tree cover.
Be ready for a significant climb when you leave Provo. There is a gas station near the peak if you need snacks.
Assuming you travel at 28 miles a day (1680mi/60 days), you might have a few points where you will need to carry multiple days worth of food and water. I would plan on at least 5L/day. You may want to bring a squeeze filter just to carry less water.
Make sure you have beefy tires, ideally tubeless. I was getting 1-2 flats a day between SLC and ABQ from road debris and goat head thorns.
HackberryHank on
I would recommend hitting either Hells Canyon or Owyhee Canyon on your way. There’s nice riding through the Wallowas to get to Hells Canyon.
Last fall I did maybe the same section you’re looking at north of Great Salt Lake. There was some nice gravel, and you can ride along the old railroad bed in places near Golden Spike Historical Park. Quite a long ways between water, though.
Looks like you’re ending in Page? For me the roads east of there aren’t so appealing, because it’s the Navajo Nation and wild camping isn’t permitted. (Monument Valley is cool to see, but a lot of it is long straight paved road, so not my cup of tea.) It were me, I’d come in from the north to Page, e.g., past Bryce and through Cannonville. You could still do the San Rafael Swell (which is maybe what you’re showing) but then drop down through Hanksville, over Boulder Pass, and through Escalante.
LesterNiece on
I have done almost this exact route only south to north on a cross country trip. You ABSOLUTELY MUST stop at Juntura Hot Springs in Oregon desert. There is a cold spring 11mi east of it with some of the best water in the world. Make ur coffee from it sitting in juntura springs = heaven.
Bear Lake on corner of Utah and idaho worth adding 50mi for. Donut Falls in Salt Lake Area outstanding hike.
Crystal Hot Springs in Utah north of Salt Lake is on your route
100% stay at Lazy Lizard Hostel ($13/night, freeze your nalgenes over night in many fridges there for your Moab hikes. Arches NP is soooo accessible from Lizard. Also spend a day at Cowboy Jacuzzis waterfall and collecting basin. 1.5 mile ride from Lazy Lizard. But only cliff dive off the smaller cliff (the landing hole much bigger) and dont jump off the higher cliff. On july 4th eight people were in the emergency room and 6 of us were there from jumping off that 2nd cliff. Luckily just a bad bone bruise.
Theres one more awesome arch called Morning Glory natural bridge short ride out of town from Moab. Great sunset in that canyon.
Chicken Soup hot springs in Lava Hot Springs Idaho is not as good as others, but also very dope.
Looks like u arent going thru bend but i still will recommend Newberry National Volcanic Monument 20 mi south of Bend. Its a dig your own hotsprings that was my 1B rank of 15000mile trip and about 30 hot springs. And amazingly you can see Jupiter reflecting on the lake cus of how dark the sky is. Mind blowing. I had no idea u could see anything but the moon or sun reflecting on water. Surreal.
Id say of this entire list, you absolutely owe it to yourself to do the Moab paragraphs.
But no matter what you choose, be flexible and listen to locals and go with the flow instead of an itinerary. THAT’S bike touring!! Have fucking fun!!!!!!! 😘
4 Comments
Add in Monument Valley!
Somewhat similar, Seattle to ABQ. But I continued east until Missoula before heading south towards SLC (lots of great bike trails!), and went Provo-Moab-Durango-Santa Fe-ABQ to end my ride. You’ll have more time with car traffic on your route, but you’ll get to skip two monster mountain climbs.
Central Washington will be HOT in August. Be prepared for 90+ degree heat and almost no tree cover for about a week at your pace. Oregon and Southern Idaho will be similarly hot with limited tree cover.
Be ready for a significant climb when you leave Provo. There is a gas station near the peak if you need snacks.
Assuming you travel at 28 miles a day (1680mi/60 days), you might have a few points where you will need to carry multiple days worth of food and water. I would plan on at least 5L/day. You may want to bring a squeeze filter just to carry less water.
Make sure you have beefy tires, ideally tubeless. I was getting 1-2 flats a day between SLC and ABQ from road debris and goat head thorns.
I would recommend hitting either Hells Canyon or Owyhee Canyon on your way. There’s nice riding through the Wallowas to get to Hells Canyon.
Last fall I did maybe the same section you’re looking at north of Great Salt Lake. There was some nice gravel, and you can ride along the old railroad bed in places near Golden Spike Historical Park. Quite a long ways between water, though.
Looks like you’re ending in Page? For me the roads east of there aren’t so appealing, because it’s the Navajo Nation and wild camping isn’t permitted. (Monument Valley is cool to see, but a lot of it is long straight paved road, so not my cup of tea.) It were me, I’d come in from the north to Page, e.g., past Bryce and through Cannonville. You could still do the San Rafael Swell (which is maybe what you’re showing) but then drop down through Hanksville, over Boulder Pass, and through Escalante.
I have done almost this exact route only south to north on a cross country trip. You ABSOLUTELY MUST stop at Juntura Hot Springs in Oregon desert. There is a cold spring 11mi east of it with some of the best water in the world. Make ur coffee from it sitting in juntura springs = heaven.
Bear Lake on corner of Utah and idaho worth adding 50mi for. Donut Falls in Salt Lake Area outstanding hike.
Crystal Hot Springs in Utah north of Salt Lake is on your route
100% stay at Lazy Lizard Hostel ($13/night, freeze your nalgenes over night in many fridges there for your Moab hikes. Arches NP is soooo accessible from Lizard. Also spend a day at Cowboy Jacuzzis waterfall and collecting basin. 1.5 mile ride from Lazy Lizard. But only cliff dive off the smaller cliff (the landing hole much bigger) and dont jump off the higher cliff. On july 4th eight people were in the emergency room and 6 of us were there from jumping off that 2nd cliff. Luckily just a bad bone bruise.
Theres one more awesome arch called Morning Glory natural bridge short ride out of town from Moab. Great sunset in that canyon.
Chicken Soup hot springs in Lava Hot Springs Idaho is not as good as others, but also very dope.
Looks like u arent going thru bend but i still will recommend Newberry National Volcanic Monument 20 mi south of Bend. Its a dig your own hotsprings that was my 1B rank of 15000mile trip and about 30 hot springs. And amazingly you can see Jupiter reflecting on the lake cus of how dark the sky is. Mind blowing. I had no idea u could see anything but the moon or sun reflecting on water. Surreal.
Id say of this entire list, you absolutely owe it to yourself to do the Moab paragraphs.
But no matter what you choose, be flexible and listen to locals and go with the flow instead of an itinerary. THAT’S bike touring!! Have fucking fun!!!!!!! 😘