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  Bikepacking Roots -- Supporting and advancing bikepacking

The Pony Express Bikepacking Route

The Pony Express Bikepacking Route
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. 85% of the route is on dirt and gravel with a few car-free bike trails to get riders through major cities. But some sections, particularly in the mountains of Nevada, are rough, rocky, and are decidedly not dirt or gravel roads. History is alive and well along much of the route, with the remains of original Pony Express stations still visible in many places, and commemorative markers along the way denoting important landmarks, graves, and important information.

Interested in being one of our route Scouts in 2020?
We are seeking adventurous, experienced bikepackers interested in being volunteer scouts.
Although extensive reconnaissance of the route has already been conducted by Jan Bennett, we are looking for a cadre of veteran bikepackers who are eager to ride [some of] an ambitious new route, provide feedback, additional assessment and information about water and services along the way, share photos, and potentially help out in some other ways.

As of late March, we've closed the sign-up period for Route Scouts. If you're interested in helping but, please send us an email with a bit of information about your bikepacking background, when you're considering riding some or all of the route, and how you're interested in helping out with these final stages of route development.

What's the ideal time of year to ride? April to October, with the shoulder seasons raising the probability of snow in some of the higher passes. As the dry summer months progress some stretches will become more loose and sandy. Spring can mean an increased chance for severe weather in the high plains. Fall can mean that natural water sources may not be flowing as freely after the dry summer months.

What are the biggest challenges along this route?
  • Planning for long stretches without resupply, and additional contingencies in the event of mechanicals and/or severe weather
  • Water carrying capacity (6L+)
  • Ability to carry 3+ days of food (4-6 if you ride straight through from Salt Lake City to Austin, Nevada)
  • Exposure to intense sun as shade is rare in the high desert
  • Exposure to severe weather as shelter can be rare in the high desert
  • Picking a bike for long stretches of well-graded gravel roads yet still provides confidence on rocky mountain two-track as well as a bit of single-track

Development of this route has been the vision and work of Jan Bennett. She has put many months of time into reconnaissance, reaching out to private land owners and communities along the way over the past few years. Bikepacking Roots is helping with a scouting program to support the final stages of the route project. 

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Bikepacking Roots is the only non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing bikepacking, growing a diverse bikepacking community, advocating for the conservation of the landscapes and public lands through which we ride, and creating professional routes. We value human-powered experiences and an inclusive, engaged, and informed membership (6,000 strong) that makes a positive impact as we adventure by bike.

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Our Business Partners that support the bikepacking community, conservation, and public lands:
Our organizational partners that support bikepacking, advocacy, conservation, and outdoor recreation:



Bikepacking Roots is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization (EIN
81-2622394)

All content and route data copyright 2016-2020 Bikepacking Roots

  • Home
  • News
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Issue Submission
    • Where we stand
    • Who are bikepackers?
    • U.S. Public Lands History
    • United States' wild lands at risk
    • Bikepacking Community Survey
    • Archive of submitted public comments
  • Routes
    • Our Routes
    • BPR Route Rating Scale
    • In development
    • Western Wildlands Route >
      • WWR Updates
      • WWR Downloads and Guides
      • WWR Segment 1
      • WWR Segment 2
      • WWR Segment 3
      • WWR Segment 4
      • WWR Segment 5
      • WWR Segment 6
      • WWR Segment 7
      • WWR Segment 8
      • WWR Segment 9
    • Bears Ears Loops >
      • Bears Ears Loops Downloads and Guides
      • Bears Ears Loops Updates
    • Plateau Passage >
      • Plateau Passage Segments
    • Colorado 14ers Loop
    • Craters and Cinder Cones
    • Orogenesis
    • Northwoods Route
    • Pony Express Route
  • Community
    • BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant >
      • BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant Application
    • Go Bikepacking! Teton Valley
  • Join/Give Today!
  • About
    • Mission
    • Who we are
    • Route Test Team
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Store