General Overview of the Western Wildlands Route

The 2,700-mile Western Wildlands Route (formerly known as the Wild West Route) offers bikepackers a non-technical, expeditionary-scale riding experience that immerses one in the vast expanses of wild and public lands in the Intermountain West. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands – 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands designation. Riders will experience the incredibly remote mountains of western Montana and central Idaho, the desolate beauty of southern Idaho’s Snake River Plain, endless vistas from Utah’s high plateaus at 10,000 feet elevation, the canyon country of Navajo Nation and Grand Canyon region, and the towering Sky Islands and low Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona.

The Western Wildlands Route balances scenic, remote, and enjoyable dirt riding with regular resupply opportunities in small communities. The route is more than 80% off-pavement, following primarily follows dirt roads and 4x4 tracks. Mountain bikes are strongly recommended – the dirt and gravel roads in this part of the United States are rarely well-graded, smooth gravel. Expect steep, relentless climbs, rocky and loose surfaces, and intermittent stream crossings. The most wild sections offer 150+ miles of riding through rugged terrain and offer absolutely no services. For riders familiar with the iconic Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Western Wildlands Route offers a more rugged, remote, and wild experience.
The geography, weather, and terrain is incredibly diverse along the route. Most of the nine segments of the Western Wildlands Route include climbs with between 3,000 and 4,000 feet of elevation gain, and a few climbs approach 5,000 feet. The miles in Montana and most of Idaho are very mountainous, feature deep canyons, abundant water, regularly-spaced resupply options in small communities, and are almost entirely on public lands. Southern Idaho and northern Utah traverse lower elevation landscapes with less demanding riding, less water, and notably more private land. The route climbs over a series of high plateaus in central and southern Utah, spending many miles near 10,000 feet elevation. Services and water become less frequent, and the route returns to being almost entirely on public lands. Many miles of the route in central and southern Utah also become impassible when wet.
 
Northern Arizona’s canyon country is magnificent, remote, and water remains scarce. The terrain across Navajo Nation, past Grand Canyon, and beyond is less demanding than Utah’s high plateaus, but shade is sparse in the grassland-dominated region. The becomes rougher and more challenging in Arizona’s forested Central Highlands. Southern Arizona’s Sonoran Desert is extremely hot during summer months between 2,000 and 4,000 feet elevation, but water, resupply options, and communities become more frequent, and a few tall mountain ranges provide refuge from the heat.

Western Wildlands Route at a Glance

Route length: 2,700 miles
Total climbing: 185,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 40-65 (~40-70 miles/day)
Recommended starting location/direction: Dependent on time of year – For SoBo riders, starting mid-summer is generally ideal. For NoBo riders, starting late Spring will work best in most years.
 
% Paved (approx.): 20%
% Dirt road (approx.): 55%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 25%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0.1%
% Rideable (approx.): 98%
 
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 5
Average technical difficulty* (1-10): 4.5
Bikepacking challenges: Limited water, limited resupply options, remote, summer heat in southern and lower-elevation sections of the route, impassible in areas when wet
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 155 miles / ~3 days (Segment 3); 90+ miles between towns occur on numerous segments
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 95 miles / 1-2 days (Segment 7); stretches of ~50 miles between water occur on numerous segments
 
* See BPR route rating scale
Click on individual segments in the map above for more detailed information

A request related to racing

Bikepacking Roots is strongly discouraging any sort of race on the Western Wildlands Route. There are several sections of the route that traverse private and tribal lands and numerous key water sources on private property have been made available by landowners.  Competitive events are not permitted on those sections, and even an underground event of the style of typical bikepacking races would legitimately jeopardize future access. We've been working with private landowners and tribal officials for the past 3 years to develop this route. We respectfully ask that riders refrain from organizing any kind of event on this route or chasing records on their own - please put the benefit of the broader bikepacking community before individual competitive desires (note that the co-founders of Bikepacking Roots are accomplished ultra racers and are very supportive of racing in general, just not on the Western Wildlands Route).

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Route Updates
Riding season considerations – heat, snow, and smoke

Given the latitude and elevation range spanned by the WWR, choosing the time at which you decide to tackle the route (or sections of it) is important. In Montana and Idaho from Ketchum north (Segments 1-2), winter snow remains at the higher elevations and on long sections of the Magruder Corridor through late June in most years, and winter returns by late September or early October. Wildfires and smoke often become common across the region in August and into September, and low elevations like the Salmon River Canyon are uncomfortably warm for most riders during the peak of summer. Southern Idaho (Segment 3) becomes rideable much earlier in the year, and the low elevation of the Snake River Plain bake during the heat of summer.

Much of the Utah (Segments 4 and 5) involve continuous miles on high plateaus at elevations of 9,000 feet or higher. These high plateaus remain snowy into May or June in most years, and snowstorms are likely to return by sometime in late October or November. Subfreezing lows at night are common in June and after September. Many of these plateaus also become unrideable when wet due to their clay-rich soil, so as thunderstorms become more frequent in July and August, pay careful attention to weather forecasts.
 
Southern-most Utah and northern Arizona (Segment 6) across Navajo Nation to Grand Canyon are rideable between April and October, and in some years, even longer than that. Again, clay-rich soil becomes unrideable when wet, and thunderstorms are more common during July and August. Summer heat can also be oppressive in the shadeless miles of this segment.
 
The highlands of central Arizona (southern Segment 7 and all of Segment 8) between Flagstaff and Globe generally become rideable in mid-April or early May as the snow melts and remain snow-free until November or later in most years. The higher elevations remain cool, but temperatures at the lower elevations climb to 100 °F or higher in summer months. Segment 8 between Flagstaff and Young also becomes unrideable when wet during summer thunderstorms (mid-July to early September).
 
Southern Arizona’s Sonoran Desert (Segment 9) is most enjoyable to ride between mid-September and late April. During summer months, daytime temperatures in the valleys routinely top 100 °F, but cloud buildup during monsoon season (mid-July to early September) moderates afternoon temperatures a bit.
 
So what is the ideal starting date for riders looking to cover the entire route? It obviously depends on a rider’s pace, but generally, southbound riders should plan on leaving the northern terminus of the WWR in mid- to late summer with enough time to make it south across Utah’s high plateaus before October. Northbound riders should not plan on reaching central Arizona before early- to mid-April in most years, and the high plateaus of Utah will likely not be rideable until sometime in late May or June.
 
For maps of current modeled snowpack depth, visit the Interactive Snow Information Map from NOAA’s National Operational Hydrological Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC).
Recommended Bike Type

This route is designed for mountain bikes, and it is recommended that riders have 2.2” or wider tires (with ample sealant, particularly in Arizona) and low gearing sufficient for extended steep grades. Tires wider than 2.5” are not necessary for any sections of the route. Long, steep descents (4,000 feet or more) will test brakes, and large brake rotors (at least 180 mm) are strongly recommended. Front suspension may be appreciated by many riders. Cyclocross and gravel bikes are not recommended for this route, nor are trailers. And with bike shops being few and far between along the Western Wildlands Route, carrying an appropriate assortment of tools and spare parts is mandatory.
Required permits for riding the route

The only permits needed for the Western Wildlands Route are specific to Arizona:

  • A Recreation Permit from the Arizona State Land Department is required intermittently for each segment of the Western Wildlands Route in Arizona. These permits can be purchased online.
  • A backcountry/camping permit is absolutely mandatory for the Navajo Nation section of Segment 7 in northern Arizona – not obtaining a permit is considered trespassing and could jeopardize the permission Bikepacking Roots has been granted for the route to cross Navajo land. These permits cost $30 per person for Western Wildlands Route riders, and the funds are used to help improve infrastructure within tribal parks. See the Western Wildlands Route Guide for the most up-to-date information regarding how to obtain your permit from the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What kind of bike should I ride? The Western Wildlands Route is a mountain bike route. Any other style of bike is not advised, and trailers are not recommended. See the “Recommended Bike Type” section of the route guide.
  • Can I ride the route in either direction? Yes, most certainly so. However, the route guide is written for southbound (SoBo) riders.
  • What’s the ideal time of year to start? Generally, for SoBo riders, a mid- to late-summer start is recommended. For NoBo riders, a late Spring departure is recommended. This, of course, depends significantly on a rider’s anticipated pace. 
  • How long will the WWR take to ride? Plan on roughly 40-65 days of riding (40-70 miles per day). Don’t underestimate how rugged this route is.
  • How does the WWR compare to the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route? Based on feedback received from riders who have done both routes, the WWR is more remote, more rugged, more challenging, and resupply locations are less frequent.
  • Is there much water out there? Surface water is generally readily available in Segments 1-3 and becomes sparser in southern Idaho and farther south. A minimum water capacity of 6 liters is recommended for Segments 4-9, and more may be required if traveling in summer heat. All surface water should be filtered, boiled, or treated chemically.
  • How far apart are resupplies and towns? Generally spaced 1-3 days apart (40-155 miles)
  • What should I expect for weather?  Riders should be prepared for sub-freezing overnight lows at higher altitudes and temperatures of at least 100 °F at lower elevations. Generally, days in June and early July are clear and warm. From mid-July to mid-September, afternoon thunderstorms become more frequent. After mid-September, autumn sets in, and early season snowstorms can impact higher elevations of the route. See the “Riding Season Considerations” section of the route guide for more information.
  • How do I follow the route? The route is not marked on the ground in any way. We recommend that riders utilize our GPS route and POI/waypoint data and a GPS like the Garmin eTrex series. The GPS-enabled mobile Western Wildlands Route app offers another navigation option. If riders want to carry paper maps, the best option for a route of this length is to photocopy pages from state gazetteers from DeLorme or Benchmark.
  • Is it easy to find places to camp? With 70% of the route on public lands, dispersed/wild camping is readily available along most of the route. Official campgrounds are common in Segments 1-3 and are less common to the south.
  • What do you mean by “impassible mud”? Long stretches of the route can become absolutely impassible when wet – a bike’s wheels will not spin once clogged with this clay-rich mud. The individual segment descriptions identify most of these sections. Pay close attention to weather forecasts and carry extra food in case waiting for a road to dry out becomes necessary.
  • How do I get to either end of the route? See the travel recommendations in the route guide for bike shops and services that can help make your trip a bit simpler.
  • Will there be bears? Yes. The northern 250 miles is in grizzly bear territory, and most of the route is in black bear territory. See the “Bear Safety” section of the route guide for more information. 
  • Do I need any special permits: Permits are required for the Arizona segments of the route – a State Land Department Recreation permit for all of Arizona and an absolutely mandatory backcountry/camping permit for the Navajo Nation section. See the “Required Permits” section of the route guide for more information. 
  • Are you going to organize a race on the route? No. We also ask that until the route becomes well established that individuals refrain from any sort of racing. In particular, approvals granted for the route to cross private land and Navajo Nation could be jeopardized by riders pushing limits and getting into trouble or by disregarding special regulations for these sections of the route, both of which are far more likely in race scenarios.
Public lands and dispersed camping

Nearly 70% of the Western Wildlands Route is on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (48%), the Bureau of Land Management (12%), and the National Park Service (1%). Another 5% of the route is on state lands that are not necessarily considered public, 4% crosses tribal lands, and 30% crosses private land on public roadways. These vast swaths of public lands are a defining feature of the American West, and later in this guide, you can read more about the history of the Forest Service and BLM lands and the roles these lands play in society today.  
 
For bikepackers, it is important to recognize that responsible dispersed camping (also known in some parts of the world as wild or freedom camping) is permitted virtually anywhere on Forest Service and BLM lands. Camping is not limited to established campgrounds except in the most popular recreation areas and within the State and National Parks through which the Western Wildlands Route passes. Dispersed camping is also permitted on state lands long the route; on Navajo Nation, camping is restricted to one of several specific camping areas. Do not camp on private lands without permission from the landowner.
Getting to the Western Wildlands Route
 
Northern Terminus
The nearest transportation hub and larger town to the northern terminus of the WWR is Whitefish, Montana, 60 miles from the Canadian border. Whitefish is also a gateway to Glacier National Park. The town offers a large airport, train service, shuttle options to reach the Canadian border, and numerous options for shipping bikes to or from town.

Public transportation options
  • Glacier Park International Airport (just outside of town)
  • Amtrak train station in downtown Whitefish (consult Amtrak about bringing a bike aboard for this specific line as their bike regulations vary significantly)
 
Bike shipping options
Shuttle options to Canadian border
  • Pedal! The WWR Whitefish Extension to the northern terminus of the route is 85 miles of mostly dirt. See Segment 1 information in the route guide for more details.
  • Whitefish Shuttle – (406) 212-0080
  • Whitefish Bike Retreat - (406) 260-0274
 
 
Southern Terminus
The nearest larger town to the southern terminus of the WWR is Sierra Vista, Arizona, 25 miles from the end of the WWR. Sierra Vista is a city of 40,000 people adjacent to a military base. The nearest airport is in Tucson, 70 miles to the northwest by highway (or 140 miles via the WWR). Amtrak train depots are in Tucson and Benson (35 miles by highway or 60 miles north via the WWR; note: Amtrak may not accept bicycles at the Benson station).
 
Public transportation options  
Bike shipping options  
Shuttle options to southern WWR terminus:
  • Pedal! The WWR Sierra Vista Extension to the southern terminus of the route is 25 miles of mostly quiet pavement with a 4-mile out-and-back to the border. See Segment 9 information in the route guide for more details.
  • Any of the Sierra Vista shuttle services above can do pick-ups and drop-offs by request. The easiest place mention as a destination is the Morning Star Café in Palominas. The southern terminus of the WWR is 4 miles south of here, but vehicles cannot be driven closer than this.
 

Other easy-to-reach cities on or near the WWR
  • Flagstaff, AZ: Major airport, Amtrak service, numerous bike shops
  • Kanab, UT: Shuttles available to/from Las Vegas, NV
  • Park City, UT: Close to the major transportation hub of Salt Lake City
  • Ketchum/Sun Valley, ID: Major airport
Recommended sections for shorter trips
 
Idaho and Montana’s Bitterroot Country and Beyond – Canada to Ketchum/Sun Valley, ID (entirety of Segments 1-3). At 900 miles with 56,000 feet of climbing, this rugged section takes riders through the heart of Idaho’s rugged mountains, along scenic rivers, across the remote Magruder Corridor, and through abandoned railroad tunnels. Riders should plan on 2-3 weeks between early July and late September. See the recommendations in the route guide for how to get to the northern terminus of the Western Wildlands Route, and flights run daily out of the Sun Valley airport (Friedman Memorial Airport). Numerous bike shops are available in Hailey and Ketchum to assist with bike shipping or receiving.
 
Utah’s High Plateaus – Park City to Kanab (parts of Segments 5-6). Hopping from the top of one high plateau to the next, this section of the Western Wildlands Route offers minimal low-elevation riding and instead spends much of its time between 8,500 and 10,000 feet elevation in pine forests and near treeline. Highlights include the 100+ mile Skyline Drive on the Wasatch Plateau, Fish Lake, and Bryce Canyon National Park. Riders should plan on 6-11 days to cover this section’s 428 miles and 28,000 feet of climbing. Much of this route is impassible when wet, and snow typically hangs on at the higher elevations into late June. This section is best ridden in July or late September (afternoon thunderstorms are most frequent in August and early September). Numerous transportation options and bike shops are available in Park City. Kanab has shuttle options available to Las Vegas (see this shuttle listing) and one bike shop (Knuckle Heads Bikes – 678-634-6689).
 
Arizona’s Central Highlands – Tucson to Flagstaff (parts of Segments 8-9). Diverse landscapes, low desert, and high pine-covered mountains characterize this section of the Western Wildlands Route. Riders will climb over Mount Lemmon and the smaller Pinal Mountains, pass monstrous copper mines, climb into the forested Mogollon Rim country, and pass through Sedona’s redrock cliffs en route to Flagstaff. At roughly 425 miles with approximately 23,000 feet of climbing, this section will take most riders between 6 and 10 days. This section is best ridden in late Spring (mid-April to early May) or fall (mid-September to mid-November). Both Flagstaff and Tucson have numerous bike shops, airports, and bus service.
 
Grand Canyon South Rim to Kaibab Plateau – Arizona Trail Grand Canyon mountain bike bypass (part of Segment 7). For Arizona Trail (AZT) riders who aren’t excited about the prospect of carrying their bike across Grand Canyon or dealing with shuttles services, this section of the Western Wildlands Route provides a new option. At 185 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing, this will add several days of riding to most AZT trips. Northbound AZT riders can leave the AZT at Grandview Lookout or continue to Desert View Overlook, cross Navajo Nation (with the required backcountry/camping permit), and follow the Kaibab Alternate to rejoin the AZT approximately 15 miles north of Grand Canyon at the Kaibab Lodge area.
State-by-State Descriptions of the Western Wildlands Route

Montana
The Montana segment of the Western Wildlands Route is quiet, lush, and rugged. Water is abundant, and resupply options come relatively frequently in small towns. Beginning at the Canadian border just north of the town of Eureka, the route cuts southwest into increasingly wild and rough country approaching the Yaak River Valley, then climbs 4,000’ over the Cabinet Mountains before following the scenic Clark Fork Valley through numerous small communities before once again climbing, this time up to the Idaho border.
Idaho
The Western Wildlands Route’s path through the wild state of Idaho is circuitous, dramatic, and diverse in almost every way imaginable. In the north, the route follows clear rivers, both large and small, among the densely-forested Bitterroot Mountains. Then burned forests in remote mountains farther south stretch as far as the eye can see, and resupply options become a bit sparse (150+ miles apart for 2 sections) as the route cuts between some of the largest tracts of Wilderness in the West. The landscape gradually becomes drier, and the relief along the route gets even more dramatic, with the descent to and climb away from the Main Fork of the Salmon River being well over 4,000 feet. Getting into the southern third of the state, smaller sage-covered mountains replace the coniferous forests at times, but the views into the Sawtooth and Boulder Mountains are incredibly dramatic. After passing through the Ketchum/Sun Valley area, the route heads southeast through Craters of the Moon National Monument and then out across the hot, desolate, remote Snake River Plain toward the town of Blackfoot. From there, beautiful gravel roads along the Blackfoot River point toward Soda Springs, and more quiet narrow mountain roads lead from there to the northern end of Bear Lake at the Utah border.
Utah
Utah will likely provide the most unanticipated riding experience for Western Wildlands Route adventurers. From Bear Lake, the route makes a brief foray into Wyoming’s windy high plains in order to get around the largest private land holding in Utah. After dropping back into Utah, the route negotiates the rapidly developing region east of the Wasatch Mountains, passing just east of Park City. Then the climbing begins in earnest, topping out in the alpine at 10,000’ before dropping briefly to Strawberry Reservoir. From there, the climbing begins again with another 4,000-foot ascent to the iconic Skyline Drive, a rough 100-mile-long dirt road along the crest of the Wasatch Plateau, again at over 10,000’ for much of that stretch.

Midway across the Wasatch Plateau, the route will split, with one option heading southeast into the desert at Castle Dale. This option then traverses the dry, otherworldly San Rafael Swell and many miles of desert riding through Green River before reaching the tourist mecca of Moab. After Moab, this option follows a remote two-track through Canyonlands National Park, climbs through the Abajo Mountains, and up out of the hot lowlands onto Elk Ridge in Bears Ears National Monument. Then the route descends again, crossing the Colorado River at Hite among towering sandstone cliffs. A long climb away from the Colorado River skirts the Henry Mountains, and this option rejoins the main route bear Boulder Town. This option is amazingly scenic and provides a true “Utah desert experience,” but water sources and resupply options are few and far between. And like much of the route, many of these miles are entirely impassable when wet. This Moab alternate is one recommended only for more experienced bikepackers confident in their abilities to safely traverse remote desert country.
 
The “main” route drops off the southern end of the Wasatch Plateau to the town of Salina, crosses Interstate 70, meanders south on a mix of improved gravel roads and 4x4 tracks past Fish Lake, and then up another 4,000-foot climb onto the mostly-forested Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau. Springs provide a few critical water sources, and being at close to 10,000 feet again the temperatures are tolerable, even in the middle of summer. From the southern end of the Aquarius Plateau, a big descent leads to Bryce Canyon National Park and its unique spires. Dusty forest roads, some private ranch roads (used with permission), and a bit of pavement deliver riders to the sandy town of Kanab near the Arizona border.
Arizona
The colorful slickrock sandstone formations of Utah give way to a different desert landscape in northern Arizona. The route splits again south of Kanab, with a rugged option climbing into the high forests of the Kaibab Plateau, taking riders nearly to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (a 15-mile paved road leads to the canyon rim) . The alternative option stays lower, following faster gravel roads. On the east side of the Kaibab Plateau, some pavement riding and a crossing of the Colorado River at Navajo Bridge lead to the Navajo Nation.
 
We have been working with the Navajo Nation Department of Parks and Recreation and officials in local communities to gain formal permission for the Western Wildlands Route to follow ~130 miles of dirt road, 2-track, and abandoned road bed across the reservation. This is the first recreational route granted such permission here, and it is critical that riders exercise the utmost respect when crossing the Navajo Nation. The scenery through this area is incredible, with views of the Little Colorado River Gorge, Marble Canyon, and the expansive Marble Platform.
 
From the Navajo community of Cameron, the route climbs west into Grand Canyon National Park before turning south, crossing the dry San Francisco Volcanic Field among countless volcanic cinder cones to the bigger town of Flagstaff. Beyond Flagstaff, miles of riding in pine forest lead to a long descent among the picturesque cliffs of Sedona. Then riders climb back into the pines, follow the edge of the Mogollon Rim cliffs, and then turn back south through the Sierra Ancha Mountains. At the southern end of these remote mountains, the Sonoran desert awaits, but several big climbs into the Pinal and Santa Catalina Mountains provide respite from the hot low valleys. After skirting the city of Tucson, the route hops east to the San Pedro Valley, a desert valley flanked by towering mountain ranges. The Western Wildlands Route follows the small San Pedro River to the Mexican border, first on dirt road, then on old rail grade, and eventually on 2-track through the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, ending right at the border wall.
Acknowledgements
 
We thank the host of individuals, organizations, and land managers who contributed to this project. A cadre of bikepackers envisioned a new Canada-to-Mexico route at various times - Matthew Lee, Scott Morris, Casey Greene, Kaitlyn Boyle, and Kurt Refsnider, all inspired by Adventure Cycling Association’s stellar Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Identifying the best alignment for this new route involved extensive reconnaissance by Kurt Refsnider, recommendations from other mountain bikers, input from local residents along the route corridor, and suggestions from land managers with the Forest Service and BLM. We are deeply appreciative of and honored by the collaboration that formed with the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department and Tom Riggenbach of the Navajo Y.E.S. non-profit, as well as from all the individuals who provided input at the Navajo Nation Trails Conference in 2017 and 2018. We also thank the 40+ riders, part of our Route Scouts program, who test rode the route in 2018 and provided feedback for refinement, recommendations for bike-friendly services, and built awareness of the Western Wildlands Route in communities along the way. Kurt Refsnider and Kaitlyn Boyle authored the guidebook with contributions from Gabriel Amadeus Tiller for the segment maps and Shannon Villegas for the layout. All Western Wildlands Route photos were taken by Kurt Refsnider unless otherwise noted. And finally, we thank all the members, financial supporters, and business partners of Bikepacking Roots for enabling us to create such a substantial route. This project was also financed in part by a grant from the Federal Recreational Trails Program administered by Arizona State Parks and Trails.