The Wild West Route is a bikepacking route of linked dirt roads and 4x4 tracks that traverse the Intermountain West for nearly 3,000 miles from Mexico to Canada. Reconnaissance of the route has been completed, and we will be coordinating with a group of ~30 pioneering riders during the summer of 2018 to assist with finalizing the route and planning resources. The route, maps, planning resources, and a landscape guide will be available to the bikepacking community in the winter of 2018/19.
This route is being developed with the following goals:
• Offer an expedition-scale bikepacking experience with enjoyable riding, incredible scenery, solitude, discovery, and adventure
• Showcase the character of the expansive wild country that remains in the American West
• Highlight the multiple roles that public lands play in the West and the importance of conserving these public lands and keeping them in the public domain
• Provide an accompanying “landscape guide” for riders to learn more about the stories of the places through which they will ride – geology, ecology, history, conservation, and more
• Offer east-west links between the Wild West Route and Adventure Cycling Association's popular Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
So what's the Wild West Route like? Below are brief synopses of the riding experience each state provides.
Montana
The Montana segment of the Wild West 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.
This route is being developed with the following goals:
• Offer an expedition-scale bikepacking experience with enjoyable riding, incredible scenery, solitude, discovery, and adventure
• Showcase the character of the expansive wild country that remains in the American West
• Highlight the multiple roles that public lands play in the West and the importance of conserving these public lands and keeping them in the public domain
• Provide an accompanying “landscape guide” for riders to learn more about the stories of the places through which they will ride – geology, ecology, history, conservation, and more
• Offer east-west links between the Wild West Route and Adventure Cycling Association's popular Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
So what's the Wild West Route like? Below are brief synopses of the riding experience each state provides.
Montana
The Montana segment of the Wild West 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 Wild West 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 (~175 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.
The Wild West 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 (~175 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 Wild West 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 75-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.
Utah will likely provide the most unanticipated riding experience for Wild West 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 75-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 Wild West 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 Wild West 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.
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 Wild West 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 Wild West 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.
