Great USA Motorcycle Routes
If you're into racing bikes or street riding, you don't
necessarily need information about routes. Commercial tracks
are easy to find where you can work out your need for speed
without fear of the law.
But if you're into touring, finding a great route means
doing some planning. Here are two in the Northwest U.S.
worth looking into.
Highway 49 - California
If you live in or visit California - as millions of
bikers do - it can be tough to find a route that has
everything you want - great scenery, good road conditions
AND not too much traffic. Part of Highway 49 might be just
what you've been looking for.
Running over 300 miles through the California Gold Rush
region, much of the route is congested with RVs crawling
through small towns in the northern part of the state. But
there's a great section near Coulterville, an old mining
town from the days when Chinese supplied most of the labor
for the railroads.
At the intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 32, head south
and enjoy a 15 mile ride full of twisties along a smooth
road. Plenty of places to pass exist for that occasional
stretch occupied by the random tourist who got off the
beaten track.
Be sure to ride up the hill to the ridgeline and take a
moment to pause at Virgina Point to look back, past all the
abandoned gold mines. Then head toward the Merced River.
Lodging is sparse, but frequent enough. A few restaurants
dot the route, serving tourists. The scenery is spectacular,
and during the late spring the air is perfect.
The Lolo Pass - Idaho
Idaho, Montana, and Colorado probably have more great
routes than anywhere else in the U.S. The Rockies provides
stellar views, the people are mostly bike friendly, and
there are amenities along most routes as a result of the
decades-long tourist traffic that visits the Northwest.
One of the best of these is through the Lolo Pass. The route
winds along vistas that look much like they did when Lewis
and Clark first saw them. Riding through the Lolo National
Forest, you'll feel just like those early pioneers, only
your feet won't be so sore.
The whitewater rapids on the Locsha and Selway rivers are a
sight to see, and you can stop at one of the numerous hot
springs along the way. The area has a high population of
deer and other local animals crossing the highway, so take
your time and watch for them.
The traffic is sparse and the road conditions are excellent.
There aren't a lot of places to fill up along the 75 mile
stretch, though. So, top off in Kooskia before you set off.
But the Northwest isn't the only place that still has great
rides. Texas, New England, not to mention the roads of the
UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and many others all
provide excellent routes. And if you don't have a bike, you
can always rent one. Wherever you live or travel, there's a
perfect trip for you.