Bicycle Travel > Routes
Suggestions for route from Vancouver, Canada to join Trans-Am Please?
PK:
Hello there,
I am based in the UK and have this aggravating thought that won't leave me alone: crossing the US on my bicycle! There was some hope that this thought would exit my noggin but after finding this site, reading the forum and following a long and winding trail of blogs, it was time to surrender, register and post.
At such an early stage of wondering, the more I read, the longer the list of questions grow. The most complicated bit so far is finding a practical way of getting from West to East across the UK to get to an airport that will fly to the US, a problem that I see a fellow Devonian has mentioned on the forum before.
My first question that I would be grateful for advice on is:
Have any of you started a crossing from Vancouver, Canada and do you have a suggestion for a route from there to join the Trans-Am please and thank you (ok, that was two questions)? Having looked at the ACA overview, there are obviously options but would appreciate further info and recommendations. I am finding it really hard to find a direct flight to anywhere else without changing aircraft one or more times (Seattle/Portland etc).
Another option would be to fly to San Francisco and start from there or via three seperate planes, start in Seattle!
I am thinking of starting on 15/16 June 2013.
There are a million more questions but above are the ones that are stopping further wondering at the moment, any help or general mocking will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
PK
pdlamb:
That's a fairly easy question. Get the northernmost Pacific Coast Trail map, which takes you from Vancouver down to Astoria, which by coincidence is the western terminus of the TransAm. It's only another 400 miles! :)
Alternatively, you could take this route or a ferry down to Anacortes, WA and take the Northern Tier east to Montana, where it's just a hop, skip and jump down to Missoula, where you can pick up the TransAm. Great scenery, lots of climbing, and four passes in four days in Washington. The nice folks at AC even have a map (Great Parks) to help you get from Glacier (which is well worth seeing) down south to Missoula.
John Nelson:
--- Quote from: PK on November 19, 2012, 11:39:25 am ---Have any of you started a crossing from Vancouver, Canada and do you have a suggestion for a route from there to join the Trans-Am please and thank you (ok, that was two questions)? Having looked at the ACA overview, there are obviously options but would appreciate further info and recommendations. I am finding it really hard to find a direct flight to anywhere else without changing aircraft one or more times (Seattle/Portland etc).
Another option would be to fly to San Francisco and start from there or via three separate planes, start in Seattle!
I am thinking of starting on 15/16 June 2013.
--- End quote ---
The Pacific Coast Route starts in Vancouver and goes down to Astoria, Oregon, where you could pick up the start of the TransAm. This is simple as pie.
Starting in San Francisco on the Western Express and joining up with the TransAm in Pueblo is another perfectly fine option.
I'd take the first option if beautiful scenery is your primary objective. I'd take the second option if you have time constraints.
If you're flying with your bike, I don't think I'd favor taking three separate planes as it just increases the chances of damage to your bike in transit. But if you do go to Seattle, you can take the ferry over to Bremerton and join the Pacific Coast route there.
The middle of June is the perfect time to start from the west coast. You'll have a great time.
adventurepdx:
PK, how much time do you have to play with?
Using the ACA Pacific Coast Route to get from Vancouver to Astoria is a viable option. The first half or so will go through the Puget Sound region, which is nice. The second half, from around Shelton, WA to Astoria, is doable but as noted by others is not particularly thrilling.
The other routing option would be to use one of the routes outlined in the "Bicycling The Pacific Coast" book:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353351465&sr=8-1&keywords=bicycling+the+pacific+coast
The book has two routes: an inland route following the Puget Sound/Hood Canal, and the Peninsula route that goes the long way around the Olympic Peninsula. That area will most likely wet in mid-June, but it's worth it if you take the time to make the side trips into Olympic National Park. (If you don't, I would recommend the Inland Route.)
If you don't feel like biking, you can take Amtrak from Vancouver to Portland and then either take the Point bus to Astoria:
http://www.oregon-point.com/nw_point.html
Or you can ride to the coast.
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?&a=316549&c=36638
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?&a=316550&c=36638
John Nettles:
I agree with PDLamb to take the Northern Tier to Glacier NP in Montana, then down to Missoula. I have ridden the PC, TransAm, and NT.
The PC in Washington is so so as far as scenery goes. I really like both Washington State (NT), and Oregon (both PC & TransAm). Another option is to ride to Astoria via PC or Portland (via Sierra Cascade) and the ride the Lewis & Clark section along the Columbia River and join the TransAm in Kooskia, ID. Idaho is another pretty state. I have not ridden the SC or L&C sections so can not comment on that option but would think the SC would be nicer than Washington's portion of the PC.
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