Dear fellow cyclists,
2024 I am going to be the first time in the US, cycling from south to north. My plan is to start in Tucson, AZ, in mid March, going to Grand Canyon and the National Parks in Utah, arriving mid may in Yellowstone N.P. when the South Entrance opens and in late May / early June in Glacier N.P.
I am from Munich, Germany, 36 years old and an experienced cyclist. For 2800 miles I plan about 3 months.
You can see the route:
here (works in Firefox, not well in Safari).
I would be happy about some input concerning the route and season:
- Is it too early? I could do it later, but the intention was to do the trip mostly before Memorial Day.
- Did I choose any Highways that are outright unpleasant to cycle on? Especially on these ones, which are not ACA recommended routes:
- AZ 77 from Oracle to Globe
- AZ 87 coming from Roosevelt Lake to Payson
- AZ 87 / AZ 260 from Payson to Camp Verde
- Red Rock Scenic Byway to Sedona, AZ 89a to Flagstaff
- US 180 Flagstaff to Grand Canyon
- US 89 Mount Carmel Junction to Bryce Canyon Junction
- US 191 Monticello to Moab
- Interstate 70 from junction with UT 75 to outskirts of Fruita, bikes are probably allowed?
- CO 139 (Douglas Pass Road) from Fruita to Rangely
- US 40 Rangely to Vernal
- US 191 / UT 44 Vernal to Flaming Gorge
- WY 530 Flaming Gorge to Green River
- Unpaved Green River La Barge Road / Greys River Road from La Barge to Alpine through Bridger-Teton National Forest, possible with a touring bike?
- US 89/191 to Jackson
- Yellowstone in mid May has probably already a lot of car traffic, but if you’re used to it, it’s still ok?
- Unpaved Road along Red Rock Lakes to Lima (possible with a Touring bike?)
- Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway (also unpaved?)
- MT 1 Anaconda to Drummond
- In June I could continue up to Jasper in Canada or take Amtrak to Harpers Ferry and do another two weeks on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. Are the Canadian Rockies much different from Glacier, or would you rather suggest doing the skyline drive?
Thanks in advance for tips and feedback, I surely appreciate it and will report back. It’s still some time, but I am kind of a planning fetishist, that’s why I’m so early…