Choosing a Western Route B&B to B&B

[08ephot@gmail.com]

This spring we cycled the lower part of the Natchez trace and the B&B's were a blast. It was like opening a new architectural present each afternoon. We would like to try again next year. We are shooting for 40-75 miles per day, would like not to carry panniers with all our stuff but haven't gotten that far yet. We would like to spend about 5-7 days on the bikes.

Knowing nothing of B&Bs along this route could you suggest either Idaho Hot Springs loop, Grand Canyon connector, or the Utah Cliffs routes? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Pierson
Lexington Va.

[CMajernik]

There is a website called Bed, Breakfast and Biking which lists B&Bs along many bike routes. You can look there to see what is listed for the Grand Canyon Connector.
http://www.bbbiking.com/

The ID Hot Springs Loop is a mountain biking route and you will most likely need to carry panniers and a tent since there's more miles between towns than you can comfortably ride in a day. And I think only Boise and Ketcham would have B&Bs along the route.

And I believe the Utah Cliffs Loop would be similar to the ID Hot Springs Loop in that there might be 2-3 more B&Bs in towns along the way, but you might not find one for every night.

You might want to consider riding what we call the Glacier Waterton Loop which consists of the Great Parks North section 1 and 2 maps. There still could be a few nights you'd have to stay in motels but I think there are more B&Bs than the other routes you mentioned. If you click on the detail maps on this page you can see where the loop goes:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-parks/

[08ephot@gmail.com]

It sounds like if we (ages13 - lots older than that) wanted not to go it self supported we'd need a fully supported tour and in the case of ID maybe some Fargos. I was looking to see that written about by Abbey, Colin Fletcher, and Hillerman. I'll check out the Glacier Warton Loop. Thank you for your help!

[indyfabz]

I'll check out the Glacier Warton Loop. Thank you for your help!

I have done it. Nice loop with indoor options possible every night, though I don't have the maps handy so I don't know how many of those options would be B&Bs. We went clockwise starting from Whitefish. Stayed in Eureka, MT, Sparwood, B.C. Pincher Creek, AB, Waterton Village, AB (where there is the historic Prince of Wales Hotel), St. Mary Mt., and the west side of Glacier National Park. Assuming Logan Pass is open, all points are within your mileage range. If you plan to stay indoors in Glacier N.P. you should check availability long before your trip.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3675814073/in/album-72157620763740044/

[08ephot@gmail.com]

Thanks!

[indyfabz]

It's a slow day so I did a couple of quick searches. There is the Pruett House B&B in Eureka, MT and the Holley Lane B&B about a mile or so north of the center of Sparwood, B.C. There is one (Stepping Stones) just off route in Beaver Mines, which is a little west of Pincher Creek. It's in the middle of nowhere, but there seems to be a general store just down the road. Pincher Creek is a somewhat of a sad little town, but there were at least two motels there. Pincher Creek to Waterton Village is a short day, but it took us a long time because some hills and wind. Waterton Village is worthy of a day off to relax. The next day to St. Mary is tougher than it might look on paper. When you finally get through the hills on Chief Mountain Highway and make it to U.S. 89 you will likely have 20 miles of headwind to St. Mary.