What route would you create next?

[John Nettles]

There are lots of posts about favorite route, which route to take, etc.  I was wondering if you were ACA and could decide where the next route would go, where would the route go and/or focus on.  Usually, I put a lot of realistic criteria like AADT counts, has to have available services, etc. but I figure this time I would let it go free style and see where it goes.

Of course, I would like the route to be realistic, i.e. NOT San Diego to Honolulu, and be somewhere within North America (and Mexico IS part of North America).   Oh, and let's make it at least 100 miles long (unless a connector route). 

I'll start.  I am thinking about doing a tour inside Northern Mexico in the Fall that goes from South Padre Island to El Paso.  While I know the route is not for everyone, I enjoy unique ferries and remote places and this has two ferries and lots of wide open space I have not see before.  Both ferries are non-motorized, meaning human powered.  One is near Big Bend as it crosses the Rio Grande (and has a tele-remote border station) and the other is near McAllen, TX, and is the last hand-pulled ferry in North America and the only hand-pulled ferry crossing an international border. 

This is a DRAFT of it so far https://ridewithgps.com/collections/1739503 so pardon any minor errors.  I haven't decided which direction to go but will probably go East to West after looking at the weather patterns. 

Anyway, would your new route be a connector route, say connecting the Northern Tier in Muscatine to the TransAm in Berea; a paved version of the Great Divide; a paved Baja California Route (Bikepacking.com already has the unpaved version); a historical one like the Trail of Tears; etc. 

Inquiring minds want to know.

Tailwinds, John

[davidbonn]

I've had a couple of ideas for routes over the years:

One is from around Spokane, WA to Winnemucca, NV.  Which should be some 600-odd miles depending on how you put the trip together.  You can link a few sections of trips from bikepacking.com and (I think) bikepackingroots to put together an even more challenging route.

Another would be a giant loop in Western BC and Vancouver Island.  Start in Vancouver.  Take a boat over to Vancouver Island, probably at Schwartz Bay (maybe hit the gulf islands along the way as a warmup).  Ride north to Port Hardy.  Catch another boat to Bella Coola.  Ride over the Coast Range and down the Upper Fraser River.  Make your way South (you have some choices on the route) back to Vancouver.  This trip works out to about 1500km or 900 miles depending on your route choices.

[John Nettles]

Oh come on people!  As of now, 139 people have viewed it buy only DavidBonn has replied.  Surely others out there want some sort of new route.  Tell us what it is.

[jwrushman]

How about a Lake Champlain circuit?  I planned a 330 mile loop for last year, but decided to go to Europe instead. Maybe next year! Here's the route I came up with:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48591975

[fxt44]

phoenix to tucson to antelope wells

[davidbonn]

Also the James Bay Road in Northern Quebec and (I think) Labrador.  Looks like interesting wild country but a good road with good shoulders and pretty light traffic.  From Ottowa to the end of the road in Radisson, QE is about 1300km.  Again depending on your route.  Of course it doesn't look like there is a good way back from there so you'll have to figure that out.

[John Nettles]

phoenix to tucson to antelope wells

FXT44, welcome to the forums!
Are you doing pavement only or dirt or both?
Tailwinds, John

[fxt44]

well, i'm a ~40 year member. just haven't posted much. i do both on my co-motion pangea.

[John Nelson]

I liked the CNYC route. I think it would be good to have a few more routes connecting major cities. Maybe St. Louis to Denver, or Salt Lake City to Phoenix, or Dallas to Atlanta. Big Cities at the ends simplify travel, and provide a great place to celebrate the trip.

I’d also like to see an official ACA TransCanada route.

[John Nettles]

well, i'm a ~40 year member. just haven't posted much. i do both on my co-motion pangea.

I meant for the Phoenix to Antelope Wells trip.  And out of curiosity, why Antelope Wells?  Douglas I can see but there is basically nothin' in Antelope Wells as you probably know. No complaining, just curious.  Do you have a route in mind after Tuscon, i.e. ride dirt on Montezuma Canyon road and/or Chiricahua Nat'l Monument to Portal (loved it but that was before the fire) or paved via Douglas.  I love Arizona and its wonderful diverse scenery.

Tailwinds, John

[John Nettles]

I liked the CNYC route. I think it would be good to have a few more routes connecting major cities. Maybe St. Louis to Denver, or Salt Lake City to Phoenix, or Dallas to Atlanta. Big Cities at the ends simplify travel, and provide a great place to celebrate the trip.

I’d also like to see an official ACA TransCanada route.

Those are some good suggestions.  I would like to see a continuation of the AC/NT routes from Bar Harbor over to St Johns, NL, or say from Niagara Falls to Vermont/Maine on the Canadian side.

[fxt44]

> And out of curiosity, why Antelope Wells?

to link up with with the gdmbr. likewise, phoenix because its a junction for the southern tier and the grand canyon connector. tucson because there is some nice riding there, and as the "biking capital of the world" its a shame its not on any aca route.

if a quick ridewithgps auto-routing is to be believed, this ride can be done almost entirely on pavement if one is willing to ride on the mexican side of the border, which was in your definition of north america

[Gypsea]

Depends on how long you want the route to be...pick a state like Wisconsin or Michigan or Ohio and create a state or multi-state tour loop. There are so many rail trails which makes for great riding. For Michigan (which I'm doing myself in September), one could easily get 1000 plus miles. Or multi states.  Let's take advantage of the numerous rail trails and support the small towns along the way. My 2 cents...

[ray b]

Jasper to Anchorage is begging for attention.

[Stefan_E]

After my trip from Tucson to Glacier I contemplated several other routes in North America.

One I definitely liked most was Montréal to New Orleans - The French Connection

Montreal - Toronto - Niagara Falls - Cleveland - Ohio to Erie Trail to Cincinnati - Mammoth Cave NP - Nashville - Natchez Trace Parkway and New Orleans