Pueblo CO to Minneapolis, MI

[Marianne]

Hi

We are longdistance ciclysts and like to go from the end of western express PUEBLO to MINNEAPOLIS (Minnesota) to continue with the great lakes.
Has anyone done that ore any suggestions for roads with less traffic, wide soulders and some nice parts to see?

Thanks for helping us!
Marianne and Urs, Switzerland

This message was edited by Marianne on 4-3-07 @ 7:18 PM

[Turk]

I see that the ACA routes don't really help you very much. One way to start to get a route is to use Microsoft Streets and Trips or some other software that will give you routes and choose the "shortest route" option. Much of that area is pretty sparsely populated.

There is a long rails to trails trail in Nebraska that might be of use: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/trails/cowboy/cowboy.asp

This rails to trails website might be of help:

http://www.railtrails.org/index.html

[RussellSeaton]

The book below has various routes around Colorado.  One I recall has some that go from Pueblo or Colorado Springs out to the eastern plains.  From there you can find a road up north to Hwy 36 and take it all the way across Kansas.  Maybe get onto Hwy 24 in the eastern parts of Kansas.  Hwy 36 across Colorado from Byers to about the middle of Kansas is the Colorado Last Chance 1200k route.  Its an OK road.  And its about the only road for bicycles going east in that part of the state.  Get out your Rand McNally and find Hwy 36 in Colorado and Kansas.  You could take Hwy 36 clear into Missouri and then hook up with Hwy 69 going north into Iowa.  Hwy 69 is not traveled too much due to I-35 taking all of the traffic in Missouri and Iowa.  And Hwy 36 in CO and KS is not traveled too much due to I-70 taking all of the traffic.

Colorado Cycling Guide by Hartley and Jean Alley

http://www.lafetra.com/bmha/Info/Info-Hartley-bio.htm

http://www.rmccrides.com/lastchance2006map.pdf

[John Nettles]

I would suggest you continue on the TransAm route to just inside Kansas, say Tribune or Scott City.  From there you can take almost any state highway as very little traffic tends to travel on them as there are not that many people in these states.  You can go to http://www.ksdot.org/burrail/bike/pdf/bikemap2006.pdf and it lists Kansas' traffic counts and road widths.  Nebraska and the Dakotas may have something similar.

Nebraska and South Dakota should be the same or better as even less people travel there.  I drove Highway US83 in 2001 and it was fairly lightly traffic.

I believe there is a rail trail that goes halfway across Nebraska or one of the Dakotas.  Do a rail trail search and you should be able to find it.

I really wouldn't worry so long as you stay off the interstates or any 4 lane highway.  Obviously, you can reconnect to the Northern Tier around the North Dakota/Minnesota border and follow the maps in.

If you time/route permit it you should head due north to the Black Hills area of South Dakota.  The area is really nice.  No matter what, you should hopefully get some nice tailwinds heading northwest.

Hope this helps!  

Happy trails and may the wind be at your back!

TulsaJohn

[colobikenut]

Two summers ago, my wife and I rode from Coloado Springs (50 miles north of Pueblo) to Mankato, MN (90 miles southwest of Minneapolis) along route that we designed with the help of the state bicycle coodinators. It turned out great - small towns, almost no traffic or wide shoulders. I would be happy to share the details with you if you are still interested. Basically, we followed US Hwy 24 east into Kansas, then - east of Colby, KS - we turned north on a series of state highways into southern Nebraska. More state highways until we hit US Hwy 6. We took that across southenn NE, turning north on state hwy 81 then east again on US 34 to Seward. From there we worked out way north and east on state and US highways to Blair. There, we crossed the river into Iowa where we stuck exclusively to county roads, working our way north and east to cross into Minnesota at Fairmont.From there we took Hwy 15 to 60 into Mankato. You could continue on to Minneapolis on Hwy 169 (lots of traffic but wide shoulders). Let me know if you'd like the gory details.      

     

[JimF]

Marianne:
Following up on colobikenut, most, if not all, the states you may consider crossing to your Minnesota destination will have road maps available with designated bicycle-friendly routes. State departments of transportation may have bicycle coordinators, too, to assist you. You can contact each via the web. Enjoy.

[ztmlgr]

M&U:

I think we met you in Connecticut in the summer of 2007.  Bill and I were going to Massachusetts (me from California and Bill from NY) and you were going to Maine.  Is this you?

Long way from Minnesota.