200+ mile tours completely off road?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
200+ mile tours completely off road?
Want to do a tour with two tweens. Both can ride 40+ miles a day and have for years easily.
But I do not want them on the roads.
Bikes can handle 32mm tires so a bit of gravel is ok.
Suggestions?
Bonus if its driving distance from NoCA!
But I do not want them on the roads.
Bikes can handle 32mm tires so a bit of gravel is ok.
Suggestions?
Bonus if its driving distance from NoCA!
#2
bicycle tourist
My suggestion would be two-fold:
1. Look at some of the longer rail trails - https://www.railstotrails.org/our-wo...e-trail-stats/
2. Consider more remote gravel roads in the deserts, e.g. Joshua tree. You might need to go wider than those 32mm tires and be prepared to carry more (or use support vehicle).
1. Look at some of the longer rail trails - https://www.railstotrails.org/our-wo...e-trail-stats/
2. Consider more remote gravel roads in the deserts, e.g. Joshua tree. You might need to go wider than those 32mm tires and be prepared to carry more (or use support vehicle).
#3
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There was a recent topic:
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...ike-paths.html
If you can find a 100 mile course one-way, then it becomes a 200 mile course out and back.
The Katy Trail is fine packed limestone, and can be done on just about anything from a pure road bike to a MTB.
The John Wayne Trail and Columbia Trail in Washington are much rougher, and would require at least a MTB.
Does your route have to be entirely off road? We have quite a few back country logging roads that get relatively low traffic, although they can also have some crazy drivers.
The McKenzie Pass is typically closed until June, I think. It is only about 30 miles from Sisters to McKenzie Bridge, I think. Riding to/from Springfield, it should be closer to a Century ride. I've found a route that takes one about 70% on back roads, and 30% on main roads. The Aufderheide is a beautiful low-traffic road that would be an alternate approach to the McKenzie Pass. And, if you include gravel, back roads from at least Lowell to Sisters (in the late spring).
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...ike-paths.html
If you can find a 100 mile course one-way, then it becomes a 200 mile course out and back.
The Katy Trail is fine packed limestone, and can be done on just about anything from a pure road bike to a MTB.
The John Wayne Trail and Columbia Trail in Washington are much rougher, and would require at least a MTB.
Does your route have to be entirely off road? We have quite a few back country logging roads that get relatively low traffic, although they can also have some crazy drivers.
The McKenzie Pass is typically closed until June, I think. It is only about 30 miles from Sisters to McKenzie Bridge, I think. Riding to/from Springfield, it should be closer to a Century ride. I've found a route that takes one about 70% on back roads, and 30% on main roads. The Aufderheide is a beautiful low-traffic road that would be an alternate approach to the McKenzie Pass. And, if you include gravel, back roads from at least Lowell to Sisters (in the late spring).
#4
Senior Member
C&O and GAP between DC and Pittsburgh is 335 miles off-road and fairly flat, unless you consider the RR grade of the GAP and locks on the C&O climbing/descending.
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#5
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Got a chuckle out of that.. The only time I ever broke a chain was on one of those small climbs, go figure. To be fair, it was not the chain, it was the quick link that fell off but still.
Last edited by u235; 01-04-20 at 12:51 PM.
#6
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There is an immense network of trails from Sanra Cruz up thru the bay and into Santa Rosa.
It would be a blast to connect trails together with campsites. There would be some roads along the way though to connect trail to trail.
I have a 12 and 9 yo, totally get the hesitation to ride roads.
Washington has a few really long rail to trail segments, but parts may be too difficult for kids with 32s. No idea the perseverance as that's really important.
It would be a blast to connect trails together with campsites. There would be some roads along the way though to connect trail to trail.
I have a 12 and 9 yo, totally get the hesitation to ride roads.
Washington has a few really long rail to trail segments, but parts may be too difficult for kids with 32s. No idea the perseverance as that's really important.
#7
Junior Member
212 miles. gravel. just signed up. Bit of a drive from ca. though.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31456...CZszvFpzZZLw9Y
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31456...CZszvFpzZZLw9Y
#8
Senior Member
212 miles. gravel. just signed up. Bit of a drive from ca. though.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31456...CZszvFpzZZLw9Y
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31456...CZszvFpzZZLw9Y
#10
Senior Member
If you'd like to do a supported tour in June, there's this one: https://mostateparks.com/2020ktride
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Mickelson Trail "out and back."
Deadwood to Hill City.
Hill City to Custer (Short day on the trail, but you could add miles on the spur out to Stockade Lake or take the tourist train to Keystone and possibly visit Mt. Rushmore).
Custer to Edgemont.
Reverse.
Deadwood to Hill City.
Hill City to Custer (Short day on the trail, but you could add miles on the spur out to Stockade Lake or take the tourist train to Keystone and possibly visit Mt. Rushmore).
Custer to Edgemont.
Reverse.
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#13
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With that said, if the OP is flexible and willing to add some light traffic roads, I think it's a great option. The Hiawatha and the right of way between Pearson and Avery, with it's many tunnels and trestles, is a great ride.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
These are all great options. Some on road riding with light traffic is fine, just not more than 10-15%.
Are there any closer to San Francisco? I prefer not to fly and instead invest the money in upgrading their bikes, maybe even buy new bikes.
Thanks again.
Are there any closer to San Francisco? I prefer not to fly and instead invest the money in upgrading their bikes, maybe even buy new bikes.
Thanks again.
#15
Miles to Go
It might not be completely off-road, but the Lost Coast might be an interesting challenge.
#16
Senior Member
One other thought, do a hub and spoke tour. Set up a a base camp with a car. Do day trips out and back.
#17
Senior Member
You could ride on the sidewalks in San Francisco if it weren’t for the homeless encampments, so that’s out. Other than that, you could ride south to Pigeon Point Lighthouse on the roads. My recollection is the traffic wasn’t that bad, or I would’ve remembered it better.
#18
Hooked on Touring
Northern Idaho - kinda driving distance.
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes - paved, excellent for inexperienced riders.
Then Trail of the Hiawathas - packed gravel - to make a loop.
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes - paved, excellent for inexperienced riders.
Then Trail of the Hiawathas - packed gravel - to make a loop.
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#20
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I was going to suggest that, but it's not entirely off road....From St. Marie to Plummer you are on ID-3.
With that said, if the OP is flexible and willing to add some light traffic roads, I think it's a great option. The Hiawatha and the right of way between Pearson and Avery, with it's many tunnels and trestles, is a great ride.
With that said, if the OP is flexible and willing to add some light traffic roads, I think it's a great option. The Hiawatha and the right of way between Pearson and Avery, with it's many tunnels and trestles, is a great ride.
OP, here's a link to a young family that did the ride. From my research(a year ago), the only portion that REALLY isn't suggested for biking is the St. Marie to Plummer segment, ID 5 I think. The family in the link below got a shuttle to cover that part.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...id=554537&v=5f
Last edited by fishboat; 01-07-20 at 06:37 AM. Reason: typo
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#21
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The Oregon Outback is an Amtrak train ride away from Nor Cal. At the end you may need to ride roads to get into Portland. There might be a bus to get you to the Portland Amtrak.
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After a few thousand miles on a mostly crushed gravel trail network I would not even consider riding "off-road" on 32mm tires. My bike stock came with 38mm's and I upgraded to 42mm's. I'm not a big guy, 150lbs if wet. The tires just don't have the flotation on softer ground - as in wet dirt, and the worst - coarse gravel (like that used on construction sites for temporary equipment paths) and pea gravel - its akin to trying to ride over marbles.
If the ground you are going to ride is "hard" (actually hard and if it rains you aren't victim to dirt going soft) then you can get by. It just would not be my choice. If I were riding like that routinely I'd have something in the 51mm/2" wide range. It will make for a smoother ride, also, with more sidewall to absorb the terrain.
If the ground you are going to ride is "hard" (actually hard and if it rains you aren't victim to dirt going soft) then you can get by. It just would not be my choice. If I were riding like that routinely I'd have something in the 51mm/2" wide range. It will make for a smoother ride, also, with more sidewall to absorb the terrain.
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Here is a map with many gravel roads around the country. Just link them up in the area you want to ride. Surprisingly quite a few roads.
https://gravelmap.com/#@39.048504793...2268,9,roadmap
https://gravelmap.com/#@39.048504793...2268,9,roadmap
#24
Senior Member
Mr used to be (funny name btw and so true for most of us), as a parent who has done stuff with kids and who has ridden in trails and whatnot, do keep in mind how gravel riding generally will be slower and more tiring (bumpy, having to watch surface etc) than what we are used to on pavement.
So do keep this in mind and be more conservative for distances and time, and don't forget to carry more food\snacks and water if unsure of distances between towns or whatever.
And with gravel etc, chances are more of a little tumble and scrapes, so a basic first aid kit to at least clean and cover up a bo-bo is always good to have.
Have fun planning and hope this works out.
And yes, watch for overly high tire pressures that are fine on pavement, lower will be more comfortable and more sure footed.
So do keep this in mind and be more conservative for distances and time, and don't forget to carry more food\snacks and water if unsure of distances between towns or whatever.
And with gravel etc, chances are more of a little tumble and scrapes, so a basic first aid kit to at least clean and cover up a bo-bo is always good to have.
Have fun planning and hope this works out.
And yes, watch for overly high tire pressures that are fine on pavement, lower will be more comfortable and more sure footed.
#25
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Here is a map with many gravel roads around the country. Just link them up in the area you want to ride. Surprisingly quite a few roads.
https://gravelmap.com/#@39.048504793...2268,9,roadmap
https://gravelmap.com/#@39.048504793...2268,9,roadmap
Iowa alone has over 70,000 miles of gravel roads. And we are hardly a large state in geographic size.