82times

Hi all,

This is a rough draft of the first part of my summer's coast-to-coast run. I'd appreciate it if some of you familiar with the areas I'm passing through could offer amendments or suggestions for parts of this.

The beginning and end points here are fixed, but the route in between is up for alteration if there's some better road/can't-miss ice cream stand/beautiful scenery/etc. along the way that I'm missing, so long as it doesn't up the mileage too much. Oh, and Half Moon Bay and Point Reyes are also fixed points on my route, for sentimental reasons.

Here's a link to the google map where you can zoom and see details:
https://tinyurl.com/42olh4

And here's a static image of what I've got so far:


[many thanks to jamawani who gave me a bunch of initial suggestions for the route]

Pat in SLO

I guess all I am thinking is that there have to be a lot better roads (small country roads that vaguely parallel your route) that locals could tell you about. That looked like a lot of miles on HWY 395 I think....anyway...lots of major miles on US HWY's.... I'd think about writing bike shops along the way and see if they had some suggestions...

jamawani 

Here are a few suggestions with maps -

No Calif -
1. Head north on Hwy 1 to Bodega Bat and inland along Russian River to Calistoga
2. If Lassen Park Road is closed, Hwy 32 to Susanville, A! around Eagle Lake, then Hwy 139
3. Back road option between Canby and Alturas

Oregon -
Fine, but remember its remote between Lakeview and Burns and on to Vale

Idaho -
I really think the route thru Stanley is MUCH nicer - done both.
When are you planning on doing this - cause the US 20 route roasts in mid-summer.
1. Hwy 52 to Letha, Payette Road north of river to Black Canyon, than back onto Hwy 52
2. Hwy 55 from Horseshoe to Banks is dicey, be very careful
3. Garden Valley Road to Lowman - camp right by hot springs east of Garden Valley
4. Hwy 21 to Stanley - climbs along Payette River - Sawtooth Mtns gorgeous!!!
5. Hwy 75 to Challis - downhill usually with tailwind along Salmon River
6. US 93 to Arco - valley between two high ranges
7a. - US 20/26 thru Idaho Falls, more traffic but services in I.F.
less climbing, Snake River Canyon in Wyoming
7b. - Hwy 33 thru Rexburg and Driggs, less traffic, big climb over Teton Pass

Wyoming -
1. Make sure to take the Teton Park Road, not the main highway. Hiker/biker camping on Jenny Lake!
2. Pretty stiff climb into Yellowstone, late afternoon has less traffic and shade
3. I prefer Lewis Lake to Grant Village (a zoo) - you can always shower the next a.nm. at G.V.
4. Caution - no tent camping between Bridge Bay and 12 miles w. of Wapiti (grizzly habitat)
5. Ten Sleep route is much nicer - Hwy 30 to Basin, Hwy 31 to Nowood Road to Tensleep

Best - J

Sawtooth Mountains -

jamawani 

PS - US 395 has light traffic north of Alturas and almost no traffic north of Lakeview
US 20 has light to moderate traffic in Oregon
Highways leading into and out of Yellowstone are busy as are park roads

82times

Awesome--thanks jamawani. I was hoping you'd catch this post.