Adventure Cyclists, Add These To Your Bucketlist
Whether you're an experienced bikepacker with thousands of miles under your belt or a total newbie, there are countless amazing cycling routes for every skill level. They offer everything from breathtaking natural beauty to little-known historic villages, well off the beaten path. Here are the 20 best bikepacking routes in the world to ignite your soul as well as your thighs.
Photo by Brent Olson on Unsplash
1. Denali Park Road
Alaska's Denali Park Road spans 92 miles of the Denali National Park. The route is mostly unpaved and challenging but the stunning and wild Alaskan landscapes make all that hard work worthwhile.
2. European Divide Trail
This bikepacking route crosses through Europe from Nordkapp, Norway to Gibraltar, Spain. The trail which spans through 12 European countries is well marked, relatively easy to traverse, and is an amazing way to explore the continent.
3. Colorado Trail
Stretching across the Rocky Mountains of Colorado from Denver to Durango, this is the most difficult bikepacking route in the US. Most of the trail is situated 10,000 feet above sea level with the highest point reaching an altitude of over 13,000 feet.
4. Altravesur
The Altravesur in Southern Spain is a challenging bike route for experienced bikepackers. Its 621 miles takes riders through some of Spain's most beautiful wild scenery as well as charming, lesser-known towns.
5. Trans Cambrian Way
The Trans Cambrian Way is a 200 mile route that crosses Wales from the east coast to the west. It's a moderately difficult trail that takes bikepackers through the country's untamed wild, vast open spaces, and historic towns.
6. VTXL
The VTXL (Vermont Traverse XL) is a 300 mile route that takes riders through the state's mountainous terrain. Riders can expect steep climbs, incredible wildlife and scenery featuring rolling hills, dense forests, and mountains.
7. Highland Trail 550
Traversing 550 miles of Scotland's most rugged terrain is the Highland Trail 550. The trail offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country to anyone who can manage the challenging topography and unpredictable weather conditions.
8. The Silk Road Mountain Race
This 1,120 mile bikepacking route through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan is known for its extreme difficulty. The route follows long-abandoned Soviet roads. Riders can expect a seriously difficult ride at high altitudes through isolated areas.
Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels
9. New Zealand Cycle Trail
The New Zealand Cycle Trail is a network of cycling routes traversing the country, offering riders various levels of difficulty from beginner-friendly coastal paths to challenging mountain passes. The whole network of trails spans 2,500 miles of picturesque landscapes.
Mountain Bike Mt Cook, New Zealand on Wikimedia
10. The Karoo
The Karoo bikepacking route is a 750 mile trail exploring the Karoo region of South Africa. Riders can expect a challenging but gorgeous ride through the iconic African plains, crossing mountains, ancient rock formations, and canyons.
Photograph by Mike Peel on Wikimedia
11. The Baja Divide
The Baja Divide stretches from San Diego, California to La Paz, Baja California Sur, the very southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. The route is remote with challenging topography and can take up to six weeks to complete, traversing everything from desert terrain, steep mountain climbs, and coastal paths.
12. El Camino de Santiago
El Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route that ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, passing through diverse landscapes and charming historic towns. Bikepackers can complete the moderately challenging route in one to two weeks.
13. Patagonia Traverse
This 1,500 mile route spans some of the most rugged landscapes of the Andes and Patagonian steppe in Chile and Argentina. The ride is advanced with plenty of climbing and harsh weather conditions but the breathtaking scenery from temperate rainforests to glacial lakes makes it all worth it.
14. EuroVelo 6
One of the most popular bikepakcing routes in Europe, the EuroVelo6 is a 1,600 mile route from the west coast of France to the Black Sea. The path is mostly flat and fairly well-maintained, making it accessible to less experienced riders and passes through a variety of breathtaking landscapes and historic sites.
Europe_laea_location_map.svg: Alexrk2derivative work: Flappiefh on Wikimedia
15. Peloponnese Peninsula Bike Route
One of the best ways to explore Greece's Peloponnese Peninsula is by taking this bike route that spans the Peloponnese from coast to coast. The route offers picturesque coastal and mountain views and a pleasant Mediterranean climate year-round.
Evangelos Mpikakis on Unsplash
16. The Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way runs the full western coast of Ireland. It's 1,550 miles of rugged landscape, passing through some of the country's most charming cities and towns including Galway and Cork.
17. The Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountin Bike Trail takes riders through Morocco's Atlas Mountains. The challenging trail winds through the mountain range at high altitudes on tough terrain. Bikepackers get to enjoy unbeatable views and unique exposure to Berber culture.
18. Munda Biddi Trail
One of the largest off-road cycling routes worldwide, the Munda Biddi Trail spans through 620 miles of Australia's dense forests and bushland. As it's off-road, the trail is only suitable for mountain bikes that can navigate the rough terrain.
19. Tierra del Fuego
This exciting trail traverses the mountainous southern tip of South America. The 620 mile trail takes cyclists on rugged trails through dense forests and mountain passes. It's very challenging and only for experienced bikepackers but the dramatic scenery and pristinely untouched land make all the effort worthwhile.
20. Mekong Delta Route
The Mekong Delta Route takes bikepackers on a journey through Vietnam's lush Mekong Delta region. Cyclist will encounter farmland, waterways, and historic villages with plenty of temples lining the path too. The route is only moderately challenging making it accessible to rookie bikepackers.
