The originators of bicycle touring routes in the USA, Adventure Cycling Association, creators of the Great Divide MTB Route, Idaho Hotsprings Route, and more, just announced four new routes in Arkansas, California, and Wyoming, added to its United States Bicycle Route System…
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a developing national network of officially designated, numbered, and signed routes that use existing roads, trails, and other facilities appropriate for bike travel. It will eventually encompass 50,000 miles of routes and open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional touring, and commuting by bike. It also benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety, and increasing tourism and economic activity.
The newest routes are USBR 37 in Indiana, USBR 51 in Missouri, and two routes in Kansas: USBR 50 and USBR 55. The 2024 year added 3568 miles to the system, when the routes added in spring are taken into account. This is the most of any year and brings the total milage to 23,186.
“State DOTs are focused on delivering a safe, multimodal transportation system that offers mobility for all,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. “Our partnership with the Adventure Cycling Association to continually expand the U.S Bicycle Route System is just one of the many ways states are meeting that goal. The four new routes being added to the USBRS network in Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri further highlight the active transportation benefits that flow from the partnership between AASHTO, state DOTs, and Adventure Cycling.”
New Routes
USBR 51 in Arkansas goes 88 miles from the Missouri state line to Alma, Arkansas (with eventual plans to connect to the Louisiana border). This is the first USBR 51 segment designated in Arkansas. Approximately 35 miles of this route follows along a separated trails system called the Razorback Greenway, connecting touring cyclists to restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and other amenities.
California: USBR 85 — NEW Route
USBR 85 traverses eastern California in the Sierra for 788.5 miles, beginning in Hornbrook in Siskiyou County at the Oregon border and ending in Lenwood in San Bernardino County. USBR 85 routes through 11 jurisdictions: Siskiyou County, Montague, Mt. Shasta, Shasta County, Truckee, El Dorado County, Mono County, Inyo County, Kern County, Ridgecrest, and Barstow. This route is characterized by volcanoes, long stretches of forested countryside, busy towns, deserts, orchards and everything in between.
This expanded route traverses through western California along the Pacific Coast for 1,070 miles, beginning at US 101 near Pelican State Beach at the Oregon border and ending at Monument Road near the California-Mexico border. USBR 95 routes through 14 jurisdictions: Del Norte County, Humboldt County, Mendocino County, Sonoma County, Marin County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barabara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County. This route is characterized by all the California coast has to offer, including massive redwoods, breathtaking coastline vistas, marine wildlife such as sea lions, farmland and fruit orchards, and bustling urban areas.
USBR 76 stretches 496.3 miles across western and southern Wyoming from Idaho to Colorado. This is Wyoming’s first US Bicycle Route! The route’s northern terminus connects the State of Idaho, just west of Teton Pass, in northwest Wyoming through Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Dubois, the Wind River Reservation, Lander, Medicine Bow, Saratoga, and Riverside, before reaching its southern terminus, the Colorado State Line in Carbon County. Please see WYDOT’s website for updated infomation on the closure of Highway 22/Teton Pass.
At Lake Isabella, to the east of Bakersfield, USBR 85 intersects USBR 50 and the Western Express Bicycle Route in Woodfords, California. USBR 85 terminates where it connects to USBR 66/Adventure Cycling’s Bicycle Route 66 near Barstow, CA.
Digital maps for all designated U.S. Bicycle Routes are available to the public for free on the Adventure Cycling Association website.
The nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association promotes bike travel and is the only organization that coordinates national development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Adventure Cycling staff offer technical assistance, volunteer coordination, and outreach to help states achieve official designation of routes.
