Join us on Patreon to unlock more features including Google maps showing where every route is located in the state, GPX files for each route, exclusive routes for each state as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Canada and exclusive videos! www.patreon.com/greatmotorcycleroads If you’ve ridden any of these roads, let us know in the comment section below, as well as any helpful tips on how to go about planning them. If you didn’t see a road you think should be on the list, there’s a good chance it was on our 2023 list. Be sure to check that video out!
Nice In Washington State: HWY 101 loop around the Olympic National Park. You'll ride through two rain forests. Stop in Forks, watch out for vampires! HWY 14 down the Columbia River Gorge is fantastic! In Oregon, HWY 47 from Clatskanie to Buxton is a well maintained road through the coastal mountains full of twisties. Stop in Vernonia for lunch, a popular place for bikers. I avoid the tourist routes like coastal HWY 101 from Astoria to Brookings. Just too crowded.
I love the lolo pass. Don't go without extra gas in small tanks. A ride i also enjoy is the "rattlesnake grade." From Joseph, Or. to lewiston, Id. However, the Chief Joseph highway and over the beartooth pass is NUMBER ONE!
I have attended a small Moto Guzzi rally in Gibbonsville Id. Afterwards we usually ride to Lolo Pass and then on to Clarkson and then on to Enterprise Or. Rattlesnake is a good part of the ride, large change in altitude and very curvy. Turns out my cardiologist has ridden it in the opposite direction on a bicycle! If I could do that I wouldn't need him. 😅 I used to live in Trinity County and have driven and ridden 36 many times, part 1. It used to be a lot more curvy then it is now, sections were straightened years ago. Rt 100 in Vermont is not to be missed also.
There is route 12 in Utah, we got lost and found this little town Escalante, Utah and stayed at the Prospector Inn real nice people, ate at this little bar across the street but the next day we headed out onto RT 12 and if your afraid of heights better get ready but what a great road, we did the 5 main national parks but a lot of back roads can’t wait to go back
You are one of the first to mention the Trace as a top 10 better yet top 5. I've been riding over 50+ years just discovered the Trace about 10 years ago my loss. It really is a must
Thanks for recommending Lolo pass as #1. Rode this a few years ago after riding almost every other ride in your top 10 and agree that it’s spectacular. Very little traffic and majestic scenery. Not a switchback type ride but one you can go with the curves for miles and miles. East coast, I’d put the Cherahola Skyway near the top as well.
I just finished watching both parts of the Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in the US. There are many great rides that I'll have to keep in mind. I live in Utah, and there are so many roads to travel and places to see, and your show just keeps adding to my bucket list. Thanks for the video!
Chief Joseph and Beartooth. But you can't pick them all. Don't forget us folks from the New England area. There's plenty of great rides here, too. Rid On.
living in Texas we ride the Big Bend area every other year or so. It’s awesome every time! Plenty of hiking to be had and this year we finally made it to the McDonald Observatory. We like to stay in Alpine as base camp. Continued safe rides people.
I eould extend the ride on 12 in Utah all the way to Blanding with a side trip from Hanksville up to Goblin State Park ( seen in the movie "Galaxy Quest"!) I pretty much lucked in to finding it on a road trip through Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, it is a great ride!!! I'd like to hear your opinion of Higheay 50 on Nevada, often called the lonliest highway!! I found it to be a great ride with historic old towns and surprising vistas!!
@@mikelovestoride2367 Monument Valley is definitely one of the "must rides" for Motorcyclists!!! Some people don't realize that the Southwest has some unbelievable rides!!!
Glad to see you guys upping the game. The YT videos are a Great Idea. The interactive aspect of your app is an important aspect that helps find amazing roads with tips and stuff to see along the way. Newbies welcome. Been using it for about 10 years and Love it. Found some Great rides even here in Boring Central Florida. Thanks Guys.
You listed U.S. 89 and 89A in Arizona, but you left off one of the best parts. You list the 'great' part as ending in Wilhoit. But if you continue south, past Yarnell and down to the town of Congress, you catch one of the best sections of road in the state, if not the country. Between Wilhoit and Yarnell, the road traverses a plateau with rolling hills and a high steppe climate dotted with several ranches. Beyond Yarnell the road divides as it descends a steep 2,000 ft cliff into the Hassayampa River Valley. As is the case with the northern part of this road, riding North to South is the better direction to ride this road as the southbound lanes are the 'old road' which is much more curvy than the newer northbound lanes. The pavement is smooth and in good condition, and with no fear of oncoming traffic, one is free to use the entire width of the previously narrow two lane to practice one's racer lines. That said, slowing down and enjoying the view off of the sheer 2,000 ft. Cliff is breathtaking. This addition adds only 27 miles to the ride and is well worth mention. Continuing south on 89 from Congress will take you through the beautiful town of Wickenburg which is well worth a stop before continuing south on U.S. 60 though the Hassayampa River Canyon and across the northwest section of the Valley of the Sun towards Phoenix. A long one to two day loop can be made of this ride by taking I-17 north from Phoenix back to Flagstaff, a ride that is also quite scenic, if somewhat more sedate. I hope you consider adding this additional 27 miles to the Hwy 89/89A road in your list.
Could not agree more with your #1 Choice. I live in the Midwest but have ridden it five times. Also, plan on a stay at the eastern end at the Lochsa Lodge... Ride it east to west, then west to east. It is spectacular.
The shoreline Hwy is amazing especially when you head inland to Leggett, The scenery isn't as good but best to pay attention as it is technical. I've done Lolo a couple of times and it is one of the best, thx for the great content.
I commented on the first video. On my North America trip last year, I once again did the Shoreline Hiway (PCH) and I biasedly admit that it is my favorite of all rides, for the very reasons you gave. It's been a few years since I have done the Lolo pass ride, but it is as spectacular and fun as you said. You did a great job of locating and describing all of these rides. Most Top 10 lists I have seen are heavily East Coast oriented, so it's nice to see a more well-rounded and country-wide list for once. Some of the rides I was not aware of, and they are now on my list for future rides. Thanks!
Departed SanDiego, made it to Monterey before I quit. Someone stole my helmet, My bike got broken into, I was held up by a homeless man. The parks are over run by homeless people. Never mind the road rage. Shit and trash everywhere. Scenic yes, sh*thole state, absolutely. Sorry, not sorry.
Great list, too bad so many are two or three days away just to reach them! There's another road through the Grand Staircase Escalante I'd highly recommend, but it isn't paved: Cottonwood Canyon Road. Spectacular scenery, short side trip to Grosvenor Arch along the way. Hope to ride Natchez Trace this year.
I live near 36, and it is just one of many great roads in the mountains west of Redding. Weather: it snows in those mountains, and the valley heat in summer is legendary. SO, your window of best weather would be May and June in spring or mid September through mid November in the fall. The coast is another world. It can be 100* in the valley, and 100 miles west it can be 50* in fog. I stop on the west side of the mountains to put on another layer just before getting to the coast. I have not seen the fog when we go in the spring, but it is cool just the same. There is no end of beautiful places to enjoy, just don't kid yourself about the weather. Keep in mind; temps drop 3 1/2 degrees per 1000 feet of elevation. That 4000' pass will be 14* cooler than it was at the bottom.
Dang, I live in Natchez Trace Village subdivision in Madison, MS. right on the NTP, across from the Barnett Reservoir. I ride "The Trace" almost daily. I have WR250R, and there is a trail right out the back of our neighborhood that I can take to the Trace!! It's Sweet. It is one of those roads that is always nice to ride. There is also a lot of off-road opportunities along the Trace for ADV / DS riders. Sam Correro, who laid out the Trans Am Trail, lived in Madison, MS. next to the Trace when he started the TAT. Thanks again for what you are doing. You've blown my travel budget all to hell....😜I was surprised about the Blue Ridge Pkwy not being on the list ? Peace, safe riding everyone!
I would agree if the road wasn’t littered with motor homes, truck and cars pulling trailers, and bicyclists. It can take 8 hours to get from Monterey to Morro bay. Views seen no where else, but be ready to stop for 20 minutes or longer. Also, gas up before attempting , or be ready to pay $8-10$ per gallon. Yet , this hasn’t stopped me from doing the ride many times!