ROADS ARE THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYGROUND FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS. Curvy roads, scenic roads, mountain roads, river roads, ocean roads, desert roads, canyon roads, fast roads, slow roads, paved roads, dirt roads, gravel roads, sand roads, bad roads, high roads, low roads…they’re all places for motorcycle adventure, amusement, camaraderie, solitude, contemplation, exhilaration, relaxation, and the freedom that is the heart of riding.
Some of the simplest pleasures in life include the sublime enjoyment of riding along scenic, rural roads with the engine pulsing a relaxing note of harmony with the surrounding world and a rider’s soul.
My favorite roads include ribbons of asphalt and/or dirt through National Parks in the United States and Canada, as well as byways that head through U.S. National Forests all over this great land, and plenty of lesser known roads that were merely squiggly little lines on various maps throughout North America that summoned my acquaintance.
Of course all the roads that comprise the National Scenic Byway system are at the top of my favorite riding experiences.
It’s very difficult, at least for me, to isolate any one favorite road, but since I tend to visit local roads more regularly than those on the other side of the continent, I’m quite fond to re-visit again and again Pacific coastal roads, including Pacific Coast Highway 1 through the Big Sur region of California, as well as the various California central-coastal region roads that wander through mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, all in addition to the ocean. Having said that, the road that I get to enjoy the most, because it is so close to where I live, is California Route 33: Ongoing Motorbike Marriage, and the network of roads that cross it.
However, I’m more interested in YOUR favorite roads! Add your favorite roads below. (And if I haven’t ridden your favorite one yet, I’m going to contemplate it for my future, and I bet others who read this will, too).
My next road is always my favorite. But over the years I’ve also found that (1) Highway 99/97/1 from Vancouver, B.C. to Calgary, Alberta is awesome beyond belief; (2) the road up Mount Evans in Colorado is the best (and highest) high altitude road in the U.S.; (3) Highway 170 from Presidio, Texas to Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande is fantastic and my home town favorite (4) Highway 1 anywhere from San Diego to Portland can’t be beat.
I have the fortune of living in one of the most beautiful states, Alaska. Needless to say the only roads that leave Anchorage, Glenn Highway going north, and Seward Highway going south, are the most beautiful rides I’vew been on. Keep in mind that most of my state is national park. Going south or north is nothing but mountains, elevation gains, open stretches, long sweepers, and everything in between. Not recommended for anything under 600 cc because of some steep elevation changes. The best stretch IMHO is a 2 1/2 hour cruise to Seward.
Million dollar hwy in Colorado – From Durango – Telluride and back down the other side – scenic hwy – lots of turns – just amazing. Bumper stickers on cages read “real men don’t need guard rails”.
One of my less know favorite mountain roads is found north of Boone, NC. It is a north Carolina Scenic byway, Hyw 194. This road connects Boone, NC with the West Jefferson, NC area via twists, hills with great farm, woods, and river scenery. Lots of fun on most any type motorcycle. I try to ride it every time I am in the Boone area. Led a groud of riders there last weekend and they all had big smiles after and wanted to do it again.
If you like a bit more of a challenging ride take the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Boone to the Marrion, NC area and exit the parkway on Hyw 80 toward Marion. If you like to drag pegs or your running boards at less than 30 MPH this is the mountain road for you! Try to keep it between the lines or you might find yourself taking the quick way down with that unpleasant sudden stop at the bottom!
Any road with few stops, low traffic and lots of turns! Here in San Diego there are too many of them to mention. Of course a slow ride up Highway 101 (Pacific Coast Highway) is always fun even when traffic volume is up.
+ 2 Bear tooth from Red Lodge to Cooke City.
242 Oregon is my favorite. Too bad it isn’t longer.
Hwy 12 Missoula to Lewiston. Repeat… Repeat again.
HWY 21 ID.
Have to agree with the Glaicer National Park” Going to the Sun road” However the best way to get there is a ride along the Eastern Rocky Mountain Front from Great Falls to Choteau, to Browning then turn north for one amazing ride. The Going to the Sun road is best for passengers, as drivers will have thier hands full with turns and on coming traffic.
To be in a hurry is a date with death on this road.
Regarding favorite roads: Due to the learning curve of new riders, also including some seasoned riders, polite, QUIET, and SLOW riding through small communities has yet to be grasped. We have some wonderful secondary roads North of Everett, WA. and South of the B.C. border.
My favorite is the road between Sabie and Pilgrims Rest in South Afirica.Lots of twisty turns. My husbands best is the road leading to Katse dam in Lesoto, you travel from 1120 meters above sea to 4000 meters in 30 kilometes, the view is breathtaking.
Beware of publicising your favourite road. We have a fantastic road near where I live. Someone wrote an article about it in one of the “less mature” magazines and the road was inundated with weekend superheroes who rode with little respect for other road users and the people who lived in the local villages. Now most of the road has a 40mph limit and the police do regular speed checks.
Just find great roads by exploring. If a road looks like it might be better than the one you’re on, try it.
Ride safe.
Mine? one you won’t have heard of and one you won’t have heard of.For fun and pretty,scary and exciting.The Great Ocean Road.ANd for one that dares you to die The Putty Road.
This is just a memory now but , my favorite was always Hwy 61 between Baton Rouge, La and Memphis Tenn. Long sweepping curves,switchbacks ,twists, turns long climbs and quick drops. a road meant to be leisurely traveled yet could challenge some of the best. Don’t know if anyone else remembers it but it is all gone now, replaced by a boring 4 lane . Ces’t la Vie They even took away the senery
For Just plain “Remember this ride twenty years later”….. Marathon (7 mile bridge) bridge on the way to Key west just as the sun is coming up on a windless morning.
New England has as many nice rides as there are roads. My favorite loop is from Massachusetts. Rte 2, (The Mohawk Trail), to MASS Rte 63 north. Rte 63 follows the hills along the east bank of the Connecticut River and continues into New Hampshire. Lots of hills and some sweepers but generally a no rush, enjoy the scenery type ride and that holds true for the entire loop. Rte 63 ends at NH Rte 12 in Westmoreland, NH. Continue north on 12 till the intersection or 12A North of Charlestown, NH. Go left on 12A and follow 12A until you get to Cornish, NH. The Cornish/Windsor covered bridge is a popular spot for photos. There is a pull off just south of the bridge. The area around Cornish, NH and Windsor, VT has a lot of local attractions, three museums, a brewery, a glass factory and the St. Gaudens National Historic Site. The entire area looks like a Norman Rockwell setting and was a popular artist colony at the turn of the 19th Century.
The return trip is down the West bank of the Connecticut River on NH Rte 5, back to Rte 2 in Massachusetts. The reason for the counterclockwise direction is that the morning sun will be over your right shoulder and it amplifies the colors on the Vermont side of the river. There is indeed a reason they call Vermont the “Green Mountain State”. Not to be outdone, the rolling hills of New Hampshire are highlighted by the afternoon sun on the loop heading south.
May all your rides end in healthy satisfaction.
The going to the sun road in Glacier National Park in Montana is a very beautiful road. The road is considered an engineering feat and is a National Historic Landmark. It is one of the most scenic roads in North America. The construction of the road forever changed the way visitors would experience Glacier National Park. There are many adjoining twisty roads that connect with Glacier National Park and can make for a mix of both fast or slow scenic day long riding.
Living in Oklahoma the ability to find a variety of routes to ride is easy. There is everything from straight and level, to hills, to the whole country’s winding in twisting roads. I say hill country because there’s really no mountainous regions in the state of Oklahoma. One of the most beautiful rides would have to be Oklahoma State highway one from the town of Talihina, in Eastern Oklahoma, to the town of Mena, Arkansas. This pass is known as the Talimena scenic byway. Starting from the Oklahoma side of the byway you pick-up state highway one east, all the way through to the town of Mena, Arkansas. Upon entering Arkansas the highway is named Arkansas State highway 88. This is a 54 mile journey across some of the highest elevations in the state of Oklahoma. This route is best known for its fall colors as summer gives way to the autumn leaves. The best time to go is towards the end of August to the middle of October. There are two information centers at the starting points of the route, one on the Oklahoma side, and the other on the Arkansas side, in the towns of Talihina, and Mena respectfully.
+1 CO 550 for tight, dramatic turns and just to the east don’t miss Hwy 149 through Lake City and Creede for miles of fast sweepers for a great loop. (Then again it’s hard to go wrong in Colorado)
+ Beartooth
I also really like Tallimena Scenic Byway between Mena, Arkansas and Tallihina, Oklahoma. It’s like a mini Blue Ridge Parkway, 2 lane rd that snakes back and forth from one side to the other along the top of a chain of mountains. (Hwy 1 on OK side, 88 on AR side)
And Old River Rd. to the northwest of Big Bend, TX along the Rio Grande is a great roller coaster ride. Just watch out for cattle in the middle of the road (usually just over a hill with quick drop) as it is open range in much of the area.
Devils Triangle all the way in Tenn. The gap is more like a kiddie ride at the fair. Ride the triangle both ways it is sure to impress. Not for rookies.
The East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, North Georgia area is so full of roads with everything from tight twisties to long sweepers and scenery second to none that it is really difficult to pin down a favorite. Hwy 60 from Copper Hill own to Dahlonega, GA is a great ride. Hwy 28 from Deal’s Gap all the way to the South Carolina line, The Cherohala Skyway, Hwy 30 from the Ocoee River to Reliance, TN, Hwy 129 over Blood Mountain in Georgia, Tiger Road out of Clayton, Georgia, the list goes on and on.
I used to enjoy Deals Gap but it has become too popular in recent years and not nearly as enjoyable if you don’t hit it just right. Otherwise it is a parade of slow moving vehicles and out of towners testing their limits. I have just about quit riding there even though it’s fairly local for me. Too many other good roads.
I have found that the roads on the Cumberland Plateau offer as much variety as the more popular roads to the east. I would tell you some of them but then I would have to kill you.
Nova Scotia and the Cabot trail (both ways) Great views, beautiful people and good food.
Hwy. 28 from Canutillo, TX to Las Cruces, NM for the scenery. Loop 375 from I-10 to Hwy. 54 for the scenery and the twisties.
The Mindoro Cut and Wildcat Mountain in Wisconsin!
Highway 94 in San Diego. Turns, straights, canyons, desert!……….Do it………..DO IT!
I’m with Art on the Dragon. I’d also like to include Route 28 out of Robbinsville, NC (Hell Bender). Fantastic ride right along the water. And the first time I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway I thought I was in heaven.
Hwy 50 from Colorado to Lake Tahoe Ca. There are nice long straights if you want to open it up, there are also lots of twisty parts too. It’s called theLoneliest Hwy in America, for excitement I count the dead cows along the roadside. Last 2 times down tis road myself & a riding buddy have both been hit by birds. An owl hit the windshield of my Road King my 1st trip on that Hwy. Second trip had a couple riding friends along, a small hawk hit our lead rider in the head, almost knocked him out. One wing & breast section flew back & hit the other rider, 1 bird almost took out 2 rides by itself. Interesting piece of Hwy. Some day I’m riding Hwy 50 from coast to coast, when the time & money are right.
US Route 550, the Million Dollar Highway. Technically it’s only the 26 miles from Silverton to Ouray, Colorado. Beautiful stretch, not to be missed!
jersey turnpike for speed,southern state for fear,rt.9w for senic
Highway 11 in South Carolina. It’s not full of tight twisties, but beautiful scenery
No doubt about it Route 128 at Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon). But also Rt 8 just below Lake Champlain NY running east and west between Rt 87 and 9N, an absolute great run, you just have to look out for the bear crossing the roads.
Avenue of the Giants in the Redwoods. Nothing too challenging, just GORGEOUS!!!!..and relaxing!! Bear Tooth Pass at Yellowstone. Rt 2 through the Angeles Forest. Now that I’ve been cross country, I just can’t pick a favorite! We live in a beautiful country!!