Best Bikepacking Routes in North America: Epic Adventures and Weekend Escapes

Bikepacking has exploded in popularity, offering cyclists the freedom to explore remote terrain with minimal gear. Whether you’re planning your first overnight trip or your next multi-week expedition, these routes represent the best bikepacking adventures across North America and beyond.

Epic Long-Distance Routes

1. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (USA/Canada) – 2,745 miles

The granddaddy of bikepacking routes, the GDMBR runs from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico along the Continental Divide. Expect 200,000+ feet of climbing through some of North America’s most remote terrain.

Difficulty: Advanced
Best Time: June – September
Typical Duration: 4-8 weeks
Surface: 90% dirt/gravel, 10% paved

Why It’s Special: Wilderness camping, wildlife encounters (grizzlies!), incredible mountain scenery, and the ultimate test of self-sufficiency. The route passes through Montana’s high country, Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, and New Mexico’s high desert.

2. Tour Divide Race Route – 2,745 miles

Following the same route as the GDMBR but ridden as a self-supported race, the Tour Divide has become legendary. The fastest times are under 14 days, but most bikepackers take 4-6 weeks to complete it.

Record holders ride 200+ miles per day with minimal sleep – but for adventure cyclists, the joy is in savoring the journey, meeting fellow travelers in small mountain towns, and experiencing the changing ecosystems from alpine tundra to desert.

3. Arizona Trail – 800 miles

Running from Mexico to Utah through Arizona’s diverse landscapes, the AZT offers desert canyons, ponderosa pine forests, and high alpine meadows. It’s rideable year-round with proper planning.

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Best Time: October – April (desert sections), May – September (high country)
Typical Duration: 3-5 weeks

Weekend and Week-Long Adventures

4. Oregon Timber Trail – 670 miles

Purpose-built for bikepacking, the OTT winds through Oregon’s Cascade Range and eastern forests. Excellent trail infrastructure, clear route markings, and reasonable difficulty make it perfect for intermediate riders.

Highlights: Crater Lake, endless singletrack, old-growth forests, hot springs

5. Colorado Trail – 486 miles

From Denver to Durango, the CT crosses eight mountain ranges and six wilderness areas. Stunning alpine scenery, but challenging with extensive hike-a-bike sections above treeline.

Average Elevation: 10,000+ feet
Bike-Legal: 70% (some Wilderness sections require hiking)
Pro Tip: Late July through early September offers the best weather and wildflower displays

6. Baja Divide – 1,700 miles

Mexico’s Baja Peninsula offers warm winter bikepacking with incredible Pacific and Sea of Cortez coastline. Less technical than mountain routes, but requires careful water planning.

Best For: Winter escape, beach camping, taco fuel stops
Challenge: Water sources every 50-100 miles in desert sections

International Bucket List Routes

7. Iceland Ring Road – 828 miles

Circumnavigate Iceland on mostly paved roads with jaw-dropping scenery: glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal areas, and black sand beaches. Extreme weather can hit year-round.

Best Time: June – August (midnight sun!)
Difficulty: Moderate (paved, but wind and weather are challenging)

8. Carretera Austral (Chile) – 770 miles

Patagonia’s legendary gravel highway runs through temperate rainforests, past glaciers, and alongside turquoise lakes. Largely unpaved with sparse services – true wilderness adventure.

Planning Your First Bikepacking Route

Start Small: Your first trip should be 2-3 days maximum. Classic starter routes include:

C&O Canal Towpath (Washington DC to Pittsburgh) – 335 miles of flat, easy riding
Great Allegheny Passage – Connects to C&O for a 458-mile adventure
Katy Trail (Missouri) – 240 miles of crushed limestone, mostly flat

Route Research Resources

BikePacking.com: Route database with GPS tracks and detailed guides
Ride with GPS: User-submitted routes with elevation profiles
Adventure Cycling Association: Mapped routes across North America
MTB Project: Trail conditions and local beta

Essential Planning Considerations

Water Sources

In western US routes, plan for 50-100 mile stretches between reliable water. Carry 3-6 liters capacity and a filter (Sawyer Squeeze or Katadyn BeFree are bikepacker favorites).

Resupply Points

Most routes pass through small towns every 2-5 days. Ship packages ahead to remote post offices or plan to carry 3-4 days of food minimum.

Weather Windows

High mountain routes like the GDMBR and Colorado Trail have short seasons (July-September). Desert routes (AZT, Baja) are winter destinations. Research snow levels and monsoon seasons.

Choosing Your Route

First Bikepacking Trip: C&O Canal or Katy Trail (flat, easy bailouts)
First Mountain Route: Oregon Timber Trail (well-marked, good infrastructure)
Ultimate Challenge: Great Divide MTB Route (remote, high altitude, long)
Winter Escape: Baja Divide (warm, beaches, tacos)
International Adventure: Iceland Ring Road (spectacular scenery, moderate difficulty)

Conclusion

The best bikepacking route is the one that matches your skills, available time, and appetite for adventure. Start with overnight trips close to home, build your systems and confidence, then tackle the classics. Every route offers the same core rewards: self-sufficiency, stunning scenery, and the simple joy of traveling by bike with everything you need on your back.

Where will your first (or next) bikepacking adventure take you?