Eastern Express Connector Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Eastern Express Connector Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:20 +0000

Heading eastbound from Walden, Colorado, the Eastern Express Connector crosses the southern Rocky Mountains only once at Cameron Pass, compared to the three high-elevation passes on the traditional TransAmerica route. The route then descends the scenic Poudre River canyon into the bicycle-friendly college town of Fort Collins, the only significant population on the entire section. Things start to dry out as you get into the eastern part of Colorado and cross into the southwestern corner of Nebraska. Carrying extra water is a good idea here – this is hot, barren country and services are limited. You might have to do some early morning and early evening riding to escape the midday sun. Many of the small towns along the way have public swimming pools to help to beat the heat, so pack your swimsuit! The route through Kansas continues to be rural in nature, with not a single town’s population over 2,000 until the section’s end in Atchison, Kansas. More information about this route is available here.

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Eastern Express Connector Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:20 +0000

A highlight of this route is the historic Katy Trail, the country’s longest recreational rail trail. Now a state park, the crushed-limestone trail is built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and winds alongside the mighty Missouri River. The Jefferson City Option can be used if the western portion of the Katy Trail is flooded. In Boonville, Missouri, the TransAmerica Crossover provides a mid-way connection to the traditional TransAmerica Trail. It follows the Katy Trail to its western terminus in Clinton, Missouri, and links up to Section 8 of the TransAmerica Trail just north of Toronto, Kansas. For cyclists who also plan to ride the Western Express Bicycle Route, this Crossover creates a more streamlined route across Middle America. The Connector terminates in Indianapolis, the state capital and largest city in Indiana. From here, ride onto the Chicago to New York City Route to continue east on your “express” cross-country journey. More information about this route is available here.

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Eastern Express Connector Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:19 +0000

The Eastern Express Connector connects the TransAmerica Trail in the west to the Chicago to New York City Bicycle Route in the east. Designed to be a quicker (and easier) coast-to-coast experience for the time-constrained cyclist, this route avoids some of the most strenuous climbing in the southern Rockies, Ozarks, and Appalachian Mountains. More information about this route is available here.

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