Northern Tier Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Northern Tier Map Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:05 +0000

From Puget Sound in Washinton to fishing villages in Maine, the Northern Tier crosses four mountain ranges- the Cascades, Rockies, Adirondacks and Appalachians. Along the way the route passes through Glacier National Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi, and Amish country. Discover the beauty of America by crossing the country on the Northern Tier. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:04 +0000

SR 200 east of Sandpoint carries both recreational and commercial traffic so ride it cautiously. In Montana, the route uses either state or U.S. highways to Eureka. Most of the logging is done in this corner of the state; the scenery is beautiful but expect to encounter logging trucks. Traffic along Lake Koocanusca in minimal. U.S. 93, which the route uses from Eureka to Whitefish, can have moderate to heavy traffic since it’s a main thoroughfare into Canada. The route northeast of Columbia Falls includes a few miles of gravel, but avoids some of the hectic tourist traffic on U.S. 2 near Glacier National Park. Glacier Park traffic is heavy during the summer. Ride early in the day and avoid weekend travel. Going-to-the-Sun Road between West Glacier and St. Mary is closed to all traffic from about Sept. 30 to June 15. On the east side of the Continental Divide the route heads into Canada and a spur goes to Waterton Lakes National Park. Once out on the plains the route returns to the U.S. and ends in Cut Bank. For those with time constraints, a shorter alternate is shown between West Glacier and Cut Bank using U.S. 2 over Marias Pass. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:04 +0000

Because of heavy snow, the North Cascades National Park is only open to through traffic on SR 20 between late April and late November. The Anacortes area is hilly, the roads are curvy, and there is a moderate amount of residential traffic. The 4-lane highway that heads east to the mainland is very busy. After crossing the Skagit River flats, the route starts a long, gradual climb to the Pacific crest of the Cascades. In most places either the roads are wide or the traffic is light. After Washington Pass, the route climbs and descends a pass almost daily until reaching eastern Washington. Once in Idaho the terrain flattens as you wind your way along the Pend Orielle River into Sandpoint. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 4 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:03 +0000

From Dickinson to Fargo, the route follows a portion of I-94, county roads and state highways. The highways east of Bismarck carry very little traffic. Long, straight stretches are the norm. In broad terms, the terrain is a vast, open plain that slopes downward from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Local relief is very gentle, with the exception of a few hills across river breaks. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 3 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:03 +0000

Beginning in Cut Bank, the route heads southeast along the Rocky Mountain Front, where the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains meet the plains, to Great Falls. Then you’ll head east through rolling prairies. You’ll cross the Yellowstone River at Glendive, MT, where you’ll follow the I-94 corridor to Dickinson, ND. This route is contiguous with the Lewis & Clark Trail from Lewistown, MT to Dickinson, ND. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 5 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:02 +0000

Almost without exception, this route follows quiet, rural roads. One exception is when it passes through Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. During the summer it gets heavy use from recreational vehicles. The 193-mile Trails Alternate to Bowlus (where it connects to the main route on section #6), is 98.5 miles shorter, but has many of the same characteristics as the main route. It includes 107 miles of converted rail-trails. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 6 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:01 +0000

On this section of the route, you will be riding on paved state trails and two-lane roads with varying shoulder widths. The country is open with rolling wetlands of dense trees and shrubs along the lake shores. At Dalbo, the route turns east and traverses slightly rolling countryside through farmland to Osceola, Wisconsin. There is a steep climb into Osceola from the St. Croix River valley. In Wisconsin, riding near the river means hillier country along the bluffs. There is a steep descent to the St. Croix River, and a steep ascent after the bridge into Stillwater, Minnesota. This map section includes a spur into the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 9 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:00 +0000

You will encounter a big change in this section because the route traverses the city of Cleveland and its suburbs, so cyclists should have some familiarity with urban riding. Once you reach Lake Erie the route passes through many interesting cultural, historic, and scenic features, and you are encouraged to research the route beforehand to maximize your enjoyment. The route in Ohio generally uses either secondary highways or county roads with the exception of Cleveland and its suburbs where you’ll use city streets or bikepaths. East of Cleveland, you’ll ride along Lake Erie for quite a distance until reaching Orchard Park, New York. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 8 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:00 +0000

Grades in the Lowlands, where this section is located, are minimal, if not nonexistent. The elevation rises less than 500 feet between Iowa and Ohio. One of the few places where hills are noticable is in east-central Indiana, around the Salamonie River and Mt. Hope Recreation Areas. By and large, you’ll have great visibility ahead and behind. The tall corn, however, can screen everything to the sides. Listen for vehicles approaching from the fields; some farmers don’t stop when they drive onto the roads. The corn can also hide street signs when it gets high. The most notable feature of the route is the constantly changing quality of the roads. The county roads, however, have one saving grace- they are virtually unused. Even local traffic stays on the better-maintained state highways. Traffic does increase during harvest, when all those soybeans have to get to market. Roads around the Tippecanoe River and Salamonie River Recreation Areas in Indiana get busier when the weather gets warmer, especially on weekends. More information about this route is available here.

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Northern Tier Section 11 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:59 +0000

This section passes through three states, each with somewhat different riding conditions, but the roads generally are fair. Vermont and New Hampshire are “mountainous” by eastern standards. General elevation ranges from about 500 to 2,000 feet. Vermont highways are, with a few exceptions, well-signed. East of Middlebury, Vermont, you have to pedal over a steep “gap” or mountain pass. After you reach the White Mountains and enter Maine, the elevation is generally less than 500 feet but the terrain is still quite hilly. Near the coast the route follows narrow back roads. However, in places you ride U.S. 1 which carries very heavy recreational traffic. Mount Desert Island roads also have a high amount of tourist traffic as you near Bar Harbor during the summer and fall color season. More information about this route is available here.

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