Pacific Coast Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Pacific Coast Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:58 +0000

The scenic Pacific Coast Route travels from Vancouver, B.C., to Imperial Beach, California. Breathtaking cliffs, redwood forests, lighthouses, beaches, and a rugged coastline make this a very popular route. Discover the beauty to be found between Canada and Mexico. More information about this route is available here.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:57 +0000

Vancouver is a relatively easy city in which to bicycle. Then after crossing the border into Washington, you’ll be riding on narrow two-lane roads on level terrain. There are no shoulders, and traffic is light. Bellingham is a larger town with moderate traffic and some congested intersections. SR-20 south of Anacortes and Whidbey Island has some rolling to hilly terrain. There are several narrow two-lane sections and congested areas near the island’s towns; traffic is generally light away from SR 20. South of Port Townsend the route is rolling to hilly on mostly low-traffic rural roads through farms and forests. From Castle Rock in southern Washington you’ll face some steep climbs across low hills to Ocean Beach Rd. along the Columbia River. In Oregon, you’ll ride west on US 30, which carries moderate traffic and has wide shoulders most of the way into Astoria, the beginning and end points for the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail and the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail. More information about this route is available here.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:57 +0000

Along the Oregon Coast, the route often uses US 101, a two-lane highway popular with tourists. During the summer months and on holidays and weekends this highway carries moderate to heavy traffic. This is also timber country, so watch for logging trucks. Many improvements for bicycle traffic have been made along US 101. In places the shoulders have been widened and striped. Tunnels are well-lit, and the tunnel at Arch Cape has a flashing light that you can activate to warn motorists that you are in the tunnel. Also watch for special hiker/biker sites in the state park campgrounds. Where the route leaves US 101, the roads are generally rougher and without shoulders, but traffic tends to be light. There are some steep ascents over coastal headlands, notable between Cannon Beach and Manzanita. Traffic is heavier near and in Lincoln City, and thins again on the gentle grades around Newport and Waldport. Many of the coastal towns cater to tourists, and you’ll find the views along the coast breathtaking. West of Sixes is Cape Blanco State Park, which calls itself the “most westerly Park in the continental U.S.” Once you enter California, the route leaves US 101 and takes rural side roads along the level coastal plain into Crescent City. More information about this route is available here.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 3 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:56 +0000

Because the heavy motorized traffic tends to be even heavier in the summer, we recommend that you ride this route in the spring or autumn. If riding in summer is your only option, be advised that motorized traffic often increases after 10:00 a.m. You’ll encounter climbs several miles in length as the route crosses two major headlands between Crescent City and McKinleyville. This is redwood country, so take some extra time to enjoy the scenery in the state and national parks along the route. At Leggett you’ll leave US 101 and return to the coast via SR 1, but not before climbing abruptly to 2,000 feet above sea level. From either direction this roads is a steep, twisting climb and descent on a narrow roadway that is hemmed in by heavy forest cover. From Westport to Bodega Bay SR 1 hugs the coastline, passing through small towns that cater to tourists. In Marin County, the traffic increases on the route from Valley Ford to Marshall, especially on weekends after 11 a.m. Between Fairfax and the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll be riding in an urban environment. The route follows a signed bike route along residential streets and bike paths wherever possible. More information about this route is available here.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 4 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:56 +0000

Because the heavy motorized traffic tends to be even heavier in the summer, we recommend that you ride this route in the spring or autumn. May and September/October are the best months for riding. From the Golden Gate Bridge, the route heads directly to the coast via city streets. After rejoining SR 1, you’ll encounter heavy traffic but here SR 1 has shoulders in most places. From Carmel Heights to San Simeon there are few services. This is a beautiful but demanding road with minimal shoulders traversing open grasslands and timbered slopes above the ocean. State and national campgrounds provide sites overlooking the beach. They are quiet in the off season but extremely busy in the summer. You’ll encounter five major climbs along the border of the Los Padres National Forest; one of these takes you to almost 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The route flattens south of Harmony. From Morro Bay to Pismo Beach you’ll leave SR 1 for local, county, and state roads with intermittent shoulders. At Oceano you’ll head inland, then join US 101 and ride back to the coast. West of Goleta you’ll leave US 101 and travel along business arterials to enter Santa Barbara. More information about this route is available here.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 5 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:53:55 +0000

Because the heavy traffic tends to be even heavier in summer, we recommend that you ride this route in the spring or autumn. May and September-October are the best months for riding. Note that during summer, strong winds prevail from north to south. In Santa Barbara and the towns surrounding it, prepare for urban riding conditions. US 101 between Santa Barbara and Ventura is closed to bicyclists, so you’ll ride on city streets and county roads. The route stays close to sea level here. Traffic levels build near Ventura and Oxnard, then taper off until Los Angeles County. You’ll ride on a bike path through Emma Wood State Beach north of Ventura, and join SR 1 southeast of Port Hueneme. South of the Ventura/Los Angeles County line you’ll ride through Malibu on a four-and six lane freeway with wide shoulders. Traffic is heavier on weekends and during the summer. Through Los Angeles you’ll be using beachside bicycle and pedestrian paths. You’ll follow city streets through Palos Verdes Estates and Long Beach, then rejoin the busy Pacific Coast Highway, which has shoulders. You’ll encounter busy local traffic on CR S21 in San Diego County; the road shoulders are continuous. South of La Jolla, you’ll pedal along residential streets and bicycle/pedestrian paths through San Diego. A ferry takes you to Coronado and a path along Silver Strand Beach. The route ends at the Border Field State Park south of Imperial Beach, where the U.S.A and Mexico share the border at the Pacific Ocean. More information about this route is available here.

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Pacific Coast Map Set

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:51 +0000

The scenic Pacific Coast Route travels from Vancouver, B.C., to Imperial Beach, California. Breathtaking cliffs, redwood forests, lighthouses, beaches, and a rugged coastline makes this a very popular route. Discover the beauty to be found between Canada and Mexico. For more information on this route or to print out the most up to date addenda for these maps please click here.

The post Pacific Coast Map Set appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Pacific Coast Route Section 1

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:51 +0000

Vancouver is a relatively easy city to bicycle through. After crossing the border into Washington, you’ll be riding on narrow two-lane roads on level terrain. There are no shoulders, and traffic is light. Bellingham is a larger town with moderate traffic and some congested intersections. Separated bike paths are used along the route wherever possible. Whidbey Island has occasional rolling to hilly terrain. There are several narrow two-lane sections and congested areas near the island’s towns; traffic is generally light away from SR 20. South of Port Townsend, the route is rolling to hilly on mostly low-trafficked rural roads through farms and forests. West of Longview, in southern Washington, SR 4 carries moderate recreational traffic in the summer. After crossing the Columbia River via ferry, in Oregon, you’ll ride west on US 30, which carries moderate traffic and has shoulders most of the way into Astoria, the beginning and end points for the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail and the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail.

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Pacific Coast Route Section 2

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:51 +0000

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Pacific Coast Route Section 3

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:51 +0000

Because the heavy motorized traffic tends to be even heavier in the summer, we recommend that you ride this route in the spring or autumn. If riding in summer is your only option, be advised that motorized traffic often increases after 10:00 a.m. You'll encounter climbs several miles in length as the route crosses two major headlands between Crescent City and McKinleyville. This is redwood country, so take some extra time to enjoy the scenery in the state and national parks along the route. At Leggett you'll leave US 101 and return to the coast via SR 1, but not before climbing abruptly to 2,000 feet above sea level. From either direction this roads is a steep, twisting climb and descent on a narrow roadway that is hemmed in by heavy forest cover. From Westport to Bodega Bay SR 1 hugs the coastline, passing through small towns that cater to tourists. In Marin County, the traffic increases on the route from Valley Ford to Marshall, especially on weekends after 11 a.m. Between Fairfax and the Golden Gate Bridge you'll be riding in an urban environment. The route follows a signed bike route along residential streets and bike paths wherever possible.

The post Pacific Coast Route Section 3 appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.