Southern Tier Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Southern Tier Section 7 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:03:04 +0000

Heading eastward across the Florida panhandle, you’ll follow either US 90 or county two-lane roads. Stretches of the route between DeFuniak Springs and Tallahassee are like parks with groomed grass shoulders lined with pine forests. Tallahassee is an easy city to bicycle through, but it is urban cycling. The St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail goes from Tallahassee to the port of St. Marks, and we use a 4.6 mile portion of it. The route comes to within 8 miles of Gainesville. In Palatka, traffic is heavy on US 17 crossing the St. Johns River. Six miles west of St. Augustine traffic picks up steadily until the route ends at the intersection with US 1. St. Augustine is also a point along the Altantic Coast Route. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 7 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 6 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:59 +0000

The route meanders through eastern Louisiana on county and state highways which are, for the most part, two-lane roads. After Tangipahoa, the countryside becomes hilly. Traffic picks up as the route enters Bogalusa. The Mississippi portion of this route is very rural and hilly. In Alabama, traffic gets busier as you near Mobile Bay. Traffic increases tremendously as the route enters and goes through Pensacola. The route uses occasional rural roads and a state highway which parallels I-10 into Defuniak Springs. If the Mobile Bay Ferry is temporarily shut down, a route around the Bay through Mobile is an option. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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

The post Southern Tier Section 6 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 5 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:50 +0000

From Navasota eastward the route continues through farming and ranching country on the state highways and rural roads. Near the Texas/Louisiana border you’ll pass through verdant “Big Thicket” country. The culture changes as the route heads into Louisiana. Mamou is known for its Cajun music and make sure you sample some of that famous Cajun food. The route continues to follow mostly low traffic rural roads on flat terrain and bike paths along the Mississippi River into New Orleans. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 5 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 4 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:47 +0000

Leaving Del Rio, the route typically follows two-lane highways with good surfaces and wide shoulders. Farm Rd. 344 east of Brackettville becomes narrower as it climbs away from the Rio Grande River valley. You’ll be traversing the famous Texas Hill Country so expect some hard riding among forested hillsides. The route passes the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Heading into Austin, the traffic increases but you’ll be able to use bike paths through the city. East of Bastrop you’ll ride through Bastrop and Buescher State Parks and continue along the rolling countryside dotted with small towns and ranches. Traffic will increase approaching Navasota. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 4 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 3 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:45 +0000

El Paso and its environs are hot and desert-like. Road surfaces are often rough and traffic is heavy; avoid riding during rush hours. The land is flat and dry as you parallel the course of the Rio Grande, which snakes one to six miles away from the route to the south. I-10 parallels the route to the north and carries much of the high speed traffic, leaving primarily local traffic on SR 20, a two-lane road with good riding surfaces. You’ll use frontage roads and do some riding on I-10 through flat, desert country to Kent. South of Kent, the country is desolate with a rollercoaster climb into the Davis Mountains. A steep climb up to the McDonald Observatory will reward you with a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Services are extremely limited between Marathon and Comstock. At Langry the visitor center is a welcome diversion and a source for drinking water. The route is gently rolling from Comstock to Del Rio. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 3 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 2 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:38 +0000

Expect urban cycling conditions with traffic from Tempe to the turn northward toward Usery Pass. After turning onto SR 87, there is a five-mile section of narrow road with no shoulder. Full service towns include Tonto Basin, Roosevelt, Globe, and Safford. Services on U.S. 70 are minimal in eastern Arizona. In Duncan, replenish your stock of food and water. Services are limited for the next 77 miles to Silver City. A two-mile detour to Lordsburg is an option for full services. Once you reach Silver City, New Mexico, you have a choice. The main route goes through rolling terrain; enroute you’ll pass the Santa Rita Open Pit Copper Mine. In comparison, the Gila Cliff Dwellings Alternate is 69 miles longer. The alternate goes through historic Pinos Altos and climbs and descends through thick pine forests before reaching the Gila River drainage. This very scenic road is narrow and winding and caution is urged, especially on the descents. After leaving the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, you ride through forests and meadows, and begin another gradual ascent to the Continental Divide. SR 152 is winding and steep with intermittent shoulders over Emory Pass, the highest point on the Southern Tier. In the next 35 miles you’ll drop 3,800 feet to the Caballo Reservoir. From here to El Paso the route parallels the Rio Grande and I-25. SR 28 winds through small towns, farm fields, and pecan groves into El Paso. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 2 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 1 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:02:15 +0000

From San Diego you’ll ride on bike paths and residential streets on a steady climb into the mountains. Dry easterly winds predominate in the fall, blowing in from the central desert. At In-Ko-Pah Pass the route joins I-8 for a short distance. El Centro and Brawley are situated in the Imperial Valley, an area famous for its agricultural bounties. Stock up on food and water here; services are extremely limited on the next stretch of the route. SR 78 heading to Blythe carries a moderate amount of traffic. To the north you will see the Chocolate Mountains, named for their distinctive deep brown color. The terrain from Ehrenberg, Arizona, to the section’s end at Tempe remains flat, with the exception of a few gentle grades. After leaving I-10, the route follows US 60, which has good shoulders. At Wickenburg the route turns south and approaches the metropolitan area surrounding Phoenix. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

The post Southern Tier Section 1 Digital Route appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Digital Route Set

Sam Bockius — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:51:00 +0000

Our southern trans-continental route will take you from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida. Explore the Southwest, the Texas Hill Country, the deep south and the Gulf Coast. More information about this route is available here.

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

The post Southern Tier Digital Route Set appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Map Set

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

Our southern trans-continental route will take you from San Diego, California, to St. Augustine, Florida. Explore the Southwest, the Texas Hill Country, the deep south and the Gulf Coast. For more information on this route or to print out the most up to date addenda for these maps please click here.

The post Southern Tier Map Set appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Southern Tier Section 1

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

From San Diego you'll ride on bike paths and residential streets on a steady climb into the mountains. Dry easterly winds predominate in the fall, blowing in from the central desert. At In-Ko-Pah Pass the route joins I-8 for a short distance. Calexico and Brawley are situated in the Imperial Valley, an area famous for its agricultural bounties. Stock up on food and water here; services are extremely limited on the next stretch of the route. SR 78 heading to Blythe carries a moderate amount of traffic. To the north you will see the Chocolate Mountains, named for their distinctive deep brown color. The terrain from Ehrenberg, Arizona, to the section's end at Tempe remains flat, with the exception of a few gentle grades. After leaving I-10, the route follows US 60 which has good shoulders. At Wickenburg the route turns south, then east as it approaches the metropolitan area surrounding Phoenix and Tempe. Click on enlargement for detail.

The post Southern Tier Section 1 appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.