TransAmerica Trail Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

TransAmerica Section 12 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:35:14 +0000

Section 12 of the TransAm Trail begins in Christiansburg. Most of the roads through the Appalachians of central Virginia are narrow. After the town of Vesuvius, there is a four-mile climb onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hills continue along the Parkway. No commercial traffic is allowed and the speed limit of 45 mph is strictly enforced. There are, however, no shoulders and there are a great number of recreational vehicles. After leaving the parkway, the gently rolling hills of the Tidewater are well-suited for cycling. You’ll ride along the Colonial National Historical Park between Williamsburg and Yorktown, the TransAm Trail’s ending point. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 11 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:24:29 +0000

The Appalachians may not be as tall as the Rockies, but they are harder to cross than the big mountains of the West. Cyclists find the gentle inclines of the Rockies are not nearly as tiring as the steep, roller-coaster grades of the Appalachians. Traffic in the backcountry of Appalachia is generally light. Exceptions include popular tourist spots such as Breaks Interstate Park, the Buckhorn Lake area, and the Jefferson National Forest. The route crosses the Appalachian Hiking Trail several times near Damascus, Virginia. Section 11 ends in Christiansburg. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 10 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:16:14 +0000

In southern Illinois, section 10 of the TransAm Trail skirts glaciated terrain, then winds through the ridges and valleys of the Little Ozarks. This small mountain range appears as sandstone and limestone bluffs and escarpments. It is unique in the United States because it runs on an east-west axis. Traffic increases in and near towns. The route crosses the Ohio River on a ferry and also joins the Great River South Route for a short distance. Western and Central Kentucky is horse country and you’ll pass many farms with grazing thoroughbreds. The map includes an 87-mile loop southward to Mammoth Cave National Park and ends in Berea. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 9 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:14:12 +0000

Section 9 of the TransAm Trail leaves flat Kansas and takes you into western Missouri’s gently rolling terrain. The route gets hillier as you approach the Ozarks Mountain Range. The Ozarks themselves contain many steep grades. Cyclists have likened this part of the trail to one long, self-propelled roller-coaster ride. Humidity increases and the numerous streams and rivers you pass are inviting places for breaks. The route crosses the Mississippi River into Illinois. At Chester you can choose to ride the Mississippi River Levee Alternate or stay on the main route into Murphysboro, where the section ends. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 8 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:03:24 +0000

No uphills, no downhills, few turns. It must be Kansas. The Santa Fe Trail intersects the TransAmerica Trail at Larned and the Fort Larned National Historic Site is along the route. The section ends in Girard. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 7 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:02:38 +0000

Section 7 of the TransAm takes you out of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and onto the High Plains of eastern Colorado and western Kansas. The High Plains, where once millions of bison grazed, is now the agricultural heartland of America. Services are farther apart so you need to plan your days accordingly. The flat terrain of Kansas is made up for by its friendly residents and town swimming pools where it’s great to take a break during the heat of the day. The section ends in Alexander. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 6 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:57:47 +0000

Section 6 of the TransAmerica Trail follows a 15-mile section of I-80 between Sinclair and Walcott, and then turns south. The interstate has heavy traffic, but cyclists can ride the wide shoulder. The rolling basin called North Park contains the headwaters of the North Platte River and from this point southward to Canon City, riders traverse high-altitude country. Due to this altitude, some cyclists may experience headaches, insomnia, or shortness of breath, but most have approached this area gradually, riding from lower elevations, thus acclimatizing their bodies. As the trail approaches the Summit County area, traffic increases. Recreational facilities here attract many weekenders and vacationers from the more densely populated eastern slope of the Rockies. Around Frisco and Breckenridge, the route intersects with the Great Parks South Route and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. After Breckenridge, the South Park section begins with a moderately difficult climb over Hoosier Pass. Riders gain 1,500′ within 10 miles in order to reach the top of the pass (elevation 11,542′), the highest point on the TransAmerica Trail. At Canon City the countryside gradually shows less and less relief, as the Trail emerges from the Rockies and winds through the Colorado Piedmont. This section ends in Pueblo, also the endpoint for the Western Express Route. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 5 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:53:10 +0000

Section 5 of the TransAm route takes you through Yellowstone National Park, the jewel of America’s National Park System, and Grand Teton National Park. Look for elk, bison, bears, and wolves as you cycle along the river between West Yellowstone and Madison, and take time to explore the many and varied geyser basins on your way to Old Faithful. On your way out of the park you will cross the Continental Divide twice, and once outside the park, a third time at the spectacular 9,658-foot elevation Togwotee Pass. Due to narrow roads and heavy traffic with lots of RV’s during the summer, some cyclists are choosing to visit Yellowstone National Park by renting a vehicle and driving to see the sights. The 139-mile Teton Valley Alternate shows routing to avoid riding through the Park. A spur is also shown to Jackson, Wyoming. From Togwotee Pass, the eastern slope of the Rockies falls away before you as you cycle along the Wind River through Dubois and on to Lander. After Lander the route crosses the dry and windy Great Divide Basin and ends in Rawlins. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 4 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:49:42 +0000

From Missoula the TransAm Trail turns southward, following the footsteps of Lewis and Clark through the Bitterroot Valley. It then crosses a succession of passes, one over the Continental Divide, to Dillon, the heart of Montana’s sheep country. The Big Hole Battlefield National Monument is along the way. The route continues through the Alder Gulch into Virginia City, site of the state’s first great gold strike. Section 4 ends at West Yellowstone, gateway to Yellowstone National Park. More information about this route is available here.

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TransAmerica Section 3 Digital Route

Sam Bockius — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:47:35 +0000

Just east of Baker City, Oregon, Section 3 of the TransAm crosses the famous Oregon Trail, the route of the westward pioneers in the 1800s. Eastern Oregon is dry and can generate high summer temperatures so carrying extra water is important. The route crosses the Snake River into Idaho and follows several major rivers, including the Salmon and the Clearwater. You’ll climb and descend from one drainage to the next. The White Bird Battlefield of the Nez Perce National Historic Park is along the route. There is a beautiful ride along the scenic Lochsa River before climbing Lolo Pass into Montana. The route crosses paths with the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail here. It ends in Missoula, Montana, home of Adventure Cycling Association – stop in and visit us! More information about this route is available here.

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