RIDING CONDITIONS

On this section of the route you will encounter a wide variety of riding conditions from urban to rural while using state highways, county roads and separate bike paths. Many roads will have wide shoulders while others will have none. Be prepared for numerous distractions riding through downtown San Francisco. For maps and other resources contact the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: www.sfbike.org.

After taking the ferry across the bay to Vallejo, there will be more urban cycling. The farther the route heads eastward into the central valley, the more you’ll encounter pockets of residential areas interspersed with agricultural land and moderate levels of traffic.

The route enters Davis, widely known as the “Bicycle Capital of the World,” on separate paths skirting the edge of the UC Davis campus. Maps and more information about cycling in Davis is available at: advcy.link/davismap.

In Sacramento the route uses a large portion of the multi-use Jedediah Smith National Recreation Trail (also known as the America River Bike Trail). Restrooms and picnic spots are located along this scenic corridor. You can find an interactive map of the trail at advcy.link/jedsmtrl.

The route east of Folsom begins climbing into the Sierra Nevada. Leaving Plymouth, the route uses smaller roads with little and sometimes no shoulder through vineyard country. Commuters use these roads, so avoid them during the morning and evening rush hours. Traffic increases on weekends.

State Highway 88 is a recreation corridor, so expect traffic during summer months and especially on weekends. It is narrow, has minimal shoulders and many turn-outs. The climb and descent over Carson Pass is steep.

U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 50 has been designated in Nevada. Portions of our route run concurrent with it. For more information and maps see: advcy.link/nvusbr50.

U.S. Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe mostly has reasonable shoulders but sometimes shrink. There can be a high volume of recreational traffic. Ride with caution.

The Great Basin country is east of the Sierra Nevada. Buy any spare parts for your bike in Carson City as you’ll find few bike shops in Nevada and Utah. Traffic decreases as you head east to Fallon on U.S. Highway 50, where it begins to resemble its nickname as the “Loneliest Road in America.”

CLIMATE

Summer is a dry period over most of California. Areas that are well protected from the ocean experience a more continental type of climate with warmer summers, colder winters, greater daily and seasonal temperature ranges, and generally lower relative humidities. The San Francisco Bay area has many varieties of climate within a few miles due to the influence of topography on the circulation of marine air. The Coast Range and Sierra Nevada offer some protection to the interior from the strong flow of Pacific air. Thunderstorms may occur at any time of the year, and are usually light and infrequent. But they may become unusually strong on occasion at intermediate and high elevations in the Sierra Nevada.

RIDING CONDITIONS

U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 50 has been designated in Nevada. Portions of our route run concurrent with it. For more information and maps see advcy.link/nvusbr.

The route in Nevada, along U.S. Highway 50, was described some years ago by a Life magazine writer as “The Loneliest Road in America.” You’ll see occasional vehicles on the road but towns and services are spaced, in some instances, a long day’s ride apart. In most cases there are no homes or ranches between services. The maps note where the longest stretches without services are so plan your days accordingly.

This section of the Western Express Route is considered very difficult due not only to terrain, but also due to lack of water, temperature extremes, and long mileages without services. Carrying a water purifier is strongly advised for any water access outside of towns. Nevada is extremely dry and has limited shade to duck away from the sun.

The surface of the highways in Nevada and Utah are fair to excellent, but shoulder widths vary. U.S. 50’s shoulders have deep rumble strips, usually centered in the middle of the shoulder, making them almost useless for bicyclists. When this route was first published in 2001, traffic volumes were minimal. Since then they have grown and vehicles continue to pass at high speeds. Make yourself and your bike as visible as possible and stay aware of conditions.

Sand Mountain, located north of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station between Fallon and Middlegate, is a popular weekend and holiday destination for 4-wheelers. Traffic will likely be heavy at those times.

Between Middlegate and Austin the Carroll Summit Alternate is 1 mile shorter than the main route. The climb and descent over Carroll Summit is higher than the passes on the main route, but shade in the Desatoya Mountains offers a change of scenery and welcome respite from the rest of the route along this section.

Near and in any national park cyclists will have to contend with higher traffic levels and RV drivers who are inexperienced. To avoid heavy traffic try to ride early in the day and make yourself and your bike visible.

U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 79 is signed throughout Utah. Our routing is not always concurrent with USBRs. For more information and maps see advcy.link/utusbr. Be aware that signs can be damaged, stolen, or otherwise missing so you can never rely totally on following signs.

Between Minersville and Cedar City on SR 130 there is heavy commuter traffic in the mornings and evenings. In many spots there aren’t any shoulders. Please make sure you are visible.

There are three long stretches without any services. They are between Austin and Eureka (69.6 miles), Eureka and Ely (78 miles), and between Baker, Nevada and Milford, Utah (83.1 miles). Make sure you carry enough water and don’t get dehydrated.

CLIMATE

In Nevada and western Utah there is relatively strong insolation of heat during the day and rapid nighttime cooling, because of the clear air, resulting in wide daily ranges in temperature. Even after the hottest days, the nights are usually cool.

Mountain snowfall is the main source of water for streamflow. In years when winter and spring snowfall is light, the result is a shortage of water.

Summer thunderstorms develop occasionally into heavy local downpours of rain. These storms, locally termed cloudbursts, may bring to a locality as much rain in a few hours as would normally fall in several months. The low humidity and abundant sunshine produce rapid evaporation.

Winds are generally light. The prevailing wind direction is west and dust and sandstorms occur occasionally.

RIDING CONDITIONS

This section of the Western Express Route is considered very difficult due not only to terrain (grades from 6% to 14%), but also due to lack of water, temperature extremes, and long mileages without services. In most cases, there are no homes or ranches between services. Carrying a water purifier is strongly advised for water access at Lake Powell and for miscellaneous reservoirs, creeks, and lakes at primitive campsites. Utah is extremely dry and most of the route has only rocks for shade. Note that the only bike shops on this section are in Cedar City and Dolores, with the exception of limited gear and repairs in Monticello.

U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 70 is signed throughout Utah. Our routing is not always concurrent with USBRs. For more information and maps see advcy.link/utusbr. Be aware that signs can be damaged, stolen, or otherwise missing so you can never rely totally on following signs.

All the paved highways have fair to excellent surfaces, but shoulder widths vary from 0 to 8 feet. During tourist season and near national parks, beware of RVs and other traffic when the highway grades are steep and sight lines are limited. To avoid heavy traffic, try to ride early in the day and make yourself and your bike visible. Throughout the national forests you might encounter logging trucks also.

In Utah all the roads have cattleguards across them at odd places, and most often they are unmarked. Occasionally you’ll see a black and yellow pole at a cattleguard in warning. Cross these with caution.

This section has some of the most spectacular scenery in America available along paved roads and provides access to a large number of national parks, monuments, and state parks. Take some extra time to explore and do some hiking and biking into the off-route parks.

Heading east from Cedar City there is a long, steep climb of 20 miles. SR 148 through Cedar Breaks National Monument is closed during the winter months, from the end of October until mid- to late-May. Iron County Tourism (800-354-4849) will know actual opening and closing dates. When SR 148 is closed, USBR 70 is suggested as an alternate.

The Hogback south of Boulder is a highlight (or terror) of the area. It is a 2-mile stretch of narrow two-lane road along a ridge spine with no shoulders or guardrails and has drops on both sides. Ride carefully and defensively.

At the Fruita Historic District in Capitol Reef National Park you can pick ripening fruit for a snack between June and October.

In eastern Utah, services and water are very limited and sometimes off the route. From Hanksville to Blanding (125 miles) services are especially sparse so plan your days carefully. Call ahead to confirm services on Lake Powell at the Hite Outpost and nearby Hite Ranger Station.

NOTE: After October 1, many private and USFS campgrounds close for the winter or have no water available. Call ahead to verify conditions if you are traveling after this date.

CLIMATE

Temperatures over 100°F occur occasionally in summer in nearly all parts of Utah. However, low humidity makes these high temperatures more bearable. Even after the hottest days, nights are usually cool. On clear nights the colder air acculumates, by drainage, on the valley bottoms, while the foothills and bench areas remain relatively warm. Sunny skies prevail most of the year.

The prevailing westerly air currents that reach Utah and western Colorado are comparatively dry, resulting in light precipitation over most of the state. Thunderstorm season is from July through September and brings cloudbursts, lightning, and occasional isolated flash floods.

RIDING CONDITIONS

You may see other cyclists along portions of this route through Colorado. Between Dolores and Poncha Springs the same roads are used on the Great Parks South Route. Between Wetmore and Pueblo the route joins the TransAmerica Trail. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route shares U.S. 50 between Doylesville and Sargents as well as through Salida.

All of the highways on this section are two-lane roads with varying shoulder widths from zero to 10 feet. Many of the passes along the route have climbing lanes for slower-moving traffic.

Ride carefully along the San Miguel River between the turn-off to Telluride and Placerville. The highway is continuously winding with short sight lines, and has high levels of summer traffic. If you choose to go into historic Telluride, there is a bike path along the highway.

After crossing the Dallas Divide the route descends into the wide Uncompahgre River Valley. At Ridgway you can used the paved 1.8-mi. Marmot Run Trail between the north end of Railroad St. and CR 24/Ridgway State Park.

Heading east from Montrose, the route uses U.S. 50. The highway shoulder widths vary and traffic levels increase around the Curecanti National Recreation Area and within towns. Be careful when crossing the rumble strips located on the highway’s newer stretches. U.S. 50 has strip development around Salida so the route goes into town on less trafficked roads and bike paths. East of Salida to Cotopaxi U.S. 50 is winding with short sight lines and carries moderate to heavy amounts of recreational traffic. The shoulder varies from none to 2-feet wide. This will most likely be the busiest section of the entire route outside of California.

At Cotopaxi, the route leaves the Arkansas River corridor. CR 1A is narrow and the only traffic jam you may see will be cattle in the road.

Traffic continues to be light until the outskirts of Pueblo where you’ll leave the Rocky Mountains.

NOTE: After October 1, many private and U.S.F.S. campgrounds close for the winter or have no water available. Call ahead to verify conditions if you are travelling after this date.

CLIMATE

The rugged topography of western Colorado causes large variations in climate within short distances, and few climatic generalizations apply to the whole area. Summer in the mountains is a cool and refreshing season. At typical mountain stations the average July temperature is in the neighborhood of 60 degrees F. The highest temperatures are usually in the 70’s and 80’s, but may reach 95 degrees F. Above 7,000 feet, the nights are quite cool throughout the summer, while bright sunshine makes the days comfortably warm.

Shortlived thunderstorms and hail are common during summer afternoons, so be prepared.