In most of the United States, motorcycle riding is a three-season hobby, except for those lucky bikers in the south who get to enjoy it as a year-round activity. Since summer and fall are prime riding time for almost everyone, we’re sharing our top five favorite routes to ride during the most temperate seasons. Some of these are favorites for their scenery, some for the charming towns you can visit along the way, and some for the roads themselves.
Number five: Stunning vistas on Going-to-the-Sun
Since this road is only open in the summer, it had to make our summer list. Running east/west through Glacier National Park, this road offers stunning views and a challenging but rewarding ride. Built between 1921 and 1932, it’s a marvel of civil engineering and crosses the continental divide.
Number four: Exploring the Pacific Coast Highway
California 1 – Pacific Coast Highway
This is one of those road trips that everyone talks about taking, but most people don’t. California 1, or PCH starts in Orange County and ends 656 miles north in Legget, Mendocino County. Running mostly along the coastline in California, this road offers amazing ocean views, places to stop and put your toes (or more) in the water, and quaint scenic towns along the way.
Number three: Adorable hamlets on the Kancamagus Highway
This is a shorter little road to ride, only about 34 miles from Lincoln, NH, to Conway, NH. The scenery is almost otherworldly in the early summer, and there are lots of cute small towns and villages in the area to explore. Close by is also Mount Washington Auto Road, which is not for the faint of heart.
Number two: Million-dollar views on the Million Dollar Highway
Speaking of roads not for the faint of heart, this 25-mile section of US 550 in Colorado that runs from Silverton to Ouray qualifies as just that. This ride is filled with steep cliffs, no guardrails, hairpin switchbacks, and narrow lanes. But for your troubles, if you can look out from the road, the views are breathtaking. While technically this road is open year round, in the winter snow chains or tires are often needed, making this more of a summer ride.
Number one: Fairytale sights on the Nantahala Scenic Byway
While many of these routes could become your personal favorite, this road tops our list for a few reasons. The scenery is some of the best that we’ve seen, trees run along the road creating a fairytale-like scene, and glimpses of the river let you bask in nature the whole way. The road is winding and fun to ride without being daunting to a newer rider, unlike some of the other routes on this list. This is the road that you could ride over and over, never tiring of the majestic views.
If we’ve missed your favorite route, let us know in the comments. Adventurous spinsters are always seeking new roads to explore and who knows? Maybe your suggestions will top our next list.
