“The 2,700-mile Western Wildlands Route (WWR, formerly known as the Wild West Route) offers bikepackers a non-technical riding experience through the vast expanses of wild and public lands in the Intermountain West. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands – 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands designation.
Riders will experience the incredibly remote mountains of western Montana and central Idaho, the desolate beauty of southern Idaho’s Snake River Plain, endless vistas from Utah’s high plateaus at 10,000 feet elevation, the canyon country of Navajo Nation and Grand Canyon region, and the towering Sky Islands and low Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona.
The WWR balances scenic, remote, and enjoyable dirt riding with regular resupply opportunities in small communities. The route is more than 80% off-pavement, primarily following dirt roads and 4×4 tracks. Mountain bikes are strongly recommended – the dirt and gravel roads in this part of the United States are rarely well-graded. Expect steep, relentless climbs between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, with a few approaching 5,000 feet; rocky and loose surfaces; and intermittent stream crossings. The most wild sections offer 150+ miles of riding through rugged terrain and offer absolutely no services. For riders familiar with the iconic Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Western Wildlands Route offers a more rugged, remote, and wild experience.“, according to the BIKEPACKING ROOTS.
The Western WIldlands Route is a 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) long bike route running from the Canadian / US border in Eureka, Montana, United States to the Mexican border in Arizona, United States.
Traveling through the US states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona, the route passes a large variety of terrains and geographic features.
Resources
Below resources provide a lot more information regarding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Router:
- BIKEPACKING ROOTS
- Exploring Wild
- bikepacking.com
- https://www.pedalsandpuffins.com/wwr-2021-toc
- https://infinitegeography.com/western-wildlands-route-21/
- https://followmargopolo.com/2020/01/14/wild-west-route-montana-and-idaho/
- https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=25024
- https://packjournal.com/index.php?post_id=675
- https://hags.blog/
- https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38005855
- and there might be more …