You’ve finally taken the leap. You bought a new adventure bike, the do-everything motorcycle that you have been craving for years. Congratulations! Now, it’s time to go riding.
The great thing about an adventure bike is that you can cover great distances in comfort, and when you get to a new destination, you can unbolt your traveling gear, leave it in your hotel room, and explore on a lighter, narrower, nimbler bike. That’s a big advantage over a traditional tourer or sport touring bike.
Here are my five best destinations in the United States for adventure bikes:
Maine is an amazing place to ride a motorcycle. From rocky shores to mountainous wilderness, the state is striped with ribbons of great asphalt and well-groomed trails. While you can find dirt roads galore, most of the public lands restrict motor vehicle traffic to the pavement, except for registered ATVs and snowmobiles. Private off-roading parks are easy to find, though, and one of the best is Rocky Mountain Terrain Park in Carthage. According to the park’s website, “Off-Road enthusiasts of all types travel from all over the country to test their skills and play with other like-minded individuals on varied types of natural terrain and man-made obstacles.” Carthage is about 38 miles from Augusta, Maine, home to the Best Western Plus Augusta Civic Center Inn, and right in the heart of the state’s capital.
From Maine’s Rocky Mountain to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Durango, Colorado is a perfect home base to explore the San Juan Range, one of the most beautiful parts of the Rockies. Challenging roads and canyon passes await you, along with the villages of Ouray and Silverton. If you’re feeling very adventurous, you can leave the pavement and take to the trails to visit the abandoned silver mills in Animas Forks, or brave the steep climb and rocky drop-offs of Black Bear Pass. If that’s too hairy for you, Ophir Pass is a little tamer, but still beautiful and challenging.
There are three Best Western Hotels & Resorts locations in Durango, all within a hop of the walkable, charming downtown.
Southern California is a great destination for adventure motorcyclists, with some of the best roads in the country. The further south you go, it seems, the better the riding opportunities get. Just northeast of San Diego, urban sprawl thins out quickly, and what’s left is horse country and miles and miles of twisting roads to explore and enjoy. The Cleveland National Forest is home to a wide variety of approved OHV trails that range from groomed fire roads to boulder-strewn dry creek beds. The beauty of the landscape can’t be described, as unique desert flora and fauna abound. Best of all, a quick ride back to San Diego puts you in the middle of a town with a vibrant, lively food, drink, music and sports scene.
Treat yourself to a room at the Best Western Plus Suites Hotel Coronado Island after a day of riding in the dirt, and enjoy a beautiful view of San Diego Bay at night.
I could go on and on about the beauty of Montana, and the reasons to ride an adventure bike in the state. My favorite place on earth is Glacier National Park, and a close second is the adjacent Flathead National Forest. The National Parks Service maintains OHV trails in the forest that are approved for motorcycles and ATVs, and offer a wide variety of riding conditions and challenges. The views that you’ll encounter are breathtaking, the air is as clean as you’ll ever find, and the memories will stay with you for a lifetime. The Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites is a great home base for exploring Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.
My home state of Michigan may seem like an unlikely destination for adventure motorcycle riders, but the diversity of terrain throughout the state make for some great opportunities. Twisted Trails Off Road Park is one great example. It’s a privately-owned 400-acre ranch set up with trails, tracks, man-made obstacles and other fun riding situations for motorcycles and four-wheelers alike. Located about 40 miles south of Traverse City, it is also close to some great on-road riding routes along the shores of Lake Michigan. When your riding day is over, Traverse City offers innovative and exciting dining, art galleries, shopping and brew pubs for further entertainment. The Best Western Plus Traverse City offers a comfortable and convenient home base for your Northern Michigan adventure.