Explore the best cycling and bike touring routes in Raleigh, from scenic greenways to wooded trails and smooth city rides—perfect for a vacation on two wheels.
WHAT ARE THE MOST SCENIC BIKEPACKING DESTINATIONS?
What are the most scenic bikepacking destinations? For cyclists craving adventure, bikepacking offers an unparalleled way to experience landscapes at a slower pace. Unlike traditional touring, bikepacking blends off-road trails with self-supported camping, letting riders immerse in natural beauty and local culture. This guide highlights the most breathtaking routes worldwide—from the towering peaks of the Andes to Europe’s alpine passes, North America’s forests, and Asia’s hidden gems. Each destination combines stunning scenery, cultural richness, and challenging terrain. Whether you’re after high-altitude climbs, coastal rides, or vast desert crossings, these routes prove why bikepacking is more than a journey: it’s a lifestyle.
Epic mountain adventures
Mountains are the spiritual home of bikepacking, offering demanding climbs, dramatic scenery, and soul-stirring descents. For riders willing to test endurance, high-altitude routes provide unmatched rewards.
Andes high routes
The Andes in South America host some of the world’s most scenic and challenging bikepacking trails. Routes like the Peru Great Divide or Chile’s Carretera Austral combine rugged dirt paths with stunning glacier views, turquoise lakes, and remote villages. Elevations often exceed 4,000 meters, testing lungs and legs alike while rewarding with views that feel otherworldly.
Peru Great Divide: Technical, remote, and culturally rich.
Carretera Austral: A 1,200 km ride through fjords and rainforests.
Colombian páramos: High-altitude ecosystems with surreal landscapes.
European alpine classics
The Alps offer legendary climbs and postcard views. Bikepackers can explore gravel passes like Switzerland’s Albula or Italy’s Stelvio, combining paved hairpins with rugged trails. Wild camping near alpine lakes brings intimacy to landscapes often rushed through by car tourists. The Dolomites in northern Italy also provide short but intense multi-day loops surrounded by jagged limestone peaks.
Mountain bikepacking blends physical challenge with spiritual immersion, rewarding every rider with unforgettable encounters with nature’s most awe-inspiring terrain.
Coastal and desert escapes
For those who prefer ocean horizons or the stark beauty of deserts, coastal and arid routes create powerful contrasts. These rides combine serenity with survivalist undertones, offering vast landscapes that test both stamina and self-reliance.
Iconic coastal routes
Few experiences rival pedaling along dramatic coastlines. In North America, the Pacific Coast Route from Oregon to California is iconic, offering ocean cliffs, redwood forests, and breezy campsites. Europe’s North Sea Cycle Route spans multiple countries with sea views, historic towns, and dunes. In Asia, Japan’s Shimanami Kaido links islands with bridges across the Seto Inland Sea—perfect for riders blending adventure with culture.
Pacific Coast Route (USA): Rugged cliffs, endless ocean.
North Sea Cycle Route (Europe): Cross-country coastal ride.
Shimanami Kaido (Japan): Island-hopping by bike.
Desert odysseys
Deserts challenge riders with extremes but reward with unmatched solitude and cosmic night skies. The Moroccan Atlas-to-Sahara route blends kasbah villages with endless dunes. In the U.S., the Arizona Trail offers red rock canyons, cactus-filled landscapes, and epic solitude. Australia’s Outback tracks deliver remote, dusty adventure with fiery sunsets and star-filled skies.
Coastal and desert destinations showcase bikepacking’s diversity, from salty breezes to sun-baked wilderness, each inspiring resilience and wonder.
Forests and hidden gems
Not all bikepacking beauty lies in extremes. Forest routes and under-the-radar gems offer tranquility, wildlife encounters, and immersive cultural exchanges. These destinations highlight bikepacking as both adventurous and meditative.
North American forests
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) in the U.S. and Canada remains the crown jewel of forested adventures. Stretching over 4,400 km, it winds through Rockies wilderness, aspen groves, and small-town Americana. In the East, Vermont’s Green Mountains offer shorter but equally rewarding multi-day loops with maple forests and rustic charm.
GDMBR (USA/Canada): Longest off-road route in the world.
Vermont Green Mountains: Intimate forested rides.
British Columbia trails: Rugged and lush Pacific landscapes.
Global hidden gems
For adventurous riders, hidden gems deliver unique stories. Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan mountains combine nomadic culture with wild landscapes. In New Zealand, the Old Ghost Road offers rainforest, alpine ridges, and technical singletrack. Eastern Europe’s Carpathian trails provide wolf-filled forests, medieval towns, and off-grid charm. These lesser-known routes remind us that adventure thrives outside the spotlight.
Forests and hidden gems highlight bikepacking’s softer side—serenity, cultural immersion, and discovery beyond mainstream destinations.
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