Top 15 Motorcycle roads USA/Canada

AMA publication "American Motorcyclist" april 2011 published the 15 best motorcycling roads in America chosen by you.

Of that list

• Bear Tooth road
  
• Blue Ridge Parkway
  
• Deals Gap Hwy 129
  
• Million Dollar Hwy 550
  
• Pacific Coast Hwy CA hwy 1
  
• Going to the Sun Road - Glacier National Park
  
• Cherehola Skyway
  
• Route 36 California
  
• Lolo Pass Idaho
  
• Angels Crest CA hwy 2
  
• Natchez Trace TN
  
• US route 33 Harrisonburg Va to Seneca Rocks W VA
  
• Route 58 California Mckittrick to Santa Margarita "Blue Star Memorial Hwy"
  
• Ohio Route 170 Calcutta to Poland
  
• Washington Route 129 OR 3 to Enterprize OR "rattlesnake grade"

I have done them all except 14, 12, and 13 - I would put the Cherehola at the top and well there are more I like just as well if not better!

Chief Joesph Highway Wyoming
Shell Canyon Wyoming and the connecting routes out of the Big Horn Mountains
Colorado Hwy 92 "black canyon of the gunnison" * my personal favorite of all time
Loveland Pass CO
Squaw Pass to the top of Mount Evans CO "highest paved road in US"
Devils Highway old route 666 out of Alpine to Morence Hwy 191 now, AMA honerable mention
Emory Pass New mexico 152 "the gila monster"
The sisters - Texas Hill country
Push Mountain Arkansas
Mount Judea Arkansas
HWY 16 Arkansas
Talimena Skyway Oklahoma/Arkansas
The Flaming Gorge
Escalante Staircase UTAH
Capital Reef UTAH
hwy 30 OR
Skaggs Springs Road was a blast California Stewarts Point at hwy 1
Idaho Hwy 21 Lowman
Shoot just about any road in North Carolina and Oregon with a twisty line on the map!

To name a few

I would like to get some more and put up a poll to find out what the top 10 VFRD roads are!

US 129 through North GA  (Blood Mtn)

Fast clean road with lots of legal opportunity to pass!!



Rollin

I keep hearing about the Triple Nickle (555) in Ohio?

Anyone ridden it?

In addition to HS list. My criteria are......must have both beauty and corners.

California

• RT 108 & 4, Sierra Passes (Sonora Pass is my tops on these additions)
  
• RT 190, Western Sierra, Springville to Sherman Pass
  
• RT 245, Western Sierra
  
• RT 120, Yosemite & Tioga Pass, CA
  
• RT 49, Nevada City to Sierraville
  
• RT 94, San Diego back country

Idaho

• RT 55 to Cascade Lake from Boise.

Nevada

• RT 431, MT Rose Highway (short but sweet mid week)

Oregon

• RT 138 out of Crater Lake

Utah

• RT 12 & 24 (route #s), UT

Washington

• RT 20, Cascade Highway
  
• RT 2, Stevens Pass

There are so many more!  Bear tooth and Glacier are still on my bucket list………too much snow every time I have tried. Still have to get back east on my VFR :tour:

Old Spiral Hyway down to Lewiston, ID is pretty cool.  Can't remember the names and numbers, but lots of twisty roads in Oregon and Washington.  BC Canada is awesome too up around Ainsworth Hot Springs...

Oklahoma...not so much.  Man, I'm missing the Pacific NW...

I can think of a few worthy of inclusion which haven't been mentioned, primarily in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

I've been so fortunate to have enjoyed many great roads across the country (I include Canada as well).

Here's hoping that I can live and ride long enough to hit all the good ones.

slowbird, on 28 November 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

I keep hearing about the Triple Nickle (555) in Ohio?

Anyone ridden it?
I have run it quite a few times. The road twists and turns and goes up and down, blind turns everywhere. You can come up to hill crest blind and the road suddenly ducks to the left or right. - You need consentration of 11 outta 10 and be ON your game. Pavement surface can change county to county.  Nasty, sphincter puckering road. A sumo bike would be the ultimate for it.

Unfortunately - its getting popular - its headed in the direction of the dragon.........bleah.... :wacko:

mello dude, on 28 November 2011 - 10:11 PM, said:

slowbird, on 28 November 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

I keep hearing about the Triple Nickle (555) in Ohio?

Anyone ridden it?
I have run it quite a few times. The road twists and turns and goes up and down, blind turns everywhere. You can come up to hill crest blind and the road suddenly ducks to the left or right. - You need consentration of 11 outta 10 and be ON your game. Pavement surface can change county to county.  Nasty, sphincter puckering road. A sumo bike would be the ultimate for it.

Unfortunately - its getting popular - its headed in the direction of the dragon.........bleah.... :wacko:

Thanks for the post. Was looking forward to checking this road out in the spring as Ohio is much closer to me than NC/TE

slowbird, on 28 November 2011 - 11:30 PM, said:

mello dude, on 28 November 2011 - 10:11 PM, said:

slowbird, on 28 November 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

I keep hearing about the Triple Nickle (555) in Ohio?

Anyone ridden it?
I have run it quite a few times. The road twists and turns and goes up and down, blind turns everywhere. You can come up to hill crest blind and the road suddenly ducks to the left or right. - You need consentration of 11 outta 10 and be ON your game. Pavement surface can change county to county.  Nasty, sphincter puckering road. A sumo bike would be the ultimate for it.

Unfortunately - its getting popular - its headed in the direction of the dragon.........bleah.... :wacko:

Thanks for the post. Was looking forward to checking this road out in the spring as Ohio is much closer to me than NC/TE
If your planning to hit Ohio, pick up Rider Magazine Nov issue - theres a good piece on SE Ohio backroads. Motorcycle playground.

You guys have lots of nice road for riders.... I am jealous now....
Should you try to add the link to a "trip report" on each name of road, or create a poll to see how people rank what are the most wanted roads for motorcycle?
Thank you.

That's not bad - of the AMA list, I've been lucky enough to have ridden #1 (Bear Tooth), #6 (Going to the Sun),  along with some of the Chief Joseph Hwy from HS' list.  Not bad for only having ridden in the US for 2 weeks last year.  I must've missed #9 (Lolo Pass) by only a few miles as I rode from Salmon to Missoula (through Lolo).

The condition of the roads was awesome and the scenery is breathtaking.  I'll have to head back and cross a few more off the list :)

I think I could ride the Cherohala every day.  It's my idea of the perfect motorcycle road!!

slowbird, on 28 November 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

I keep hearing about the Triple Nickle (555) in Ohio?

Anyone ridden it?

Yup, I did a few times at different events.  Ohio saves a lot of money by not putting caution signs when extreme turns just pop up over a hill or at a blind section and there is usually little or no run off in that the pavement ends in grass.  That is good to prevent gravel but makes it easy to go agricultural with just a slight mishap.  555 is one of those roads and it took about 7 or more bikes at the Honda Sport Touring event in the early 90's.

One of my riding companions crested a hill at the speed limit of 55 only to find there was no road on the other side.  It went abruptly left.  Only his superior braking skills saved butt on that occasion.

BUT ----  it is a great ride with lots of wiggly fun.

A fave in this area is the Loess Hills Scenic Byway from Crescent to Sioux City, IA.

VietHorse, on 29 November 2011 - 12:54 AM, said:

You guys have lots of nice road for riders.... I am jealous now....
Should you try to add the link to a "trip report" on each name of road, or create a poll to see how people rank what are the most wanted roads for motorcycle?
Thank you.

Maybe on the trip report but nobody posts those just for one road? The poll idea I talked about when I get more input.

i have hit almost half the list :)
But not on the list should be Hwy 1 from MooseJaw, Sask to Regina, Sask. :)
(OK maybe not i just like to say REGINA)

Axel_7, on 29 November 2011 - 05:06 PM, said:

But not on the list should be Hwy 1 from MooseJaw, Sask to Regina, Sask. :)
(OK maybe not i just like to say REGINA)

Axel, that had better NOT make the list... unless we are working on a corollary list of worst motorcycling roads.

Without pulling a map, this is what comes to my mind off of the top of my head:

Some of my favourites in terms of scenery and curves:
Pacific Coast Highway
Escalante/Grand Staircase
Canyonlands
Bryce
Capitol Reef
Flaming Gorge
Blood Mountain
Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherahola
(A lot of fantastic roads in Tennessee around the Smoky Mountain area)
Going to the Sun (Glacier National Park)
Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland)
Icefields Parkway (Route 93 Alberta/BC)
Nelson Area (BC)
Cacades (Washington)

I know a lot of people are putting Deal's Gap (129) on here - it's a great road but traffic is too heavy, very touristy.  Many other lesser known roads in the area that are well worth the trip.

There are so many fantastic roads...

One worthy road to mention that can be added onto the North rim of the Black Canyon is highway 141. This makes for a nice loop in conjunction with highway 92. This road contains lots of nice sweepers, nice canyon views, and not much traffic, currently.

I haven't ridden it on a bike....but the "Farm to Market 170" that goes from Presido to Terlingua along the Texas/Mexico border was very windy and had alot of great scenary.

Just watch out for the Javelinas.

I drove it in a rental car and wished I was on my bike.

slowbird, on 29 November 2011 - 08:52 PM, said:

I haven't ridden it on a bike....but the "Farm to Market 170" that goes from Presido to Terlingua along the Texas/Mexico border was very windy and had alot of great scenary.

.......................
Yea that is a fun road on a bike.
[image: Posted Image]

[image: Posted Image]

Fairly close to the border and river toooooo.
[image: Posted Image]

In addition to the Three Sisters (Texas Hill Country) already listed by HS, there are also some great rides up by Fort Davis including RT118. It may be the highest road in Texas too.  But it was already plenty cool in early March when I went!

BonusVFR, on 29 November 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

slowbird, on 29 November 2011 - 08:52 PM, said:

I haven't ridden it on a bike....but the "Farm to Market 170" that goes from Presido to Terlingua along the Texas/Mexico border was very windy and had alot of great scenary.

.......................
Yea that is a fun road on a bike.
[image: Posted Image]



Fairly close to the border and river toooooo.
In addition to the Three Sisters (Texas Hill Country) already listed by HS, there are also some great rides up by Fort Davis including RT118. It may be the highest road in Texas too.  But it was already plenty cool in early March when I went!

Awesome!!

Any problems with wild life and/or Banditos?

I'm not from the States...is riding near the Border generally frowned upon? I didn't see more than 2 cars while travelling that road.

Route 170 is listed in the US as a scenic byway and not to be missed if you are going to Big Bend NP.

Most of the border roads are not that great.  California RT 94, which I already listed, has plenty of corners and is a regular ride for me.  AZ and NM are pretty boring along the border. Wildlife like anywhere else.

No problems with folks from Mexico and south.  I have been chased off by the US Border patrol however when riding  in the dirt right along the fence .

Yes Sir ..."these are not the droids you are looking for".
[image: Posted Image]

BonusVFR, on 29 November 2011 - 10:57 PM, said:

Route 170 is listed in the US as a scenic byway and not to be missed if you are going to Big Bend NP.

Most of the border roads are not that great.  California RT 94, which I already listed, has plenty of corners and is a regular ride for me.  AZ and NM are pretty boring along the border. Wildlife like anywhere else.

No problems with folks from Mexico and south.  I have been chased off by the US Border patrol however when riding  in the dirt right along the fence .

Yes Sir ..."these are not the droids you are looking for".


LOL....amazing.

Yeah, on our trip we took a back road to find some "ruins" that were listed on a map. We ended up nose to nose with a large metal fence...we turned around and was greeted by the Border Patrol who quickly pointed out that Mexico was "Right over there".

johnmark101, on 29 November 2011 - 03:58 AM, said:

I think I could ride the Cherohala every day. It's my idea of the perfect motorcycle road!!
Me too

A few twisty runs from NY / PA to throw out there:

28N Adirondacks NY
30 around Pepacton Resevoir NY
858 to 706 to 187 Pennsylvania
97 near Port Jervis and up the NY/PA border
447 to 191 Pocono PA
Route 327 Ithaca NY (Short but fun)

vfrdriscoll, on 31 December 2011 - 12:44 PM, said:

A few twisty runs from NY / PA to throw out there:

28N Adirondacks NY
30 around Pepacton Resevoir NY
858 to 706 to 187 Pennsylvania
97 near Port Jervis and up the NY/PA border
447 to 191 Pocono PA
Route 327 Ithaca NY (Short but fun)
+1!
:smile:

How about this one?

The problem with lists like those is the fact that the sportriders see the list, but worst is the Cruiser crowd reads
these articles in magazines and they deceide to add these roads to their bucket list.

This wreeks havoc in communities where the roads are already limited and there are no straight four-lanes to get from point A to point B.

When 60yo joe Nonerider gets his first Harley and decides to visit these roads, he completely forgets that there are local laws and driver edicate for different parts of the country.
Examples here are little things like:

NC - State wide speed limit is 55 unless otherwise posted.
This means all the NC roads headed to Deal's Gap are 55mph. Sure you can not do 55mph on a cruiser without experience, but maybe you should pull off and let the UPS, FedEx and three pickup trucks pass you.
Don't get mad that there are cars riding your butt, just speed up to the limit or use the pull offs.

Just because there is water on the side of the road, does not mean the speed limit drops to 25- 30mph.

The double yellow line is there for a reason... Your safety.
There is no excuse for your bike to wobble into the oncoming lane for any reason.

Even though you thought you were fast with your floor boards dragging, you were still impeding the natural flow of traffic.

These are just a few gripes I hear.

The locals actually like sportbike riders here. I often hear locals complain about a sportbike passing them and scaring the crap out of them
usually because the sportbike came up so fast that the local didn't know they were being passed.
But the locals appreciate that the sportbikes will pass and leave and they are not hindering the normal flow of traffic.

What the locals really hate are the cruisers with the loud pipes and the fear of breaking that 35mph sound barrier.
This makes it difficult to get little Jimmy to his baseball game.

I remember when Deal's Gap was a 55mph road.
There were no cops and rarely an accident. If there was a crash the motorcyclist policed there own and got the bike to the side of the road,
got the rider cared for and everyone disappeared like the crash never happened.
It was somewhere around 2000-2002 when the masses of cruisers started to invade WNC and E.TN.
Now Deal's Gap isn't even fun to visit on a weekend. I do enjoy watching the slayers drop their bikes in the store parking lot.

Next year will be better. Tail of the Dragon is opening a store across the street from the Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort.
It will be interesting to watch the crowds pulling out of two opposing driveways with US129 traffic in the mix.

Sorry for the rant... There are things you learn when you live in other people's vacation spot.

johnmark101, on 29 November 2011 - 03:58 AM, said:

I think I could ride the Cherohala every day.  It's my idea of the perfect motorcycle road!!

Yep, by far my favorite so far. My avatar is from just off the Cherohala at Bald River Falls on the TN side.

vfrdriscoll, on 31 December 2011 - 12:44 PM, said:

A few twisty runs from NY / PA to throw out there:
858 to 706 to 187 Pennsylvania
Love this run!

[image: View Post]Africord, on 29 November 2011 - 10:06 AM, said:

A fave in this area is the Loess Hills Scenic Byway from Crescent to Sioux City, IA.

My Favorite loop in this area is to take the Loess hills trail north of Missouri Valley, IA to 183 to Pisga, IA, Then take the Easton Trail (Co Rd F20L) to Woodbine and then taking the Lincoln Highway back to Missouri Valley.

I need to explore Co Hwy L16 running north of Woodbine to Moorhead to see if it is paved all the way. Some roads in that area are prone to ending in dirt more often then not.

[image: Posted Image]vfrdriscoll, on 31 December 2011 - 12:44 PM, said:

A few twisty runs from NY / PA to throw out there:
858 to 706 to 187 Pennsylvania
Love this run!

One of my favorites as well - especially the options going back up North!

I have not ridden outside of western Washington, however, SR 112 on the NW point of the continental US is the best road on the planet. Period. I ride that in the summer to go fishing at Sekiu. some of the happiest days of my life on that road. Not only is it windy with beautiful scenery, a lot of the shoulders on the inside of the corners are paved so there is almost never rocks/debris in the corners. On many occasions i was leaning over so far my foot would be dragging and was even knocked off the peg once! There is some patching where the road had to be repaired but it never seems to affect the ride-ability, at least to me. I have long been curious if outsiders had ridden that road and how it compares to some of the other 'top roads' in America? Anyone have some input? here is a vid i found on youtube. Its in fast motion.

One of the best roads I've ever rode would be- Co:149, 160, Cherehola Skyway, Going to the Sun Road, HWY 101, Moonshine 28, Arkansas- (123, 23, 215, 103, 309(south Mt Magazine), 16, Talimena Skyway Oklahoma/Arkansas), Utah 191. Riding through Yellowstone is pretty fun with all the buffalo on the road.

CA299 from Redding to the Pacific coast.  One of my favorite roads of all time, and rarely crowded.  Also, a short but sweet local road: CA29 from Calistoga to Middletown.  Freshly repaved, it's absolutely EPIC.  Most of my other favorites have been covered already.

HS:  In California, 58 is one of the best roads in central california.  Sorry you missed it.  Beats Pacific Coast Highway simply because it is never congested and there are very few LEOs out.  Very nice condition, really twisty, whoops, little hills.  YOu'll definitely drag pegs and/or a knee if you so choose.   Anyone going up from LA to Laguna Seca should take the 33 to the 58.  Outstanding.

[image: View Post]RED RUNNER, on 03 May 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

HS:  In California, 58 is one of the best roads in central california.  Sorry you missed it.  Beats Pacific Coast Highway simply because it is never congested and there are very few LEOs out.  Very nice condition, really twisty, whoops, little hills.  YOu'll definitely drag pegs and/or a knee if you so choose.   Anyone going up from LA to Laguna Seca should take the 33 to the 58.  Outstanding.

Number 13 on HS List....................and a great road for sure!

Rt. 89 running through the Daniel Boone National Forest in east central Kentucky