Update: March 31, 2010 —Sales of the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route are expected to start online in April. Meanwhile, the Adventure Cycling Association has scheduled three receptions in Seattle, Portland and Eugene to celebrate the accomplishment. More details…
The Adventure Cycling Association is planning to make available a series of maps for its newly charted 2,500-mile paved-route along the Pacific Crest by the winter of 2009-2010.
Named the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route, it runs between Sumas, Washington, on the Canadian border and Tecate, Mexico, through some of the most beautiful scenery in the western US.
The Adventure Cycling staff researched the route last summer. A GIS (geographic information system) specialist will begin mapping the route soon, making it the nonprofit's first to be mapped with GIS technology.
In addition to the on-road route, the final map package will include food, camping, lodging and other services along the way.
In spite of passing through the difficult terrain in the Sierras and Cascade ranges, I'd expect this to become one of Adventure Cycling's most popular routes.
The bicycle route will visit Northern Cascades National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia National Park. It passes Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood and other scenic, volcanic peaks. The high point will be California's Tioga Pass, at 9,943 feet.
It's based on the Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail which parallels the Pacific Crest Trail for hikers.
From the north, the bike route heads south along the Cascades in Washington and Oregon and into the Sierras in California and Nevada. It enters Tehachapi and San Bernardino Mountains in southern California and ends at the Mexican border.
Tecate is about 40 miles east of San Diego on Highway 94; Sumas is about 25 miles from Bellingham, Washington. Both San Diego and Bellingham are connected by Amtrak passenger service. They're also connected by the Pacific Coast Route, which runs 1,855 miles along the coast.
The route was prepared partly with a $20,000 grant from REI.
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