The park service is making it easier for people to enjoy their national parks on two wheels and away from the cars and RVs.
Bike rentals in the National Parks are becoming more commonplace, and many parks have closed off roads or built trails for bike- or pedestrian-use only.
Here are three parks where I've arrived by bicycle for touring in the past. It's good to see that they're accessible to more people who want to enjoy them by bicycle.
Grand Canyon
For the first time, a bike rental operation will operate at the Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim.
The park service issued Bright Angel Bicycle Rentals a one-year permit to operate out of the Visitor's Center near Mather Point beginning May 1.
Bicyclists can ride any road at the park, although the parade of RVs using the narrow roads in the park can make those bike rides less than pleasureable.
The Greenway out to Hermit Rest, however, is closed to all vehicular traffic except for shuttle buses and bicycles. Here's where a person on a bicycle can experience the splendors of the canyon without hassling with cars and campers.
Remember, bicycling is prohibited inside the canyon or on its trails. More about Grand Canyon bicycling.
Bright Angel rents Haro Heartland comfort bicycles, as well as kid trailers and adult trikes. The rental service is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The outfit also offers guided tours and shuttle service for bicyclists. (Read more about Kyle George and Wes Neal, the two guys behind the bike rental operation.)
Great Smoky Mountains
One of the most popular areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove, a lush valley surrounded by mountains that once housed an agicultural community. Many rustic buildings from those bygone days still stand.
Perhaps the best way to experience this piece of American cultural history is out in the open air on a bicycle. You'll be likely to see deer, turkeys and other wildlife in the fields too.
The 11-mile loop road around Cades Cove is open only to bicycles until 10 a.m. on Saturday and Wednesday mornings. Otherwise, the route can be among the busiest in the park.
Bike rentals are available at the Cades Cove Campground Store.
More bicycling information for Great Smoky Mountains.
Yosemite National Park
More than 12 miles of bicycle paths in Yosemite National Park are open to visitors, who can enjoy views of Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome from the trails.
Although crowded at time, all roads in the park are open to bicyclists.
Bike rentals are open at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village. More information about bicycling at Yosemite.
More parks
To find out bicycling information for a National Park you plan to visit sometime soon, just visit the main website, search for a park by name or state, then type bicycle or bicycling into the search field for that park.
Also read about early road openings for bicycles-only at Yellowstone and Glacier national parks.
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