The Best Motorcycle Roads in North America | Part 2: Numbers 1 - 5
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- The Best Motorcycle Roads in North America | Part 1: Numbers 1 - 5
After traveling around the US and Canada for the last 14 years, I have had the opportunity to ride some of the great roads North American has to offer. While I have not yet had the chance to ride all of them, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of my top 10 Best Motorcycle Rides in North America.
So, here we are at the top 5 roads in North America, at least according to me. All are spectacular and could easily be number 1.
VISIT MY WEBSITE AT:
www.livingofftheslab.com
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
www.offtheslabtours.com/self-g...
INSTAGRAM:
craigslab?...
HOW TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL:
Traveling by Motorcycle eBook:
www.livingofftheslab.com/defau...
Self-Guided Tours/GPX Files
www.livingofftheslab.com/defau...
Become a Monthly Pateron Supporter!
/ livingofftheslab
Checkout the NEW Living Off the Slab T-Shirts and other Swag!
teespring.com/stores/living-o...
Purchase from MOTOSPORT.COM
alnk.to/44NFSju
Purchase from TWISTED THROTTLE
alnk.to/31j7Zn3
Purchase from DENALI ELECTRONICS
alnk.to/dAezsIO
Purchase from DRY SPEC BAGS
alnk.to/aWvdPhh
AMAZON.COM Influencer Page, with links to gear
www.amazon.com/shop/livingoff...
DISCLAIMER:
The links in this email contain affiliate links. Purchases using these links, generates a small commission for this channel and helps to keep the videos coming. No additional fees are generated for you when using these links.
Thank You for helping to support our channel. Ride Safe!
Highway 20 in Northern washington is another must ride
Thanks for the suggestion!
My riding buddy and I share videos like this to keep us sane until COVID allows us across the border. Beartooth is one that literally makes me giggle when I ride it. First I go up, then down, turn around, up and down again. It just doesn’t get old. Kudos to the planners who give us these gems and thanks for sharing them.
Hopefully we will crossing borders again soon. Thanks so much!
Watching this from here in the UK is something else. What can I say, it just blows my mind, on the edge of emotional. Thank you for sharing this with us all.
Thank you! Hopefully you can get over hear and ride a few of these amazing roads. I know I want to come your way at some point.
Hey Mark, I’m living in Canada after leaving the UK in 81. I’ve ridden some of the roads in the video and they are truly spectacular but...some of the riding in the UK is amazing. Maybe you should do the UK version?
I’m from Alberta and I like going to the sun better, but all are great rides. I took a girlfriend over going to the sun.... It actually brought her to tears it’s so amazing
Both amazing roads.
As a resident of Alberta and fellow motorcycle enthusiast, I can confirm Icefields is a great ride! So many amazing rides in Canada and the USA, thanks for sharing your list! Can't wait to ride them all!
Couldn't agree more!
Living here in Alberta I have ridden the Ice Fields Parkway many times and it never gets old. Another one that is great just to the southwest of Lake Louise is Highway 40 from Canmore south through Kananaskis Park to Longview, Alberta. It is listed as the highest paved pass in Canada. If I recall it is about 7,900 feet or something. None of our passes hit the elevations seen on US highways. We wanted to hit Beartooth Pass last summer but we had to detour around it on our trip as they closed it due to a snowstorm at the time.
Yes, we got to ride 40 on the way up to Lake Louise. It was beautiful as well.
My favorite ride is the Blueridge Parkway from Maggie Valley to the Mount Pisgah Inn--great food, 6,000 feet in elavation for great scenery, low heat and humidity.
The Blue Ridge is a great ride!
Check out the tuggles gap motel on the parkway east of Floyd VA !!! Great little place 😎😎😎😎😄😄😄😄🍺🍺🍺
Awesome list. Many of these are fairly close to me, so you’ve given me homework! Thanks for all you do!
Thank you, much appreciated!
Very cool. Thank you.
Great list Craig! I have ridden many of your choices. I look forward to riding the rest. I hope you are healing quickly from your surgery.
Thank you! Starting the healing process.
Thank you Craig, for compiling this inspiring and informative collection of magnificent North American Highways. You've given me an enticing bucket list of roads to ride for my ever-expanding "Future Moto Rides" file.
Thank you!
Excellent photography coupled with quality narrative. One of your best ever. Well done Craig. 🇦🇺🦘🏍️👍
Thank you so much!
Haven't been on any of these roads...YET! Great videos. Can't wait to experience them for myself. The NC end of the Blue Ridge Parkway is definitely in my top 10; though, I don't know where in the top 10. Great sweepers and incredible views, especially during this time of year. I also will never forget stumbling upon Kern Canyon outside of Bakersfield, CA. Tight twisties, and though I never imagined it, the view from the bottom of a canyon is pretty awesome. Craig, you should make this an "evolving" list as you continue your adventures!
There are alot of great roads down the area of the Appalachians. The Blue Ridge is a great rood that could be on the list. This will definitely be an on going quest. Thanks!
Beautiful. Well done, Craig!
Thank you!
So useful to those of us who tour. Beautiful footage and the commentary is spot on. Thank you for your work on this!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Cool list! I'd add the road from Aspen up to Independence Pass and on to Leadville, one of my favorites, especially if you hit that perfect Sept week when the aspen are changing colors. Several others in Colorado as well. I've ridden the Tail of the Dragon and the scenery doesn't compare to Colorado, the road is fun but usually crowded. I've been on a few of your picks but coming from the Midwest I don't seam to get past Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and MT so I may never get to California to try some of those.
Thanks for the vid.
Thanks, there are many more roads to ride.
Great video! Thanks for the ideas!
My pleasure!
Amazing videos, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video and great commentary!
Thank you very much!
This is some of your best work, thanks for bringing us along. I've ridden most of the roads on your list (2 trips to Utah from
SoCal in 4 weeks) and I agree with your #1. For me nothing beats the Canadian Rockies. I had the privilege of riding North through BC then crossing over past Mt. Robsen to Jasper then South on the Ice Fields Pkwy. then into Montana and Going to the Sun Hwy. followed by Bear Tooth and Chief Joseph hwys. and Million Dollar Hwy. All on the same trip. Spectacular.
Thank you! I need to ride Chief Joseph next time I am out that way.
Beautiful. I hope to come back from illness enough to check a few of these roads off my list.
I hope you can too! It is great motivation to get and stay healthy.
Craig, great list. I've done all of them except the Million Dollar Highway which isn't bad for a guy who only started riding nine years ago at age 59. I might bump the Lewis and Clark (US Highway 12) to number one, but only because when I did the Icefield Parkway was.. as a pilot would describe it "one quarter mile and 200 overcast with moderate to heavy rain." Hope the shoulder and ankle are well on the mend.
I can understand that if cannot see the mountains, the parkway would not be so amazing...LOL. You will have to do it again.
I’ve ridden 8 of your top 10. Very awesome list. Trying to do the top 2 soon.
There are a lot more to ride!
Million Dollar Highway is actually US 550. Check out the Million Dollar Highway Saloon in Durango. A great motorcycle bar with awesome food!
Thanks!
I wish you could have picked some more variety. Like the twisted sisters in Texas. Or the Talihena trail in Oklahoma, or the scenic 7 in Arkansas.
I have not had the chance to ride those yet, but I will put them on my list. Thanks!
Breath taking.
For sure, thanks!
Your tubes are motivating me to get a touring bike! Thank you!...👍
Awesome!
Thanks for your top ten list. Hope you are on the mend.
Thank you. Surgery yesterday, so now just have to heal and get strong again!
So glad my number 1 isnt on the list. One of the best reasons besides the 100 plus miles of tight twisties and panoramic views is the fact that there is almost no traffic. Its in Az and I’m not telling.
It is nice to have a secret getaway.
Yes, #2, G.T.T.S.R.! The day I went through there, it was cloudy, rainy and the zero visibility fog at top scared the heck out of me. But even with the limited visabilities, it was spectacular!
It is amazing! Thanks!
Been lucky enough to have ridden all of your top 5
Excellent. There are a lot of great roads out there still to be ridden.
The Banff Jasper Parkway is a beautiful ride. Off that road one can get to Rocky Mountain House in Alberta and that road is really nice as well. Lots of cops though and it is a very tempting road to fly on.
I would love to do more riding in Alberta and BC.
Rode route 12 last summer. Spectacular!!!
It is indeed!
Great list, hope to do some of those western ones some day when I have more time.
I think I'm just going to have to fly out and rent a bike.
Well worth doing!
Come on up to Canada’s east coast and ride the Cabot Trail, then on to Newfoundland to ride the Viking Trail, you will love both those rides and a lot in between in the Maritimes. Hope you make it someday.
I have ridden the Cabot Trail, it is a great ride. I would love to go back and do more of the Maritimes. Thanks!
Hi Craig! I love these two videos, they're a nice epilogue to your 60 at 60 videos. I'm curious, what you would pick for the best motorcycle Roads here in New England?
I was think about that too. Not sure I have film of all of them...road trip time, come spring.
If you’ve not ridden Trail Ridge Road in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park then you have one more spectacular road to add to the list! Great videos. Thanks.
I'll check it out! Thanks!
25 years ago my ex and I honeymooned in Yellowstone, when it was time to come home we decided to leave via the NE gate since we really hadn’t been to that section of the park, this took us over the Bear Tooth Mountain Pass. I didn’t know that I was about to see the best part of the whole journey. Since then I have dreamed of going back. The roads you have listed are absolutely gorgeous.
There are some amazing places out there. Thank you!
Yeah, the ride through the Canadian Rockies rides is the most spectacular. From Banff to Jasper we did stop at least 40 times. I even have a picture of me at Lake Hector! 😄 Excellent list, I’ve ridden about 6 of them. It’s impossible to come up with such a list as there are 100’s of fantastic roads in all of North America. Good job!
There are for sure a lifetime of beautiful roads. I will keep speaking them out as long as I can.
Cool! Ridden 4 of the top 5... and I do overall agree with your choices 👍👍😎
Fantastic! There are many more roads to ride!
@@LivingOffTheSlab Finally getting a chance to sample Eastern AZ and NM as I live in the Phoenix area now. Travel by motorcycle IS the best!
You should check out Mt Lemmon scenic highway in Tucson. Unforgettable section of twisties
I have been up mount lemon, but no on motorcycle. I will have to put it on my list. Thanks!
Excellent list Craig. Would love to cross more of these roads off my list but stupid Covid has slowed me down. Hopefully all will be well next year and then we can all get moving again.
Thanks! Covid has put a lot of plans on hold. Hopefully we can get back to normal next year.
Route 550 is my favorite!! Done it many times !!
Thanks!
I've been up and down Hwy. 12 in Idaho many times..in cars..VW Van..and motorcycles ('83 BMW R80RT and 2012 Kawasaki Versys)...I've even been down the Lochsa River in a kayak...truly a great ride...if anyone is in the area of Lewiston Idaho you must ride the "Old Spiral Hwy." between Hwy. 128 and Hwy. 95...also one of the top ten rides..in many a list..is leaving going south from Lewiston on Hwy. 129 to Rattlesnake/Boggans grades on Hwy. 3...ice cream cones or shakes at Boggans Oasis at the bottom of the two grades...on to Enterprize Oregon and then Over Toll Gate pass...
Thanks for the suggestions!
@@LivingOffTheSlab I'm part of a group that does "the Return to Kamiah Ride" every year out of Kennewick Washington. usually the first weekend of May. we can't always make it up Lolo Pass because of weather, but when we can we usually have lunch at the Lochsa Lodge. Elk City out Hwy. 14/ and 13 is another popular lunch spot. Apr. 30th-May 2nd this year and I can't wait...72 and riding a1983 BMW R 80RT.
@@mikeadams2351 Sounds fantastic. May you continue to ride safely!
I’ve been to Glacier twice and have yet to be able to ride the full length of GTTS road. The first time we were there, it was closed due to forest fires. The second time it was still closed in the center by snow. We road about 1/3 on each end, but the middle third was buried under snow in late June. They did not expect to have it open until July and we could not hang around that long.
We were lucky, the road opened up just the week prior and it was beautiful clear day.
We really liked the Icefields Parkway also and felt it was about the closest road in North America to what we rode in the Alps. The Alps really are the pinnacle of motorcycling roads. Nothing else compares to things like Stelvio pass.
I had the same feeling, like riding through the Alps. Need to get over to Europe at some point.
Great video. I've had the good fortune of riding all of these roads and I agree they are amazing. You did a great job of capturing
their essence. Thank you!
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words.
Love Bear Tooth Pass did that in 2019 on our 2019 Mild Hogs tour also did Going to the Sun Road. I have a slide show on my channel Doug Cultra
Great roads. I will check out your channel. Thanks!
I did your # 1 road last year from So. Cal last year and I still think about it on a regular basis. Something that’s hard to describe or even believe you were actually there.
As I was making these videos I was taken back to those moments and remembering what it felt like. Amazing!!!
Craig, great videos. I rode #3 with three close friends on our Lewis and Clarke Trip a few years ago. I rode #4 many years ago on my first ride through the US. I cycled #2 decades ago when I lived in Calgary and cycled a bit of #1 at the same time. #2 is stunning. But I was young then.
I recall the start of #3 after leaving Lewiston has a sign laying “Caution, curves for the next 99 miles”.
I have also ridden sections of 6: 7 & 8 several years ago. I agree with your choices, and would add one more local ride in BC for consideration. Duffey Lake, from Pemberton to Lilooet, about 95 km.. it is technically challenging, with great, but not spectacular scenery, and can be busy on weekends.
Thanks! Appreciate the suggestion. There are so many great roads out there.
@@LivingOffTheSlab And note enough time!
Many of your favorite roads have great scenery, but way too much traffic to be on my favorite sport-bike rides list. Having ridden to Alaska and back, I was impressed with most of British Columbia’s scenery. My all-time favorite grin-inducing road for motorcycles that lean, is Highway 191 in southeastern Arizona, from Alpine to the Morenci Mine. Almost 100 miles of twisties and fast sweepers, great scenery, no leo, and almost no 4-wheel traffic.
You are correct, I choose most of these roads because of the scenery as well as the riding experience. however many are equally grin inducing. Thanks for the tips, I will have to check them out.
Great list Craig, I have done all on both list but your #1 pick I will need to add that to my list once they open the borders again, thanks for that info.. We all can make our own list that is what is great about being a motorcyclist in this great country. I don't think the million dollar Highway is that dangerous, You need to try the highest paved road in North America Mount Evans Scenic byway just outside Idaho Springs CO. because once you get to the top you must ride back down so you get the pleasure of riding down with no guard rails or shoulders in a lot of sections It is 28 miles one way I have ridden it 3 times on a motorcycle and I have also climbed it with my uncle who lives in Colorado and has climbed all 54, 14ers and just passed away at age 84 he hiked until a month before he passed . Also add to your list to do's I Have done the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to the Artic circle 200 miles one way 125 miles being unpaved. did round trip in a day. Many more around the USA that are great roads keep up the great video's I will keep riding until I find them all. Also I wonder who the dip sh!t is who gave you a thumbs down, I bet he has never has ridden a motorcycle out of his subdivision
Thank you for the suggestions. I agree the Million Dollar Highway is not all that dangerous. Like any other road you just need to pay attention. The Dalton could definitely be on this list as well as the Top of the World Highway. So many great roads to ride!
Canada Eh! nice to see the top spot was a Canadian iconic road. Craig when the borders open back up again and you come back up to British Columbia, I have a trip bike trip I want to take you and your good wife on. Early September would be the best time as the weather is great, traffic is less and the early fall colours will just start peaking through in some of the areas.
Start right at the Peace Arch border crossing on up to Whistler, Duffy Lake, Cache Creek, up to Prince George, on to Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert , then the boat down and over to Vancouver Island and down the island with a detour out to Tofino and then down to Victoria where you can catch the boat from there back to Seattle. All in all about a 8 to 10 day trip allowing for stops to enjoy the scenery, history, wildlife and find the house (which is lived in too by the way) built to look like the shoe in the nursery rhyme we learned as kids outside of Smithers BC. Watch the fishing in the mighty Fraser river in Hazleton and have fresh Halibut in Prince Rupert.
That sounds like a great trip. I definitely want to get back up there again.
Hi Craig, i wonder, it looks like you are not riding your K1600GTL, may I know why please? Thanks.
I am not riding anything right now, waiting for my shoulder to heal and the Spring to come. I have three bikes that I use for different purposes. The GTL is primarily my two up bike, which after my injury I did not get to use very much. Hopefully next year we can put some more miles on it.
Definitely in your Top 3 videos Craig.
We have been fortunate to drive the Ice Field parkway back in 2013 and the scenery as you now know is spectacular. I would love to ride some of the others you mentioned but that may entail divorce proceedings 😉
Thanks glad you enjoyed it! I am lucky, Cathy says it is ok for me to go traveling as long as I take the BMW so she can fly out a few times and join me.
Living Off The Slab living on the other side of the Pond puts a different perspective to an American adventure. But as 007 says NEVER say NEVER
Ahh...I understand. I would love to get over your way one of these years.
Highway 40 in Alberta- From Calgary to Longview to Kananaskis to Calgary.
That is a beautiful road. We took that after crossing the border in Carway, on our way to Lake Louise.
@@LivingOffTheSlab You should go ride the Icefields around Mid June when the mountains are still covered in snow. Much more dramatic than summer time.
I will have to do that next time. Thanks!
Craig, are there roads that are still on your list that you haven't done?
All of the roads on this list I have ridden, bit there are always more to discover. There are also others that were amazing but they did not make this list. The Cabot Trail, VT 100, Blue Ride Parkway to name a few.
#5 MD Hwy is great
Thanks!
Yes indeed!