Routes For Roadies

Northern Utah
There are a surprising number of road routes that start right in the town of Logan and wind through the farms, villages and mountains of the surrounding countryside. The Little Pyrenees Loop mimics the training route of the Tour de France but without the grueling ascents of the real Pyrenees. The 7.2-mile Davis County Causeway is a popular ride, and the locals see it as a way to save a couple of bucks on the entry fee to Antelope Island State Park. Once on the island, there's some great loops, complete with climbs and descents past sandy beaches, fantastic views of the mainland cities and the Wasatch Front, and some nice stopping points for short hikes. One favorite is Ladyfinger Point and an overview of Egg Island, named for the thousands of shorebirds who nest there each spring. Off limits, but bring binoculars. Continuing along, be sure to stop at the Visitor's Center for a lesson in biology of the Great Salt Lake marine life. Up Ogden Canyon, a fine 25-mile intermediate road ride circles Pineview Reservoir. This route passes through rolling farmland and pastures, and is highlighted by views of Mount Ogden, the Needles of Snowbasin, and Eyrie and Lewis Peaks, reflected in the water and rising majestically above. And yes, Utah does have the other kind of watering hole. The state's oldest, the Shooting Star Saloon, is your reward at the end of the ride.

Central Utah
Where to begin? Central Utah offers road spinners a virtual smorgasbord of choices. A very enjoyable 28-mile stretch of Heritage Highway 89 goes from Fairview to Manti, with a side-trip through Spring City, a small community at the base of the Wasatch Plateau. This slight detour is worth it, since Spring City is on the National Historical Register. Not just a building or two. The entire town! West of Nephi, a dazzling mix of white sands and green junipers highlights the ride into Little Sahara Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Two road rides in central Utah vie for the state's most colorful. One, a mega-ride, is the 66-mile crank up, over and down the Mount Nebo Loop. This route winds through forests, across alpine ridges, and past the backside of 11,877-foot Mount Nebo, highest in the Wasatch Range. The other is the Fishlake Scenic Byway, a 13-miler past Fish Lake to Johnson Valley Reservoir along the top of the world. These two epic rides are great anytime from late spring to fall, but if fall were the choice, only a fool would leave his camera behind. Utah's best autumn foliage, bar none!

Southern Utah

Photo courtesy of Nichols Expeditions

By far, the best way to see the interior of Utah's five National Parks is on the saddle of a road bike. Park regulations state that bicycles are allowed only on roads or designated routes. Consequently, the quality backcountry mountain biking, in abundance near all five, is outside park boundaries. Road and tandem touring is different. In Capitol Reef, an enjoyable ride is to the historic Fruita schoolhouse and orchards. At Arches National Park, one can ride/hike for hours to massive sandstone formations, bridges and arches. In years past, Zion Canyon in Zion National Park was frequently bumper to bumper traffic during peak times. Due to recent changes that severely restrict auto use in the Canyon, this has now dramatically changed. Cyclists can now enjoy the most beautiful landscape in the world, arguably, without concerns of encroaching cars or the noxious stench of exhaust. Wildlife, particularly cougars, who retreated to the backcountry of Zion years ago to escape man's machine, is now frequently sighted in the Canyon. Bryce has also recently instituted a shuttle system, reducing car traffic, increasing cycling/ sightseeing pleasure. The Parks, once a bane to riders, are now cycling-friendly. What a concept! Way to go, NPS!