Bike trips in North America

June is Bike Safety Month in Canada! And it’s the perfect time to travel to some place new and hit the trails and road on two wheels. In recent years, bike-related tourism has increased around the world. Planning a vacation centered on bicycling is a great way to contribute to the local economy of your destination, cut down on carbon emissions, and enjoy the outdoors. Here are ideas for bike trips throughout North America to help you plan the next adventure! 

This high desert region is home to some of the best mountain biking in the world, with more than 150 miles of single-track trails to choose from and continues to expand. If you love technical riding and unique landscapes, Moab is perfect. The well-marked and maintained trails through Moab’s iconic red rock are known to be a notch or two more difficult than what most riders experience. And most area bike shops have detailed paper maps available, which are good to purchase before heading out into the remote area. Here are some of the classic Moab trails for varying skill levels: 

Moab Brand Trails include some of the oldest single-track trails in Moab. Most riders would agree that the trails, which have a cross-country feel, are a good place to warm up before tackling some of the region’s more technical routes. The area is also a good place to bring the family and riders of varying skill levels. Within the system, some of the most beginner friendly routes are EZ & Lazy and North 40 loops. For a faster ride, try Sidewinder.  

Hit the trail system at Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab for a solid mix of intermediate and beginner trails, including loops with distances ranging from a few miles to 12 or 15.  From the trails, you’ll be able to look down on the stunning formations in Canyonlands National Park, where the ending of Thelma and Louise was filmed! 

Home to more than 901 km of bike lanes, Montreal is an urban cycling paradise. The Express Bike Network is a 184 km bike path that serves as a backbone connected to the city’s cycling infrastructure. Other great connecting routes include the Maisonneuve Boulevard and Berri Street bike paths, which link Berri-UQAM metro station to museums and shopping downtown. If you want to get to faraway points in the city or simply require rest, keep in mind that you can board Montreal’s metro system with your bike. For scenic river views, roll along the bike path through LaSalle and Verdun along the St. Lawrence River. If you’d like to see another beautiful waterway, the Lachine Canal multipurpose path, beginning at the Old Port of Montreal, runs for nearly 15 km along a boat canal.  

Known as the Mountain Biking Capital of Canada, Rossland is home to over 200 km of mountain biking trails maintained by full-time paid crews. If you’re looking for easier routes, seek out the old wagon roads, rail grade, and pack trail linked to the town’s mining history. And if you want a more difficult ride, test out the Seven Summits trail, the jewel of Rossland’s mountain biking system, named Trail of the Year by Bike magazine in 2007. This 36 km challenge is filled with, “lung-busting climbs … exciting descents and swooping, maintained singletrack through sub-alpine meadows, dramatic ridges and mountain forests,” according to Tourism Rossland.   

“It takes ample amounts of black top, singletrack, sunshine and friendly people to create a bikers paradise to match Colorado,” writes Colorado Tourism. The state is an ideal place to visit for both road and mountain bikers alike. Colorado’s incredible geographic diversity exposes riders to a variety of terrains and views. The Rocky Mountains provide tight switchbacks, steep ascents, and ledge exposure that will keep you white knuckled and thrilled. Cruise on single-track trails across the desert in the eastern half of the state and through the plains to the west. In the centre of the state, near the Front Range and Central Rockies, mountain bikers have a shocking 8,000 miles of single-track trails to choose from.  

Road biking is also incredible in both urban and rural areas. Fort Collins, Boulder, and Colorado Springs are all known for their robust cycling infrastructure. If you want to get out of the city, check out the 37 km Rim Rock Drive through Colorado National Monument for spectacular views of monoliths and canyons. You are also bound to spot some big horn sheep! See thick forests of Aspens and evergreens, and impressive peaks on Independence Pass, spanning 60km between Aspen and Twin Lakes.  

The city is home to the longest uninterrupted waterfront bike path in the world – the 28 km Seaside Greenway. It’s a beautiful ride past landmarks such as Stanley Park, English Bay, and Granville Island. For an urban feel, bike the Central Valley Greenway, which connects downtown Vancouver with nearby Burnaby and New Westminster, on a route that will lead you through unique neighborhoods and shopping districts. For a nature-filled adventure, take the Ontario Street bike route to the gardens in Queen Elizabeth Park. Vancouver’s bike network spans more than 4,600 km. Cycling is the fastest growing mode of transportation in Vancouver, with a 64 percent increase in the rate of cycling between 2006 and 2016.  

Believe it or not, the chaotic streets of New York City are an urban cyclists paradise. And there are a lot of routes suitable for people who don’t want to brave the city’s notoriously hectic traffic. New York City has more than 2,400 km of bike lanes in its growing network. On an average day, there are over 550,000 cycling trips made, an increase of more than 120 percent since 2019.  A classic trip is to bike across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, where you can explore the waterfront and bike back across the Williamsburg Bridge. If you’d like to take in some nature with your city views, the Ocean Parkway Bike Path takes you from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to Coney Island.  
 

Be sure to protect yourself with travel insurance before embarking on your biking adventure. If you plan to travel outside of your home province, you should know that your Government Health Insurance Plan may not cover all of your health needs. Travel insurance by Allianz Global Assistance may help fill your coverage gaps. Our plans also provide trip cancellation benefits – even for road trips – for certain medical and non-medical reasons, and baggage protection due to loss, theft or delay. 
 

Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.

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