If you haven’t planned your bucket list ride yet, time to start is now!
The world is rapidly changing. You can now ride from Lisbon to Vladivostok on a scooter, the Paris-Dakar-Kairo route will soon be paved, and the enchanting careterra Austral in Chile will become a tarmac highway in a few years. So if you’re looking for an adventure, it’s time to go.
We’ve compiled a list of the best motorcycle rides in the Americas:
Burr Trail, USA
Burr Trail in Utah is a paved and graded road, stretching from Boulder to Bullfrog Marina and passing through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. An old cattle path, Burr Trail is one of the most scenic – and the least crowded – roads to ride in the West.
Shaffer Trail-Potash Road, USA
Shaffer Trail near Moab, Utah, connecting to the Potash Road, is a dirt track leading into a canyon bed and zigzagging out back towards Moab. Darting around red rocks an cliffs, arid Mars-like landscapes and Colorado River vistas, the Shaffer Trail-Potash Road ride is one of the most breathtaking adventures you can have on two wheels.
Copper Canyon, Mexico
Once a dirt road, the Copper Canyon trail to Batopilas is now paved all the way – but the tarmac doesn’t take away from the ride. Twisting and turning down into the canyon, the Copper Canyon Road leads through a stunning mountain landscape along the Batopilas river.
Carretera Austral, Chile
Careterra Austral, a graded dirt road cutting across Southern Chilean Patagonia, is considered one of the most beautiful roads in South America. Pristine nature, turquoise blue glacier lakes and untouched woodland makes Carretera Austral a fantastic ride through a vast wild country.
Death Road, Bolivia
Cut into the rock of a mountain, a terrifyingly narrow Camino de la Muerte stretching from La Paz to Coroico in Bolivia is a spectacular ride in the clouds. Clutching at the mountainside at 11,900 feet above sea level, the Death Road gradually descends into lush green jungle below: undoubtedly a bucket list ride for those who love a challenge!
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!