Cycling the Pacific Coast: The Complete Guide from Canada to Mexico

by Bill Thorness

Overview

• Covers the entire 2,000-mile route from Canada to Mexico, including alternate and side-route options
• Information on lodging, camping, loading the bike, safe cycling, road conditions, weather, and more

The Pacific Coast route is the most popular bike touring route in the U.S., according to Mountaineers Books’ non-profit partner, the Adventure Cycling Association. And for 33 years, our very own Bicycling the Pacific Coast was the most popular guidebook to this venerable route—until now! Cycling the Pacific Coast continues the trusted legacy with an all-new, completely re-ridden, and fully comprehensive guidebook from Bill Thorness, featuring the most current, up-to-date beta on this amazing route.

Cycling the Pacific Coast is organized in five sections—Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California—and is useful to riders who plan to do the trip as one epic ride, or break it up to peddle sections at a time. Features include:

• Suggested itineraries for the entire ride, or for one- and two-week trips
• Logistics for getting to/from ride sections
• Airport and train-station connections in all major cities (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego)
• Alternate routes to take on Vancouver Island (Canada), Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, and Northern California’s “Lost Coast”
• Interesting and fun side trip destinations in 5 cities, on 2 islands, and in 2 wine country regions

New bike tourers will find equipment information, packing advice, and safety tips, among other helpful trip suggestions. And all riders will find the guidance to experience the trip of a lifetime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594859861
Publisher:	Mountaineers Books, The
Publication date:	09/27/2017
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	668,484
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Bill Thorness is a Seattle-based writer who has been working in the field since 1985. His book credits include two travel guidebooks on bicycling, both from Mountaineers Books; two books on edible gardening, another area of personal interest and professional effort, both from Skipstone Press; and a co-authored history of a business leader. Bill’s work as a journalist has spanned regional general interest, nonprofit, business and online media. He is currently a freelance travel writer for The Seattle Times. Along with writing and editing skills, Bill is an accomplished public speaker and instructor, from in person to virtual and video courses. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Author’s Guild, the Northwest Editors Guild and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. See his work at www.billthorness.com. 

Table of Contents

Overview Map 8

Route at a Glance 9

Introduction 13

How to Use This Book 33

British Columbia, Canada 37

City Tour: Vancouver, BC 39

Vancouver to US Border 45

Alternate Route: Lower Vancouver Island 49

Delta to Swartz Bay via Tsawwassen Ferry 49

SwartzBayto Victoria 51

Washington 57

US Border to Bay View 59

Bay View to Port Townsend 64

Side Trip: San Juan Islands 68

San Juan Island 69

Lopez Island 71

Anacortes Connector 74

Port Townsend to Belfair 75

City Tour: Seattle 79

Belfair to Elma 86

Elma to Bruceport 90

Alternate Route: Olympic Peninsula 95

Port Townsend to Sequim 96

Sequim to Fairholme 99

Fairholme to Kalaloch 104

Kalaioch to Lake Quinault 108

Lake Quinault to Westport 111

Westport to Bruceport 114

Bruceport to Astoria 118

Oregon 125

City Tour: Portland 127

Alternate Route: Portland to Astoria 133

Portland to Stub Stewart 133

Stub Stewart to Astoria 136

Alternate Route: Portland to Lincoln City 137

Portland to Champoeg 137

Champoeg to Lincoln City 140

Astoria to Manzanita 142

Manzanita to Cape Lookout 147

Cape Lookout to Otter Rock 150

Otter Rock to Washburne 155

Washburne to Winchester Bay 160

Winchester Bay to Billiards Beach 166

Bullards Beach to Humbug Mountain 170

Humbug Mountain to Brookings 176

Northern California 181

Brookings to Elk Prairie 183

Elk Prairie to Areata 188

Areata to Burlington 192

Alternate Route: The Lost Coast 197

Burlington to Leggett 200

Leggett to Fort Bragg 204

Fort Bragg to Gualala 208

Gualala to Bodega Bay 213

Side Trip: Russian River Wine Country 217

Bodega Bay to Lagunitas 221

Lagunitas to San Francisco 224

City Tour: San Francisco 230

Central California 237

San Francisco to Half Moon Bay 239

Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz 244

Santa Cruz to Monterey 248

Monterey to Big Sur 252

Big Sur to Pacific Valley 257

Pacific Valley to San Simeon 260

San Simeon to Pismo Beach 263

Pismo Beach to Gaviota 266

Side Trip: Santa Ynez Wine Country 270

Gaviota to Carpinteria 275

Southern California 281

Carpinteria to Point Mugu 283

Point Mugu to Santa Monica 287

City Tour: Los Angeles 292

Santa Monica to Newport Beach 297

Newport Beach to Encinitas 303

Encinitas to Mexico 307

City Tour: San Diego 313

Appendix: Packing List, Bike Maintenance, and Repair 319

Resources 323

Acknowledgments 327

Index 329

Editorial Reviews

Cycling the Pacific Coast is great as a standalone guide or as a companion to your map set. It has detailed route information, tips for loaded touring, and tons of information on what to see when you get where you're going.

Adventure Cyclist - Dan Meyer

"Previously the author of Mountaineers Books’ “Biking Puget Sound,” Thorness’ mind for detail and eye for what’s best about the West makes him an adviser you can trust as you venture two-wheeled out on the sometimes perilous but frequently rewarding tour of coastal byways."

Seattle Times - Cantwell J. Brian

"...nothing less than the definitive guidebook for those traveling the 2,000 miles from Vancouver, BC, to the Mexican border."

Biking Bis - Gene Bisbee