A lot of the beauty of the United States and the most scenic views you can find come from our mountainous regions. Summer is the only time the weather is good enough to explore them on a bike.
Where Are the Best Summer Cycling Routes? Top Scenic Rides
Written by: Nick Cowie | July 13, 2026 | Time to read: 5 min
Until you really explore it, it’s easy to overlook how massive and beautiful the United States is. It is packed with diverse landscapes and endless routes to ride. Here are just a few of the countless routes to try in the summer.
More about the Author: Nick Cowie
Nick is a writer with seven years of experience in the cycling industry. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, Jiu Jitsu, and spending time outdoors.
There are few better places for riding a bike than summertime in the United States. The country is filled with amazing views, excellent roads, and adventure-worthy trails. There are so many places to ride in such a huge and diverse country that it is impossible to whittle it down to just six routes. I picked three road bike routes and three off-road rides that are at their best in the summer. See if your favorite route is on the list or if there is one that you are eager to try.
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Table of Contents
Top scenic summer road cycling routes
Going-to-the-sun Road
Glacier National Park is amazing, but it’s not the type of place that is friendly for cyclists most of the year. The summer is the only time you can take this ride without having to worry about snow. This route is just 50 miles long, but offers some of the coolest views in the world. On your ride, you will pass alpine tundras, flowing waterfalls, and glacial valleys. The largest glacial field is at the highest point of the route, called Logan Pass. This part of the ride reaches 6,646 feet of elevation and is great for viewing fields of wildflowers.
Other key features on the bike ride include The Weeping Wall and The Loop. The former is a rock wall that glacial runoff cascades down, meaning you should expect to be cooled off by some mist as you pass through. The latter is a 360-degree switchback that provides an amazing view of Heaven’s Peak. There are very few chances to ride such a unique route, and summer is the perfect time for Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Location: Glacier National Park, Montana
- Route Length: 50 miles
- Terrain Type: fully paved road
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Running alongside the Appalachian Trail through Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a route that can take days or even weeks to fully explore. This route always delivers incredible views, but it is exceptional in the summer. The main summer-only attraction is the bloom of the Craggy Gardens, a spectacular floral display highlighted by rhododendrons, providing a view of pink and purple. The dense forest in the area and high elevation keep you cool in the summer as you ride.
Another landmark on this massive route is the Linn Cove Viaduct. It is a stretch of road against Grandfather Mountain, right above the trees, allowing you to feel like you’re flying over the forest as you ride. If you feel like taking a detour off the road and through the balsam forests, you can check out Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a massive route that is worth every mile.
- Location: Virginia and North Carolina
- Route Length: 469 miles
- Terrain Type: smooth roads
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Peak to Peak Highway
Peak to Peak Highway is the most challenging route on this list with over 5,000 feet of climbing packed into a 55-mile route. In true Colorado fashion, climbs can hit grades of 11 percent and reach over 10,000 feet of elevation. On your bike ride out of Boulder or Estes Park, your challenge will be accompanied by amazing views of Rocky Mountain peaks and huge lakes. The route includes generous bike lanes and coffee shops for stops.
On the ride, you will come across Black Hawk and Central City, two historic gold mining towns that are excellent for pit stops. Lily Lake and Brainard Lake both offer postcard-like views, making a tough ride feel much easier. Colorado and the Rocky Mountains are known for some of the best scenery in the United States, and the summer is the best time to see it from a bike.
- Location: Front Range, Colorado
- Route Length: 55 miles
- Terrain Type: paved road, mountainous terrain
Best off-road summer routes in the United States
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
This is a United States-based list, but this route is so long that it’s up to you if you want to follow it out of the country or not. Notorious among bikepackers, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route spans 2,748 miles from Canada to Mexico, making it the longest route of its kind in the world. On your journey, you will encounter remote dirt roads, unpaved areas of complete solitude, and historical landmarks. It is simply one of the coolest and most challenging bikepacking trips a cyclist could possibly conceive of.
Whether you do a small portion of the bike ride or the whole thing, you are bound to come across some of the most awe-inspiring history and scenery the US has to offer. The route runs through Bannack State Park, which is a ghost town that has been preserved since the 1860s, representing the first major gold discovery in the country. When you get further south into Wyoming, you will pass through The Basin, a massive desert with wild horses and no trees. Of course, on such a huge route, these are just a few of countless landmarks to explore.
- Location: Canada, United States, Mexico
- Route Length: 2,748 miles
- Terrain Type: dirt roads and gravel
The Maah Daah Hey Trail
With over 100 miles of singletrack and doubletrack, the Maah Daah Hey Trail is a dream for cross-country mountain bike riders and aggressive gravel riders. This North Dakota route passes through river valleys, rolling prairies, and clay formations. Note that it is very remote and cell service is unlikely, so it is important to plan ahead. The summer is perfect for the Maah Daah Hey Trail because the clay will be dry enough to ride properly.
Devil’s Pass holds the title for the most iconic and scariest part of the ride. It is a narrow ridge that drops off about 150 feet on each side. Many riders choose to walk through this section. One of the coolest views on the route is the China Wall, which showcases millions of years of geological history. This naturally forming clay and sandstone wall gives the bike ride a historical and real Wild West feel.
- Location: Badlands, North Dakota
- Route Length: 144 miles
- Terrain Type: dirt and clay single and doubletrack
Vermont Green Mountain Gravel Growler
If you like cool views and beer stops, this is the cycling route for you. The Vermont Green Mountain Gravel Growler is a huge bikepacking loop that shows off the beauty of New England, especially in the summer. From town roads covered by tree canopies to rocky cycling trails and streams, it has everything you’d expect from a Vermont postcard. There are even several swimming holes along the way for a refreshing break.
The 250-mile route typically takes riders four to five days. It also includes over a dozen of Vermont’s world-famous breweries, including The Alchemist and Hill Farmstead, encouraging frequent pit stops. This cycling route isn’t all cruising and beer, however. It features about 24,000 feet of climbing, making it one of the more grueling gravel cycling routes in the country. If you do the full loop, it will start and end around Lake Champlain.
- Location: Vermont
- Route Length: 250 miles
- Terrain Type: unpaved dirt roads, some singletrack
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is summer great for scenic riding?
How do I know what to bring on a bike ride?
Preestablished cycling routes like these have been ridden and experienced by a lot of cyclists. See what others suggest you bring along and what bike setup you should have to be properly prepared.
Where should I find a bike to ride?
Upway buys and refurbishes used bikes, meaning we can sell them at a lower price than retail. Plan your next adventure around a bike from Upway.
Key Takeaways
- This doesn’t even scratch the surface: It would take me days to write about every cool cycling route in the US. Consider what type of terrain you like to ride and find what’s around your area.
- Research landmarks: These bike rides are best enjoyed with stops. Each one has more cool features than I could mention here. Before you ride, mark on your map where you want to stop.
- Be prepared: Make sure you pack everything you need for on-the-go maintenance, overnight stays, and emergencies. Research the terrain and set your bike up accordingly.
