The U.S. has 62 national parks, and these areas are often the most beautiful and interesting natural areas the country has to offer. These parks include such famous names as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Denali and Zion and less well-known areas such as Isle Royale, Canyonlands and Arches. Not all of the parks include great places to bike, but many of them do.
A number of the parks have wonderful trails, some with paved surfaces and others with dirt or gravel surfaces. This variety of trails make hybrid bicycles an excellent choice for an excursion to a national park. They offer the versatility needed to handle different surfaces, offering a mix of speed, comfort, durability and performance. You can even select an electric model that will give you a boost of power when climbing hills or working against a breeze. The right bike and the right park equal stellar biking.
The Best Parks To Bike
In northern Michigan, the Heritage Bike Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers more than twenty miles of superior biking. Most of the trail is paved, but a few miles consist of crushed gravel, making mens hybrid bikes a solid choice. The trail passes mature hardwoods, goes by the iconic dune climb, comes within a few hundred feet of Lake Michigan and passes fields and historic homes. Other great trails in the park system include the following:
- The paved trail from Jackson to Moose near Grand Teton National Park
- The gravel road to Wonder Lake in Denali National Park
- The paved trail in Shark Valley in Everglades National Park
- The road into the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park
- The carriage roads of Acadia National Park
Each road or trail has highlights that you will remember for many years later. In Alaska, you will have the chance to see wildlife such as moose and caribou. In Florida, the chance to watch alligators and roseate spoonbills exist. In Maine, the carriage roads pass by peaceful ponds and stone bridges.
The Best Times of the Year To Ride
Aside from places in the south such as the Everglades in Florida and Big Bend in Texas, bike riding in the national parks is best in spring, summer and fall. Each season has its own pleasures, with more abundant wildlife in the spring, more predictable good weather in the summer and the possibility of brilliant color in the fall. Be sure to dress appropriately for each season and remember that your first few minutes on the bike will likely be your coldest. Once you have ridden a few miles, your body will naturally warm up. It’s always nice to have some carrying capacity on your bike with either a basket or some panniers for extra clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen and a snack. In the national parks, it’s also nice to take along a camera or some binoculars in case you see something spectacular.
Whether you are looking for women’s bikes or another model, purchasing the best bike for your riding style and body size makes the trip better. A bike ride in the national parks is something you won’t ever forget.
