Tours

Destinations

Experience Gold Rush Past at Goldfield Ghost Town in Arizona

Ancient volcanic and seismic activity in today’s Arizona created the Superstition Mountains and the valuable mineral deposits buried within. But their most valuable resource—gold—wasn’t discovered there until the early 1890s. That, along with the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, created a gold rush fever.

Classic Roads

Classic Roads: California Route 299

Route 299 runs east from US 101 in Arcata, CA. Near the coast, temperatures are usually cool and fog is often present, especially in the morning hours. The route has many high-speed, sweeping curves for riders wanting more than just a “relaxing ramble.” Although 299 continues east of Redding, the

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Baja California: Life’s a Beach

Baja California is a gentle introduction to the colorful world of Mexico. Crossing at Tijuana with a vehicle is easy. Too easy, in fact—traffic only slows a little for the open barriers, the wait-go signs that immediately turn green, and the yellow topes (infamously high Mexian speed bumps) before

May/Jun '23

City Escape: Chicago, Illinois

This City Escape route begins in northeastern Illinois and tracks northwest to rural southeastern Wisconsin, heading for Madison. Advancing and receding glaciers during the ice ages have left the topography mostly flat, but the soil is noticeably rich. Large red barns, with their grain silos, dot the verdant landscape in

May/Jun '23 Premium Content

Pennsylvania: Dusty Adventure Trails

Three years ago, I crossed Pennsylvania from north to south following the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR), published in the RoadRUNNER 2020 Special Collector’s Edition. The journey revealed the wild beauty of eastern Pennsylvania and I developed a taste for more of such adventures. After a two-year lockdown, I

Travel Guide

10 Unique Summer Motorcycle Trip Destinations in the U.S.

At RoadRUNNER, we are always searching for new routes that take you to historically and socially significant destinations—and offer a fantastic riding experience. Here are 10 destinations to spark your wanderlust this summer. Cody, Wyoming Voted the Best Western Small Town by USA Today, Cody, WY, sits in the

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Mexico, Part 2: South-Eastern Mexico

After a long, relaxing stay in Oaxaca, we get itchy feet. Being an architect, Aidan is keen to visit Santuario del Gusano de Seda, an unusual exposed-concrete building housing a silkworm sanctuary in the mountains to the northeast. Since we set off rather late, it becomes a two-day ride and

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Mexico, Part 1: Copper Canyon to Oaxaca

Most people choose the southern ferry route to Mazatlán when moving from Baja California to mainland Mexico. But my partner Aidan and I have plans to explore the country’s northern regions, despite their notorious reputation. We have done our research, though, and feel safe enough—so long as we

Destinations

The Charming Village of Mendocino, CA

Perched on rugged cliffs above the Pacific Ocean’s crashing waves is the charming village of Mendocino, CA. It’s located some 170 miles north of San Francisco on California’s famously scenic Pacific Coast Highway. The village is part of Mendocino County, which lies between California’s Coastal Range

May/Jun '23 Premium Content

ZenMoto Part 2: Montana to Idaho

Motorcycle travel is, conceptually speaking, very simple—wake up at Point A, aim for a bed or campsite at Point B, and refuel the bike and the body along the way. It’s not always easy but, compared to the complexities of adulthood, this rhythmic simplicity may be part of

Destinations

Ohio River Floodwall Art

The Great Flood of 1913 wreaked havoc on many Ohio River towns. The death and destruction, while momentous at the time, have been largely forgotten in the 21st century. The concrete floodwalls in towns along the Ohio River, however, were blank canvases just begging for artists’ depictions of important historical

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An Épico Adventure in Colombia

Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) was having a fundraiser that included auctions of goods and services. I saw a nine-day tour of Colombia, threw in a low-ball offer, and suddenly, I was headed for Santiago de Cali and Épico Moto Adventures’ Seven Wonders Tour. The extremely genial host Ricardo Congote greeted

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In Pursuit of Wildness: The Carrizo Plain National Monument

A sleeping giant lies on the valley floor between the Temblor Range and the Caliente Range. That is where this story begins. In 1857, the strongest earthquake in California’s recorded history ripped through the San Andreas Fault, wrenching the western side of the Carrizo Plain National Monument 31 feet

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Riding Mopeds from Paris to Dakar

A motorcycle trip in Africa is always demanding, but on a moped like the Piaggio Ciao, it turns into an enormous challenge. That’s especially true when your journey takes you from Paris to Dakar in Senegal, covering almost 2,900 miles over 23 days in the summer. When preparing

Accommodations

Review: The Cotton House—Cleveland, MS

Located on the historic Cotton Row in downtown Cleveland, the Cotton House is a fixture on the Mississippi Blues Trail. If you’re planning to stay in Cleveland during your ride, the Cotton House is the place to be. The hotel sits close to all of the attractions you’ll

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

Getting High in Colorado

Riding in central Colorado is a treat, no matter the time of year, but doing it in the fall is something everyone should experience. The aspen trees are bunched in groves varying in thickness all over the mountains and they begin to explode into a wildfire of color in mid-September.

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North East Backcountry Discovery Route

We began this ride in Bennington, VT, which is located in the southwestern corner of the state. Our plan was to pick up the North East Backcountry Discovery Route (NEBDR) for four days of adventure, riding through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Caleb and I woke early to get geared

Travel Guide

6 Unique General Store Lunch Stops in the Northeast

As any motorcyclist knows, there’s magic in discovering new backroads. A part of that magic is exploring the markets and general stores tucked away from the hustle of the city. They let us experience a little piece of the history of the general store—an important aspect of commerce

Mar/Apr '23

City Escape: New York City, New York

This scenic loop starts and ends in northern New Jersey, about 25 miles west of Manhattan. The route winds through the beautiful scenic lakes of Ringwood and Wawayanda state parks, then through the woods of Roosa Gap and Vernooy Kill state forests to the Ashokan reservoir. It continues on SR

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Fine Writing and Riding Instruments

There are certainly worse fates than to be lost in Italy on a Moto Guzzi. I’ve learned to not get too concerned about finding my way in foreign places. It always seems to work itself out. After all, it was mid-day and twilight was far off. I was safe

Accommodations

Review: Doffo Winery Cottage—Temecula, CA

The Doffo Winery is the place to be for anyone who enjoys fine wines and vintage motorcycles. Located in Temecula, CA, the winery is owned by Marcelo Doffo, a passionate winemaker and motorcycle collector. Over the years, Marcelo has acquired over 200 vintage two-wheel gems representing brands from all over

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Sölkpass & Radstädter Tauern: Ancient Alpine Trade Routes

It is a sunny day in late May and Austria has lifted the pandemic riding restrictions for those of us who live here. What better way to celebrate our long-awaited freedom than by tackling the highest pass in Styria—the wonderful Sölkpass between Stein an der Enns on the north

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

ZenMoto Part 1: Minnesota to Montana

It takes about an hour before I leave behind the exurbs of Minneapolis, MN. The riding is easy—lots of straight roads and not a lot of traffic or navigating. There is space in my head to scroll through the 50 million things that one thinks about on the first

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Maine: Exploring Lighthouses and Mountains

Hewn from bedrock and shaped by glaciers, Maine’s landscape is unique, from its rugged coastline dotted with lighthouses to its pristine lakes and deep woods. Maine has always attracted individualists and adventurers, from lumberjacks and hunters, to fisherman plying Georges Banks, and to Henry David Thoreau and motorcyclists. Lighting

Mar/Apr '23

Classic Roads: Washington SR-14

Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway Seen from high above, two-lane tarmac traces a serpentine path along the banks of a river that is both colossal and historic. The river flows into the Pacific Ocean through a deep, wide chasm of scoured volcanic rock, deposited over many millennia. Riders feel strong