West Region

Mar/Apr '24 Premium Content

Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop

The Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop stretches for 13 miles through its eponymous canyon, just west of Las Vegas. The one-way road curves its way through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which encompasses nearly 200,000 acres within the Mojave Desert. Look At Those Rocks! What sets Red

Alaska Premium Content

Alaska: Exploring the Kenai Peninsula

Alaska is a bucket-list type of place and, motorcycle or not, it’s been on ours for many years. The Last Frontier is filled with nearly endless gorgeous mountain ranges, giant creeping glaciers, deep picturesque bays, and wildlife that can’t be found in the lower 48 states. It’s

Classic Roads

Gold and Antiques: California SR 49

Locals and historians call California SR 49 the Golden Chain Highway. It runs north to south and is in the middle of the state on the western side of the Sierra. Touring it is another excuse to see the area around Yosemite National Park. Technically, SR 49 starts in the

Mar/Apr '24 Premium Content

Idaho Cold Plunges and Hot Springs

It was an idea from the bikepacking world. Our non-motorized riding ancestors developed the Idaho Hot Spring Mountain Bike Route,  consisting of mountain bike trails and forest service roads to create a 500-mile loop around a concentrated area of geothermal activity in northern Idaho. Since the route is for bicycles,

Mar/Apr '24

City Escape: Grand Junction, Colorado

When visiting Grand Junction, CO, do not miss the opportunity to ride this stunning loop through the Colorado National Monument. Red rock monoliths and infinite views will cause severe rider conflict. Will you ride the perfect twisty pavement or stop and take in the surreal views? Colorado National Monument contains

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Baja California—Monkey Business

With the picnic tables dotted among the ponderosa trees of Arizona long gone, we rode onto what looks like a nose-diving dragon—775 miles in body and 200 miles in girth—from Mexicali in the north to Cabo San Lucas in the south. The Baja peninsula, or Baja California, is

Classic Roads Premium Content

Explore the Northern Rainforests—Olympic Peninsula Loop

The Olympic Peninsula in Washington State marks the most northwestern reaches of the contiguous U.S. It sports some of the most majestic sights in the country, from the rocky seaside to tranquil mountaintops and the depths of the rainforests. It comes as a surprise to some, but many of

Travel Guide

5 US Destinations for an Early-Season Spring Motorcycle Ride

The winter puts an end to the riding season in many places across the U.S. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since the cold months are a great chance to maintain your motorcycle or perhaps read that motorcycling book that’s been sitting on your coffee table. Eventually,

Destinations

Fort Ross: Russia’s Stronghold in America

Touring Russia by motorcycle has always been on my bucket list. I enjoy the country’s literature and the Russians I have met have been great people, which is partly why I have wanted to see it. Sadly, the political climate over my lifetime has never really been right for

Jan/Feb '24

Whale Hunting in The Desert & The 1000 Mile Cheeseburger

"There’s whales in this here desert!” I proclaimed to Caleb as we swung our legs over our matching pair of Honda Gold Wings. “There’s whales, you just have to know where to look!” And that’s exactly what we intended to do. 9:07 a.m., Las Vegas,

Travel Guide

12 Cities to Visit for Amazing Mural Art

Not all fine art is confined to museums and galleries. Many American cities are chock-full murals and other works of street art that rival whatever you may find in the local art museums. Your motorcycle is an excellent vehicle for ferrying you from one mural to the next. With so

Destinations

Visit Redwood National Park

Riding among ancient giants sounds like something from a fantasy novel. But if you point your front wheel for a motorcycle ride in Redwood National Park, you can turn that fantasy into reality. Officially called Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), the Redwood National Park was wrapped into one administrative

Classic Roads

The Scenic Road to Halawa Valley—Kamehameha V Hwy, Hawaii

Halawa Valley on the island of Molokai isn’t one of Hawaii’s most famous landmarks, but that doesn’t make it any less stunning. It’s a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path location that supported the traditional Hawaiian way of life well into the ‘50s. To get to Halawa Valley, you have

News

Happening Now: Riding Past Current SoCal Road Closures

The classic California combination of an earthquake, a brush fire, and a landslide often imperils the best riding roads in the state. That has never been more true than at the present. Wet weather, following wildfires, took some of the most popular routes out of commission for most of 2023—

City Escape

A Rider’s Beach Paradise—Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica, CA, is calling all motorcycling beach bums! Although the city might be the most famous for its surf and sand, it offers much more than just sunbathing on the beach. In many minds, Santa Monica (perhaps understandably) blurs with the surrounding Los Angeles, becoming just another megalopolis neighborhood.

Roundtrip Tour

A Year In Review: Top RoadRUNNER Tours of 2023

Stories from the road are what we are known for. We don't just write about places that we think might be interesting to visit, we actually ride there. When you read RoadRUNNER's tour editorial, you know our team of experienced motorcycle travel journalists have put the place through it's paces

Destinations

A Year In Review: Our Favorite Destinations of 2023

At RoadRUNNER, it's about more than just the motorcycle. It's about where you go on the motorcycle. Simply put, we are addicted to exploring new places and experiencing new things. We often share short articles highlighting specific places across the country that might be of interest to riders passing through.

Travel Guide

10 American Roads That Should Be On Your Riding Bucket List

American roads are legendary for a reason. Long and wide, they wind through this county, offering unforgettable motorcycling experiences to both homegrown and visiting foreign riders. But with so many fantastic roads in the U.S., their sheer number can be intimidating. How can you know which road to ride

Destinations

General Grant Tree: The Nation’s Christmas Tree

By now, most people throughout the country have put up a Christmas tree in celebration of the upcoming holiday. It’s only fitting that we highlight the General Grant Tree, in Kings Canyon National Park, which was dedicated in April 1926 as the National Christmas Tree. The Nation’s Christmas

Accommodations

Review: Santa Barbara Inn

Like an ambassador to the city, the Santa Barbara Inn puts on its best face to welcome visitors. From any direction, the ride there provides views ranging from manicured neighborhoods to wetland preserve areas and picturesque coastal views unlike any place else in California. Friendly staff greet you the moment

Nov/Dec '23

City Escape: Grants Pass, Oregon

Oregon is a very green state and this route takes you to some of its greenest parts. You’ll start with a northbound jaunt on the I-5, but don’t let the interstate put you off. I-5 is a roller coaster of a road, with sweeping curves that bounce you

Travel Guide

4 Unique Desert Rides

Deserts possess a unique magic, but their serene beauty often masks inherent dangers. Yet, when you’re equipped for the ride with plenty of water, sun protection, and working high-quality maps, they can deliver unforgettable moto trips. Deserts offer properly prepared riders astonishing vistas and amazing landscapes, with sunrises and

WEB Exclusive

Vista House at Crown Point—Corbett, OR

In 1918, long before the advent of interstate highways and expansive rest areas, architect Edgar Lazarus designed a “comfort station” atop Crown Point, which overlooks the Columbia River Gorge some 25 miles east of Portland, OR. Perched atop a stunning basalt promontory, approximately 700 feet above the Columbia River, is

Travel Guide

10 Odd Roadside Attractions for a Bizarre Road Trip

Roadside oddities draw us in and have us plunking down dollars to see a mummified corpse, a teacup collection, an unidentified monster, or perhaps a flying saucer. It doesn’t matter if the thing ends up being an obvious hoax—it adds a wonderfully whimsical flair to your motorcycle trip

Classic Roads

Classic Roads: Colorado’s San Juan Skyway—The Million Dollar Highway

Colorado’s San Juan Mountains are home to some of the most beautiful alpine landscapes in the Centennial State. They are also home to a collection of exceptionally scenic and challenging motorcycle roads. Starting in Durango, riders motor north on U.S. 550. This stretch of road between Durango and