Calgary-San Francisco-Seattle- Vancouver-Calgary
 

Anybody got any recommendations for routes to get two of us down to San Francisco form southern Alberta? We're planing on taking maybe two weeks to complete this trip in June/July next year. Taking the coast back up to Seattle is the obvious route but we don't want to miss out on any hidden gems along the way.

Thanks :mchappy:

I used to ride that area when I lived in Calgary in the 70s. It wouln't be honest on my part to venture suggesting roads south of the border. But if it was me I wouldn't want to miss Yellowstone Park and I would try to manage to make it to the Grand Canyon even if it is quiete further south.

On your way back to Calgary from Vancouver, you could try to ride HWY 3. I live in Southern BC in the summer and I see a lot adventure riders riding this road. When I go to Calgary I prefer the # 3 because the landscape is awsome and a lot less trafic

I've done a version of this trip 2 years in a row from Edmonton.

The PCH is a no brainer. South of San Francisco look for the Big Basin Highway (236). It's a redwood magnificence.

Another gem is from San Jose to Patterson (136). Very technical. Make sure to stop at the Mt Hamilton observatory.

My favourite road in the Yellowstone area is the Sonora Pass (108). Not as much traffic as the south main highway, perfect road surface, 26% grades, and a nice high climb. 2 years ago in late June started at the bottom at 23 degrees c, at the top it was -3 and snow. Beautiful.

Forgot to add HWY/13 turning into HWY 12 from Grangeville, ID to the Lolo Pass is a high speed wonder. Careful of speeds though around the Grangeville area...the only time on my trips I was pulled over was there.