West U.S.

Montana Backcountry Discovery Route to Premiere Feb. 7, 2026

The Montana Backcountry Discover Routes, which completes the Western BDR system of linked routes, is ready to be released with a film premiere on...

Flagstaff to Barstow on Historic Route 66

Testing the new Can-Am Canyon Redrock in Arizona presented me with an opportunity to ride part of Historic Route 66. I began in Flagstaff,...

New Mexico Route 66—Where the Mother Road Found Its Soul

Stretching nearly 500 miles, the New Mexico section of Route 66 introduces travelers to landscapes unlike anything they’ve encountered on the journey so far.

Historic Forts and Family Roots—Pinetop to Prescott, Arizona

Historic Forts and Family Roots—Arizona Motorcycle Ride

Art of the Ancients: Colorado River Motorcycle Ride

There is something truly awe-inspiring about standing in the presence of art created by an ancient civilization, especially when that creation holds a particular...

Arizona Route 66—The Mother Road’s Greatest Treasure

Arizona is the heart of Route 66, where historic towns, classic roadside attractions, and unforgettable desert scenery bring the Mother Road to life.

California Route 66—The Final Stretch

California marks Route 66's unforgettable finale, carrying riders from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific Ocean. Discover historic towns, iconic attractions, and travel tips for the final 316 miles to Santa Monica Pier.

Red River Rivalry of Pie: Searching for the Best in Oklahoma and Texas

Oklahoma and Texas have been official neighbors since 1907, when Oklahoma became the 46th state. Oklahomans and Texans have more in common than not,...

Turning Copper into Gold: Asphalt Alchemy on Arizona’s Coronado Trail

From 1540 to 1542, decades before European colonies were established on the Atlantic side of the Americas, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado...

Route 66 Motorcycle Travel Guide

Main Street USA. The Mother Road. The Will Rogers Highway. Known by many names, Route 66 is an American icon that has inspired a...

Yore Mother Road: Recollections of a Route 66 Motorcycle Ride

Decades after its official demise in 1985, Route 66 remains in fragments, with the rest either paved over and renamed or reclaimed by nature....

America’s Mother Road: Chicago to L.A. on Route 66

Designated as a federal highway in 1926 and running from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 connected – and often ran right through –...

From Ojai to the Carrizo Plain—A California Adventure Ride

From Ojai to the Carrizo Plain—A California Adventure Motorcycle Ride

South Dakota Motorcycle Ride: Exploring the Badlands and Black Hills

In River-Horse, William Least Heat-Moon’s book about his journey across the United States by boat, he mentions carrying a small sign with the Quaker...

Ural-ing Around Colorado Motorcycle Ride

Backed by lush orchestration, the opening credits of the 1969 John Wayne film, True Grit, reveal a beautiful farmstead nestled in a green valley...

Roamin’ in Wyoming Motorcycle Ride

Fort Laramie is the oldest town in Wyoming, having first been settled as Fort Williams in the 1830s and “bought” by the U.S. government...

From Ancient Petroglyphs to 10,000-Foot Peaks—Great Basin National Park

From Ancient Petroglyphs to 10,000-Foot Peaks—Great Basin National Park Motorcycle Ride

Best Motorcycle Roads in Marin County, California

California is known for excellent motorcycle roads. But even in such a target-rich environment, there are special areas that offer a mind-boggling blend of...

Southern Utah Motorcycle Ride

Some roads are famous for the scenery through which they traverse, and some are famous for the unique nature of the roads themselves. There...

Arizona Motorcycle Adventure: From Prescott to the Grand Canyon

The American West has special allure. Rugged landscapes, hardscrabble history, and a sense of endless possibilities draw people to the West like a magnet...

Traipsing Across Washington Motorcycle Ride

Matt Terry, a riding buddy from Florida, planned to travel out West with his family, and he always trailers his two Ducati Diavel Stradas...

The Lost Sierra: Northern California Motorcycle Ride

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the October 2004 issue. The phone rings. It’s Werner Wachter calling from Austria. “You vill come to...

50 Best Motorcycle Roads in America

The December 2024 issue of Rider celebrated the magazine's 50th anniversary. Over the past half century, we have published thousands of travels stories, favorite...

Four-County California Motorcycle Ride on a Honda Transalp

The charming and eclectic coastal city of Ventura is the launch and landing pad for this diverse 340-mile loop that crosses parts of four...

EagleRider Exclusive: Yamaha 3-Day Mojave Desert Adventure

EagleRider, the world's largest motorcycle rental and tour company, in partnership with Yamaha, announces a new and exclusive 3-Day Mojave Desert Adventure tour this...

Ventura to Santa Barbara California Motorcycle Ride

Throughout its 50-year history, Rider’s editorial offices have been based in the vicinity of Ventura County, California, which is northwest of Los Angeles and...

Riding From Palm Springs to Joshua Tree National Park—California

“It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty,” writes Jeannette Walls in her 2005 memoir The Glass Castle. She further contends that...

Border to Border on the Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route

This story is about a ride that took place in 2013 on the original Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route, which was developed by the Oregon...

Riding Route 66 Through Arizona on a Motorcycle

Route 66, or the Mother Road, is indelibly stitched into the fabric of the American psyche. The iconic road once traced its way for...

Alaska Motorcycle Ride: Discovering America’s Last Frontier

It wasn’t that she was a princess. She had lived and taught on a reservation in northern Ontario where she gutted geese, chopped down...

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