Bicycling America's National Parks: California

From the snowcapped peaks of the Sierras to the towering coastal redwoods of Muir Woods, California's national parks are renowned for their splendor. Touring these national treasures by bike has become a favorite way to leave luggage-laden cars and busy roads behind and enjoy the hidden byways of these parks more fully. As Edward Abbey wrote, "A man on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourist can in a hundred miles." Bike along the rugged coastline to the graceful beaches of Point Reyes, spin through the wild dunes of Death Valley, or pedal past the rock formations and climbers of Joshua Tree. Rides range in length from a 2-mile warm-up in Manzanar Historic Site to a breathtaking Yosemite tour of nearly 100 miles. Each ride description includes a detailed map, tour directions, information about the trail or road surface, sights along the way, and the length and difficulty of the ride. In addition, a trip-planning appendix for each park tells you where to stay or camp, do your laundry, eat, buy supplies, and repair or rent a bike.