Five out-of-the-way rides

Seeking touring inspiration? Try one of these routes off the beaten track for a truly memorable experience

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, OREGON
Like the Grand Canyon, this stunningly blue lake is one of those places you can’t truly appreciate until you see it in person. Plunging nearly 2,000 feet below the surface, it’s the deepest lake in the United States. The park averages approximately 43 feet of snowfall per year, so best to plan your trip for the summer months.

KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Key West isn’t “on the way” to anywhere – unless you’re planning to hire a boat. Tucked at the very end of the Overseas Highway (U.S. Route 1), this island paradise boasts beautiful beaches, the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S., lively nightlife, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, and feral chickens.

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS
Though less than 300 miles “as the crow flies,” it’s around a 400-mile ride to Big Bend from San Antonio. There’s not much in between but open road and scrubland, but the reward is an otherworldly Chihuahuan Desert landscape, punctuated by twisting roads leading to deep canyons carved by the Rio Grande.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
People come from around the world to see the views provided by the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, so it’s definitely worth going a little out of your way to get to this national treasure. If you ever find yourself within a day’s ride (or two), go for it.

CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA
Jutting into the cold Atlantic off the coast of New Brunswick in far- Eastern Canada, Cape Breton Island is a treasure trove of authentic Celtic culture. It’s also the home of the Cabot Trail, a stunning 185-mile loop along the northern part of the island, passing through the rugged Cape Breton Highlands National Park and along the rocky coastline. A truly unforgettable ride.

First published in Issue 048 of HOG^® magazine.

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