BDR NorCal has arrived. This is the news we’ve been waiting for since Backcountry Discovery Routes teased the new route in November 2023. On February 17, 2024, the organization screened the feature-length film for this BDR. The BDR folks also revealed the route on their website, made GPX files available and put maps in the mail to pre-order customers. The long-awaited track, officially CABDR-North, allows adventure riders to travel from Mexico to Canada on BDRs. There are now 13 full-on routes, 4 shorter BDR-X options, and 4 more BDRs in progress.
Where Does It Go?
It bobs, it weaves, it slices, and it dices through the northern half of the Golden State with thousands of twists and turns. The Northern California BDR leaves from 9,265 feet at Minaret Vista near Mammoth Lakes, heading to Bridgeport on Highway 395. On the way, it slides past Mono Lake, the briny home of the scenic tufa formations, where an advanced section challenges riders with potentially deep and rocky water crossings. Next, it passes through Bodie State Historic Park, the well-kept remains of a mining town, before an “epic two-track” delivers riders to Bridgeport. And that’s just the first section. From there, it crosses the Sierra crest several times before a final push northward through the beautiful Warner Mountains.
BDR NorCal Riding Season
The BDR organization states that riders can attempt the route starting in May, but waiting until June would be better. The limiters are snowpack and spring weather. Winter snow and too fast a snow melt can both affect the roads and trails. Roads should be open in July and August, but those months can be hot in lower elevations. As a Californian, I’d opt for September. The best way to check road conditions is via the Route Updates page on the BDR site.
Find the wide-open spaces at the north end of the route.
NorCal Sections
The route is 940 miles long, with ADV Hard and ADV Advanced options along the way that would change the mileage somewhat. There are nine sections. The shortest is 85.9 miles, and the longest is 138. Most of the route is mountainous, with the landscape only flattening out a bit in sections 7 through 9. However, even those roll over hill-and-dale, and section 9 slices through the beautiful Warner Mountains before reaching Oregon. In true BDR fashion, their website provides a synopsis of each section that includes information on gas, food, lodging, and sights along the way. There’s a fair amount of pavement on this BDR, mostly the narrow, twisty, fun kind. Overall, the route nets a “medium” difficulty rating. Take the Hard and Advanced options only if you and your riding partner(s) have the bikes and talent to complete them.
Waiting out Winter
Summer is still several months away, plenty of time to study both the paper map by Butler Maps and the digital version on the BDR site. There’s also a collection of comprehensive packing lists on the site to assist ADV riders in preparing for a BDR. Among the frequently asked questions is how long one should plan for the ride. That’s a tough one to answer, but they offer a range of 6-10 days. This summer, we can all find out for sure.
The Butler map of the CABDR-North is detailed and easy to read.
Images: Backcountry Discovery Routes, Butler Maps
Read more: Free BDR Film Library
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