For the last decade, Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) has been introducing brass ring-level overland expeditions across North America. These multi-day DIY routes traverse large swaths of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, as well as every Western state save Montana. Aimed primarily at the dual-sport and adventure moto set, these off-pavement routes come with free GPS tracks, lodging, food, and fuel suggestions, and detailed guidebook notes. BDR also offers a series of Butler-branded paper maps to complement the digital data. Increasingly, explorers in 4x4s have been tackling the routes as well, with great success.
Now, BDR has teamed up with Gaia GPS to offer all the BDR routes integrated into the Gaia GPS app. Instead of downloading individual GPS tracks and data for upload into a standalone navigation device, you can simply add them as layers to your Gaia GPS account. The routes work both online and offline (with a Gaia GPS Premium account).
Uploading routes from BDR to Gaia GPS is available to anyone with a Gaia GPS account. Here’s how:
- Choose your Backcountry Discovery Route on ridebdr.com
- Hit the “Upload to Gaia GPS” button
- A new page will pull up, prompting you to log in to your Gaia GPS account
- Log in to your Gaia GPS account and click “authorize” to allow your BDR routes to be imported
BDR trail data will automatically sync to your Gaia GPS account. You won’t have to log in on future syncs when you click the “upload to Gaia GPS button”; the app will remember your info and sync the routes right to your account. Coupled with Gaia GPS’s vast library of map data and layers, adventurers will have all the information they need right at their fingertips on their phones.
A non-profit advocacy organization, BDR also conducts rider education and safety campaigns and promotes responsible travel for motorcyclists traveling in the backcountry. Each of the 12 BDR routes around the US generates new tourism, bringing sustainable economic relief to less-advantaged rural communities. In turn, this symbiotic relationship between riders and communities creates local stakeholders who will help fight to keep access for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles in these incredible backcountry areas.
Image: Backcountry Discovery Routes
Our No Compromise Clause: We carefully screen all contributors to ensure they are independent and impartial. We never have and never will accept advertorial, and we do not allow advertising to influence our product or destination reviews.
