ADV 101: The Art of Route Planning
Photos by Yamaha and Jon Beck
Google Street View cars and Trekker backpacks haven't made it everywhere, yet. For the moment, remote paths leading to seldom visited areas can make a shrinking world in the digital age feel almost unexplored. For my part, I haven't yet found a more effective way to visit these remote and rugged areas than adventure motorcycles.
VIDEO: ADV 101: The Art of Route Planning
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Route planning for adventure motorcyclists sits somewhere between logistics and art. A good route doesn't just connect points on a map, it shapes the entire experience, determines the risks you'll face, and often decides whether a trip becomes a highlight reel or a recovery story. Unlike highway touring, adventure riding adds layers of uncertainty: terrain, road conditions, weather, remoteness, and the capabilities of both rider and machine. Thoughtful planning doesn't necessarily remove or tame the adventure, it helps make it sustainable.
Start with the Rider, Not the Map
It's tempting to begin by tracing a line through dramatic landscapes, but the smarter starting point is the rider, or the group. Experience level should guide nearly every decision that follows. A route that's manageable for a seasoned off-road rider on an adventure bike might be exhausting or dangerous for someone newer to loose surfaces or technical terrain.
Training can play a major role here. Riders who have taken off-road or adventure-specific courses will generally have better clutch control, balance, and hazard awareness. That translates into being able to safely handle longer days, rougher terrain, and more variable conditions. Without that foundation, even a modest route can become overwhelming. When planning for a group, aim for the lowest common denominator - not to limit the experience, but to help ensure everyone can complete the ride within a reasonable margin of safety.
Distance Isn't Just Mileage
In adventure riding, distance can mean very different things depending on terrain. 100 miles of paved mountain road might take two hours, while a rocky desert trail a fraction of that length could take all day. That's why planning based solely on mileage can be misleading. Instead, consider "time to traverse," factoring in terrain type, expected stops, and rider fatigue.
More importantly, track the distance between fuel, water, and resupply points. Remote stretches, particularly in deserts or high-altitude regions, can easily exceed a bike's range or a rider's hydration capacity. Always build in a margin. If your bike has a 180-mile range, don't plan a 175-mile fuel stretch and assume everything will go perfectly.
Water is even more critical. In hot or dry environments, dehydration can creep in quickly, reducing concentration and increasing the likelihood of mistakes. The idea of carrying "extra" water can easily turn into a necessity when something as simple as a flat tire or mechanical issue unexpectedly increases the day's "time to traverse" calculation.
Seasonal Realities Can Make or Break a Route
Research seasonal norms for each region. Snowpack levels, monsoon seasons, wildfire risk, and even hunting seasons can all affect access and safety. In some areas, roads may technically be open but practically impassable due to mud or washouts.
A route that's perfect in one season may be completely unrideable in another. High-elevation passes that are stunning in summer can remain snowbound well into late spring. Desert routes that are pleasant in winter can become dangerously hot in summer, with temperatures potentially exceeding what's safe for prolonged exertion.
Daylight also affects timing. In winter, shorter days limit how far you can safely travel, especially in unfamiliar terrain. Riding technical sections in the dark can add a layer of challenge beyond what someone new to adventure riding might enjoy, so plan your daily distances with available daylight in mind.
Know Where You Can, and Can't, Go
Land access is a critical and sometimes overlooked part of route planning. Not all dirt roads are public, and crossing into private or restricted land can lead to fines or worse. Military areas, in particular, are usually strictly off-limits apart from designated easements and often not clearly marked on all maps. Restrictions can change, and your map might not reflect those changes. When riding near military areas, having alternate routes available can be crucial if signs indicate your planned path is off-limits.
Public lands come with their own rules. National parks, state parks, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas, and Native American lands each have different regulations. Some require permits for travel or camping; others restrict motorized access to designated routes only.
If your route includes camping, check whether permits are required in advance. Popular areas may have quotas or reservation systems. On Native American land, access may require specific permissions or fees, and campfires are sometimes prohibited - a key consideration when traveling during colder months. Respecting these rules is essential to protecting access for present and future travelers.
Plan for the "What If"
Even the best-planned route can go sideways. A fuel station or hotel found on a map, might turn out to be a building that was abandoned decades ago. What appears to be the name of a small town, might turn out to be an intersection of two lonely roads where a community might have existed at some point in the past.
Identifying bailout options is a core part of planning. A bailout might be a paved road that cuts back to civilization, a shorter alternative route, or even just a known location where some form of infrastructure is available.
Mark these points ahead of time. If a bike breaks down, weather turns bad, or someone in your group is injured, you don't want to be improvising under pressure if it can be avoided. Knowing your exits allows you to make decisions early, before a situation escalates.
Factor in Health and Group Dynamics
Adventure riding places physical demands on the body, especially over multiple days. Consider any medical conditions within your group. Riders who are sensitive to altitude may struggle on high passes. Allergies, asthma, or previous injuries can all influence how someone handles the ride.
This isn't about excluding people, it's about planning appropriately. That might mean slower ascents, more frequent breaks, or carrying specific medications. Calculating "time to traverse" can be based as much on group dynamics as it does the nature of the terrain. In remote areas, access to medical care can be hours away, so prevention and awareness are key.
Weather Isn't Just Rain
Some regions are known for specific weather extremes that can significantly affect riding conditions. High winds in exposed areas, such as regions around the Grand Canyon, can make even paved sections challenging. Sudden storms can turn dry trails into impassable mud. In mountainous areas, weather can change dramatically within a few miles.
Sometimes, adding a little weather can be your friend. A vast, empty desert with perfectly still conditions might produce dust that can hang in the air for miles, requiring your group to space out and "leapfrog" to keep the flow of the day going. Just a bit of rain and wind to help clear that dust can speed things up as each rider is able to maintain a visual of whoever is in front of them.
Check forecasts leading up to the trip, but don't rely on them exclusively. Build flexibility into your plan so you can adjust if conditions deteriorate.
Navigation: Digital vs. Analog
Modern route planning often revolves around GPS and smartphone apps, but each has strengths and limitations. Dedicated GPS units are generally more rugged, weather-resistant, and reliable in remote areas. Smartphones, on the other hand, offer powerful apps and sometimes easier route creation but can struggle in extreme conditions over the long term.
Popular smartphone tools include apps like Gaia GPS, onX, REVER, Calimoto, and Garmin's Explore and Tread. Each has its own ecosystem, map layers, and learning curve. Some excel at off-road trail data, others at route visualization or community-shared rides. Route planning can often be easier accomplished with dedicated desktop apps like Garmin BaseCamp and Google Earth Pro.
No matter what digital tools you use, always carry a backup. If you're running a dedicated GPS, copying your route to a smartphone app can be a lifesaver should something go wrong. Electronics fail. Batteries die. That's where paper maps come in.
The Case for Paper Maps
Paper maps provide a big-picture view that's hard to replicate on a screen. They don't run out of battery, and they're invaluable for contingency planning. Well-known map providers include Hema, AAA, Lonely Planet, Mad Maps, Rand McNally, Butler Maps, National Geographic, as well as various BLM and state tourism board maps.
Butler Maps, in particular, are popular among motorcyclists for highlighting scenic and engaging roads, while National Geographic and BLM maps often provide detailed information on public lands and backcountry routes.
Carrying a paper map offers redundancy and perspective. In many ways, a physical map can enhance the overall adventure touring experience by providing an easily understandable overview of an entire trip that can be difficult to recreate on a small screen attached to the bike.
Permits, Paperwork, and Borders
If your route crosses into different jurisdictions or different countries, paperwork becomes part of the equation. State and federal lands may require entry fees or permits. Camping permits, fire restrictions, and vehicle regulations can vary widely.
For international travel, additional considerations include visas, vehicle import permits, and insurance requirements. Some countries require proof of specific coverage or temporary import documentation for your motorcycle. These aren't things to figure out at the border.
Build Flexibility Into the Plan
A rigid plan is fragile. The best route plans include options: alternate tracks, rest days, and buffer time. Adventure riding is unpredictable by nature. Mechanical issues, weather delays, or simply discovering a place worth lingering can all shift your timeline.
Planning every mile in advance might feel efficient, but it leaves no room for the unexpected, which can be the very thing that often makes these trips memorable.
Final Thoughts
Route planning for adventure motorcycling is about balancing ambition with realism. It's easy to design an epic route on a map, however it can be much harder to execute it safely and enjoyably. By grounding your plan in rider ability, environmental conditions, logistical realities, and contingency options, you create a framework that supports the adventure rather than undermines it.
Adventure travel inherently has uncertainty built into it. The goal is to manage that uncertainty as best as you can. When you do that well, you're free to focus on the ride itself: the terrain, the scenery, and the experience that drew you to adventure motorcycling in the first place.
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