The 15 Best Roads in America (current AMA mag, voted on by AMA website visitors)

[Medic]

New issue of AMA's American Motorcyclist magazine provided the following top 15 submitted and voted on by visitors to the AMA website:

1.  Beartooth Highway (Montana & Wyoming)
2.  Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)
3.  US129 "Tail of the Dragon" (North Carolina / Tennessee border)
4.  Highway 550 (from Ouray to Durango, Colorado)
5.  California Hwy1, Pacific Coast Highway
6.  Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park (Montana)
7.  Cherohala Skyway (North Carolina & Tennessee)
8.  Route 66 (California)
9.  US Route 36 (California)
10. Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2
11. Natchez Trace (from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee)
12. US Route 33 (Harrisonburg, Virginia to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia)
13. California Route 58, McKittrick to Santa Margarita
14. Ohio Route 170 (Calcutta to Poland)
15. Washington Route 129 and Oregon Route 3 (Clarkston, Washington to Enterprise, Oregon)

Honorable Mentions:

- Hwy 12 (Colorado)
- Route 191,180,78 (Arizona & New Mexico)
- US 191 (Alpine to Morenci, Arizona)
- US 16A (South Dakota)
- US 50 (Nevada)
- Farm to Market 336 (Texas)

Thoughts..experiences..agree/disagree ?!

[Curley Wolf]

 :cooldude:Thank God, He's provided me the opportunity to ride several of them!

[R J]

Several of those listed bring back many memories and of touring routes I covered with my former riding buddy,   R.I.P. Frank.    Figure you are riding that Yama-hopper up their feeling out the good highways to ride when we meet again.

Roads we rode over 25 years of riding together.
This is a map he kept up, his wife gave it to me after he passed and I had it framed.   It is hanging im my back garage now.

[..]

Hwy 16 from the BRP north to St. Marys on the Ohio River.

Hwy 149 CO one of the most beautiful roads in America.

Mt Evans CO

Hwy 28 from Walhalla SC to Highlands NC

Hwy 276 north from Brevard NC  to cross the BRP

Hwy 215 north from Hwy 64 NC to cross the BRP

Forest Rd 68 off the Cherohala Skyway  

[Rocketman]

New issue of AMA's American Motorcyclist magazine provided the following top 15 submitted and voted on by visitors to the AMA website:

Honorable Mentions:

- Farm to Market 336 (Texas)

Odd.  Of the three sisters (335, 336, and 337), I would rate 336 the lowest, yet it's the only one mentioned here.  Oh well, they're all good.

[Westernbiker]

I would like to know what the criteria was to pick these roads. Was it scenery?, Technical road?

[Serk]

New issue of AMA's American Motorcyclist magazine provided the following top 15 submitted and voted on by visitors to the AMA website:

Honorable Mentions:

- Farm to Market 336 (Texas)

Odd.  Of the three sisters (335, 336, and 337), I would rate 336 the lowest, yet it's the only one mentioned here.  Oh well, they're all good.

I was kinda thinking the same thing... 336 is the one with cattle guards, open grazing cattle and cow patties in the middle of tight turns, isn't it?

[T-Bird]

  Hmmmmm I've got nine more to do

[czuch]

The best road has your Valk on it.

[NEHI]

  Been on most of them, but my all time favorite (not mentioned) is RT.12 (A Journey Through Time Scenic Highway) in Utah. Or as I like to call it Planet Utah.

[Rocketman]

- Farm to Market 336 (Texas)

Odd.  Of the three sisters (335, 336, and 337), I would rate 336 the lowest, yet it's the only one mentioned here.  Oh well, they're all good.

I was kinda thinking the same thing... 336 is the one with cattle guards, open grazing cattle and cow patties in the middle of tight turns, isn't it?

In October, we hit the renovated 336.  They re-did the road since I had been on it.  The cattle guards are much less jarring, to the point of being almost unnotieceable.  However, yes, you still have loose cattle, and their byproducts.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I've been lucky enough to have ridden 6 of them. I'd rate the Beartooth as #1 of the six I've ridden. Then the Cherohala, then the Highway to the Sun and then Deals Gap. I'm surprised the Snake and the road up Pike's Peak aren't listed.

The few I've ridden are all very different roads. The Cherohala begs you to "pin ur ears back and let her eat". The Beartooth and the "Highway to the Sun" tell you to pull over and feast your eyes on this gorgeous planet. And, once again enjoy the wild eyed wonder you sometimes felt as a child.

[Demo]

Hwy 16 from the BRP north to St. Marys on the Ohio River.

Hwy 149 CO one of the most beautiful roads in America.

Mt Evans CO

Hwy 28 from Walhalla SC to Highlands NC

Hwy 276 north from Brevard NC  to cross the BRP

Hwy 215 north from Hwy 64 NC to cross the BRP

Forest Rd 68 off the Cherohala Skyway  

And that right there is why a bunch of us follow his ass around the Southeast so often.  Thanks Britman.

[Challenger]

They didn't even mention Il. Rt 34. OH Wait, It said best roads didn't It ? Hope to be going back to the Co. 550 this summer, Great riding out there.

[Ramjet]

Hwy 16 from the BRP north to St. Marys on the Ohio River.

Hwy 149 CO one of the most beautiful roads in America.

Mt Evans CO

Hwy 28 from Walhalla SC to Highlands NC

Hwy 276 north from Brevard NC  to cross the BRP

Hwy 215 north from Hwy 64 NC to cross the BRP

Forest Rd 68 off the Cherohala Skyway  

And that right there is why a bunch of us follow his ass around the Southeast so often.  Thanks Britman.

...and off road sometimes!   

[NITRO]

I've not gotten to hit any of those yet, but hope to cross 2, 3, and 7 off this summer while going to, participating in, and riding home from the VOAI ride-in in Maggie Valley. After this summer, I NEED to get out west!

[Sodbuster]

I haven't ridden them all but agree on Beartooth as a scenic ride with breathtaking views.

AMA screwed up on their mention of "St. Joseph Highway" in Wyoming .... should be Chief Joseph Highway. Actually I was surprised that wasn't in the top 15.

[judd]

I would add............ North Cascades, Hwy 20, Winthrop to Concrete, Wash. 

[fudgie]

Yea depends what they use for criteria.

16A is a fun road. Alot of high speed sweepers up and down the mountains. To bad its a short road.

Our favs are:
US 20 through NE
50/18 across the Missouri R in SD
183 Winner SD to Presho SD

We like scenic gently rolling prairie where you can see for miles.

[R J]

I would like to know what the criteria was to pick these roads. Was it scenery?, Technical road?

Here is the criteria per the magazine article.

Someone in this post asked who picked these roads.   Here is the answer per the American Motorcyclist AMA rag page 31 of the current publication:

When it comes to the best places in the country to ride motorcycles, no group of riders is more knowledgeable than the members of the American Motorcyclist Association.

Nobody puts in more miles, samples more asphalt or rides more roads.  So when American Motorcyclist magazine  wanted to find the best roads in the country, we knew exactly where to turn:  AMA members.

There is more about how they nominated and voted, too much to type in right now.   So if ya  need more info go to page 31 in the magazine and read it.   Tanx.

[Hef]

My all time favorite is the Blue Ridge Parkway and second is Rt 7 which runs north & south through Arkansas. Just about any road is a good road if your on a motorcycle.

[R J]

I'll also vote for Rt 7 in Arkey-saw.

Run that road several time from top of Arky to bottom of Arky.   My youngest daughter also voted for it.   She said she remembered the little Stage Coach trailer bouncing from one side to the other in the curves.  It only had 2 small suitcases in it at the time.

[Redline +]

I would add............ North Cascades, Hwy 20, Winthrop to Concrete, Wash. 

Redline