Passing through thirteen counties and over thirty-four diverse cities and towns, the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route (GCVBR) visits the State capitol and county seats, numerous college towns, river towns, classic small agricultural “Valley towns,” sites of national, state and local historic importance, parks and natural areas, and a wide variety of agricultural landscapes.

The entire network of the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route is over 750 miles long and consists of the GCVBR Mainline, which is divided into three Route Segments (North, Central, and South). The GCVBR network also includes several Alternative Spur Routes, which provide routes for access to services and lodging in historic downtowns that are not on the Mainline. You may view the entire route network, with downloadable links to the three Mainline Route Segments and Alternative Spur Routes on the GCVBR Route Collection here

Touring the Valley at 12 miles per hour you can:

• Savor the diverse flavors of the most important agricultural area in the US
• Be awed by sublime views across Lake Shasta to 14,179-foot-high Mount Shasta
• Descend the 18-mile Sacramento River National Recreation Trail to the McConnell Arboretum
• Cross the striking Sundial Bridge to Turtle Bay Exploration Park and Museum
• Witness a spectacular lift-off of 50,000 Snow Geese at 100,000+ acres of wildlife refuges
• Follow Pass Road through tiny, volcanic Sutter Buttes, one of California’s “Geologic Gems”
• Engage in the unique campus environs of some of California’s leading Universities
• Surround yourself with 150 years of bicycle history at the US Bicycling Hall of Fame
• Learn the past, present and future of California at the State Capitol and Museum**
• Tour Big Four House, where the first Transcontinental Railroad was conceived
• Visit Locke, the largest remaining historic rural Chinese American community
• Taste premium wines in Lodi Wine Country
• Learn about a vanishing Valley ecosystem at the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve
• Admire the Clark Bonsai Collection in the tranquil Shinzen Friendship Japanese Garden
• Ride through the fragrance of oranges on the Blossom Trail
• Catch a River Cats, Grizzlies, Nuts, or Rawhides professional baseball game
• See the diversion of California's rivers in one of the largest aqueduct systems in the world
• Trace the route of the 1966 [United Farmworkers “March on Sacramento]”
• And, after a long day’s ride, kick back to the Bakersfield Sound

Mainline Route Segments and Alternative Spur Routes

The Mainline Route Segments and Alternative Spur Routes allow the GCVBR to be experienced in different ways to suit the needs of a wide variety of touring cyclists. Some people choose to ride the whole route as an epic multi-week journey. Some people ride just one segment at a time and savor the journey over multiple tours in different seasons. Other folks enjoy rides along the GCVBR of just a few hours, returning home the same day. Such flexibility is possible because the GCVBR Mainline and Spur Routes pass very near many Amtrak and Capitol Corridor rail passenger stations in the Valley, thereby allowing a one-way bicycle tour with a return journey by train the same day, or after a week or more of travel.

The division of the GVBBR Mainline into three segments (North, Central, South) allows for the varying needs of cyclists who wish to ride a portion of the route or to download a smaller segment to their mobile device. Maps of the GCVBR Mainline Route Segments can be found at the GCVBR Route Collection noted above or at the following links. These segment maps also provide additional photos, information, and cue sheets.

• GCVBR North Segment Lake Shasta to Sacramento
• GCVBR Central Segment Sacramento to Fresno
• GCVBR South Segment Fresno to Bakersfield

Alternative Spur Routes

The Alternative Spur Routes are an integral part of the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route. While the GCVBR Mainline passes through the center of several small towns and cities, in several cases the route skirts around the historic downtown core. For cyclists who require services and lodging, or simply wish to tour the historic centers of these cities, the Alternative Spur Routes were created. These Spurs provide access to transit stations and a full range of services, dining, entertainment and lodging options via optimum bicycle routes. While local riders may follow these Spurs for specific journeys, they are not considered separate bicycle routes. Rather, they are an integral part of the GCVBR and are planned as urban loops or out-and-back routes that conveniently connect the GCVBR Mainline to and through urban centers.

GCVBR Alternative Spur Routes include the following:

Redding Downtown Connector Loop This Spur loops through historic downtown Redding from the GCVBR Mainline in both the southbound and northbound direction. Be sure to visit the Bike Depot, operated by the non-profit Shasta Living Streets while in the downtown. Redding Downtown Connector Loop

Central Yuba City Spur This out-and-back Spur provides access to a full range of services and lodging in central Yuba City. Central Yuba City Spur

Central Merced Spur Loop This Spur provides bicycle-friendly access to historic downtown Merced, the Amtrak station, and to a large concentration of lodging options, which are located outside the historic downtown in the vicinity of the Route 99 freeway. Central Merced Spur Loop

Central Madera Spur Loop This Spur loops through the historic downtown in both the southbound and northbound direction, providing access to a large range of lodging and service options. Central Madera Spur Loop

Central Fresno Spur Loop Connecting with the GCVBR at convenient locations in both the southbound and northbound direction, this Spur provides a scenic tour of many of the most interesting and historic areas of the city. Access to all services and the Fresno Amtrak station. Central Fresno Spur Loop

GCVBR Central Clovis Spur Loop An additional alternative to travel by bicycle through the Fresno Metropolitan area, this Spur loops through the downtown of historic Clovis in both the southbound and northbound directon, providing access to abundant dining, services and lodging opportunities. Central Clovis Spur Loop

Central Visalia Spur Loop Visit historic downtown Visalia from either the southboun or northbound direction along this Spur Loop alternative to the GCVBR Mainline. Access to all services and multiple lodging options. Central Visalia Spur Loop

Riding Conditions

Generally, the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route has a low elevation profile and is an easy ride for cyclists with experience riding on public roads. Except for a well-graded, short 2-mile gravel section in the northern Sacramento Valley near Red Bluff, the entire route is paved.

Bicyclist safety, primarily related to vehicular traffic, has been an important consideration in planning the GVCBR. Over 70 miles of the route follows high quality paved trails along scenic river corridors, through natural areas and across urban areas, enabling traffic-free travel. Most of the remaining route follows public streets with bike lanes and bikeways, low volume country roads, quiet residential streets, and low speed pedestrian/bicycle-friendly downtown commercial areas. In order to avoid roadways with high traffic volumes and noise as much as possible, only approximately 12 miles of the route follows state highways, typically in short segments.

Who Is the Route For?

"On the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route,stopping is as important as going." Any bicyclist can enjoy riding the GCVBR, but it has not been primarily planned for centurions and others where speed, competition, high mileage, and an athletic workout are the primary motivation for bicycle travel. Rather, the indirect nature of the route seeks to maximize opportunities to learn about and enjoy the many historic, cultural and natural wonders of the Valley. Portions of the route are also useful as comfortable daily inter- and intra-city commuter routes.

Although the GCVBR is routed on low-traffic and low-speed roads as much as possible, large portions of the route do not have special provisions for bicyclists. It is planned for adult bicyclists, 16 years of age or older, with a drivers license and knowledge of both motor vehicle and bicycle traffic laws and several years of riding experience. Riders should be comfortable riding in shared roadway conditions with variable amounts of motor vehicle traffic and be aware and use caution at all times

Services

Much of the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route travels through sparsely settled rural areas of the Valley. Nevertheless, services are easily available to meet the needs of touring bicyclists. With a few exceptions, food and beverages, including fruit stands, grocery stores, restaurants, wineries and pubs, are found within 10 to 20-mile maximum spacing along the route. Support services, such as bicycle shops and general retail are located within the cities and towns along the route, generally no greater than 20 to 25 miles apart. Overnight accommodations, including accommodations for both hotel/motel users as well as campers, can be found along the main route or via the Alternative Spur Routes, spaced suitable for 25-60-mile riding days.

When to Ride

Due to Californa's Mediterranean climate, bicyclists ride the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route in all seasons. Fall, Winter, and Spring, between October and May, are marvelous seasons in the Valley and, perhaps, the best months for an extended tour by bicycle.

In Fall (October-November), the harvest of the Valley's agricultural bounty is on, with abundant farm stands, the grape crush and local festivals. Mild temperatures, lots of sunshine, and emerging Fall colors make this a preferred season for many touring bicyclists.

Even though the Winter months of December through February are the wettest of the year, there are typically long periods of cool sunny days, allowing an extended tour of a week or more. A highlight of the winter season is the abundant activity in the wetlands and wildlife sanctuaries, filled with millions of waterfowl on their annual migration along the Pacific Flyway. There can be periods of cold, rain, and Tule fog, so be prepared with appropriate riding gear or plan to take a couple of days off during those times. Fortunately, rainy conditions in the Valley often only last a few days, followed by periods of clear warm sunshine.

Spring (March-May) brings mile upon mile of blooming almond and citrus orchards, mustard blooming between the vines, and wilflower-covered luminous green hills. The Valley hums with the sound of busy bee pollinators and the ground is covered with flower petals that look like snow. This is the season of Springtime events such as the "Blossom Trail" (Fresno County) and Chico Velo's "Wildflower Century."

Summer (June-September) is usually hot, with late-afternoon temperatures often reaching over 100 degrees fahrenheit. Daily summertime riding is, therefore, best done on a split schedule, from sun-up to noon and, if desired, continuing in the pleasant evening hours until sunset. A good season to take an easy pace, swim in the afternoon, and enjoy a cool beverage in the shade by the river.

Riding Direction

Bicyclists ride the Great Central Valley Bicycle Route both north-to-south and south-to-north, but most riders prefer the former. Generally, prevailing winds in the Valley come from the northwest, giving southbound riders a pleasant lift. Although the informastion shown on this site can be used in either direction most of the mapping, cue sheets and text have been prepared with a north-to-south riding direction in mind.