The Grand Canyon Connector is an American cycling route designed by the Adventure Cycling Association, leading organization for promoting cyclotourism
The Grand Canyon Connector is an American cycling route designed by the Adventure Cycling Association, leading organization for promoting cyclotourism in the USA. The route allows you to cross the national parks of the Grand Canyon and Zion, in the deep American West.
The itinerary is not easy to deal with: some stretches develop into remote and resource-free territories, and so you need much preparation and experience before leaving. It should be carefully planned the supply of water and food. It can not miss even a repair kit for the bike because the stores are only in large cities.
You will cross desert and mountainous areas where the altitudes aren’t lacking.
The highest point of the itinerary is located near North Rim at 2,600 m so training is required.
It takes about two weeks to complete the route.
Navigating the Grand Canyon Connector from north to south, the starting town is Cedar City and the arrival is Tempe. You are pedaling in southern Utah and for much of Arizona.
After just a few km you will immediately enter in the Zion National Park, a canyon of about 24km and to 800m deep. The park, however, isn’t comparable with the famous Grand Canyon National Park where you are just crossed the border between the two states.
The park controls an area of 4,927 square kilometers and inside there is the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s natural wonders excavated by the Colorado River.
The route reaches Grand Canyon Village and continues, leaving behind the park, in the direction of Prescott.
From here you cross medium-large cities in flat territories although arid. Before you reach the end of the route you also have the opportunity to visit Phoenix as well.