Keeping our global bikepacking route network accurate, accessible, and up to date is no small task. Today, we’re launching an expanded Route Alerts system to help riders navigate changing conditions, identify potential hazards, and help improve and preserve our routes. Learn about the five new alert categories and how you can help keep this community-driven resource rolling smoothly for future bikepackers…

As the leading creator and publisher of bikepacking routes, BIKEPACKING.com is committed to maintaining, improving, and advocating for our growing global route network. Our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards work with the bikepacking community to identify opportunities to improve connectivity, conservation, and access. And with more than 550 routes spanning 70+ countries, the Bikepacking Routes Network is an ever-evolving resource.

Trails close, land access changes, natural events reshape landscapes, and new logistical challenges arise. To better organize the data behind the scenes, help riders stay informed, and keep our routes as accurate and reliable as possible, we’re introducing an expanded Route Alerts system—a new centralized application for tracking, managing, and communicating important updates across the entire network.

Bikepacking Route Alerts

Route Alerts will appear directly on individual route guides, providing timely information about conditions and issues that could affect a ride. We’ve established five alert categories: Detour, for recommended or required reroutes with an established alternative; Closure, for closed roads or trails; Warning, for potential hazards or safety concerns; Advocacy, for land access issues and opportunities for community involvement, such as this one noting the unfortunate reality unfolding in Big Bend National Park; and Scouting Needed, for sections where we’re seeking on-the-ground observations, testing, or feedback from riders. Each alert will include a date, description, and severity level so readers can quickly understand its significance.

Beyond keeping riders informed, Route Alerts are designed to make our growing route network more collaborative and responsive. Launched in 2022, the community Route Alert form appears beneath the map on any route, allowing readers/riders to submit issues or opportunities for individual routes. With hundreds of routes to maintain, firsthand reports from the bikepacking community are invaluable. This new, expanded system will help us share issues, track updates, and highlight opportunities for riders to contribute local knowledge or get involved in protecting access. It’s another step toward making the Bikepacking Routes Network a more dependable, community-driven resource for all.

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