Northern Tier 2026

On the beautiful Oregon coast, just south of Washington, we launch our journey from the beautiful cool waters of the Pacific Ocean before heading into the state of Washington as we navigate north and east.  Combining two notable geographic features — mountains and ocean — it captivates the mind and challenges us to realize that if we can overcome these mountains, we can overcome other obstacles along the way.  It is a powerful experience.

Day 1 will begin with orientation in Seaside, the place where the Lewis and Clark Trail ended.  As we will familiarize ourselves with other riders and group riding, we will have a short group ride to Astoria, OR to do this.  Relaxing Astoria is a town where the beautiful Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean while the city offers us a glimpse into its rich history.  

Over the course of the week we will have the opportunity to visit and volunteer with our partners in Quincy, Washington, along with visiting Yakima and ending in the Spokane Valley.  This journey will keep us close to the Columbia River and offers riders the opportunity to take in the scenery and to enjoy the Pacific Northwest.  

Arrival Airport: (PDX) Portland (Oregon) Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (GEG) Spokane Int’l Airport

Hello, Segment 2! Once segment riders have arrived, we’ll host our weekly team meeting on Sunday night. We will both recap the week’s ride, and plan for the week ahead.  

It is time to test your climbing legs and set our destination for some amazing sites.  We’ll start the week with a ride along the Couer d’Alene Trail into Kellogg, ID where we’ll be rewarded with another amazing volunteer day with the Silver Valley Fuller Center. 

Next we will cross over into Montana, where we will find one of the biggest highlights of this journey — Glacier National Park — with its rich scenery and wildlife.  A landscape carved by glaciers and filled with a Hidden Lake and mountain waterfalls, bring your camera for this experience.  On Saturday of this week we’ll explore the park, have the opportunity to bike its roads or hike some if its 700 miles of trails experiencing its pristine forest. If you’re up for a challenge, cycle into it on your day there — Glacier’s roads have been compared in difficulty to the challenges of the Tour de France.  

Arrival Airport: (GEG) Spokane Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (FCA) Glacier Park Int’l Airport

This week will have its climbs, yet will be a week of net elevation descent into the plains.  We will traverse the northern US close to the Canadian border and experience this vast country.  This week will be our lengthiest week of the entire trip, with an average mileage of 80 miles per day.  This will be an opportunity to truly see how large and expansive the Big Sky Country of Montana really is.

We will arrive in Williston, ND – a city where the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers meet after riding near the Missouri River Valley for some time across Montana.     

Arrival Airport: (FCA) Glacier Park Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (XWA) Williston Basin Int’l Airport 

The land continues to flatten as we make our way southeast towards Fargo. We will cross into Minot, a city full of aviation history along with with open skies.  We will end our week in Fargo, ND.  

Is is a bird?  Is it a plane?  North Dakota is known for aviation — the man-made and the migrating type.  Considered a migrating bird interstate, you may have an opportunity to see avifauna from all over.  Many of those birds stop and often stay at the states numerous lakes and rivers.  This is an opportunity to see your feathered friends you may not experience in other parts of the country.

Arrival Airport: (XWA) Williston Basin Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (FAR) Fargo Int’l Airport

Segment 5- Meeting up for the first time on the Bike Adventure with our Fuller Center in Detroit Lakes, we will be excited for our first volunteer days since week two, with a higher frequency of helping more families in the weeks ahead. You may initially come for the riding, yet helping others, sharing experiences and stories, and making new friends are why many return.  Detroit Lakes is located in a site known for summer and winter recreation and will be a nice transition as we travel through the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” of Minnesota and the lakes of Wisconsin.

We end our week with a BANG, happy 4th of July!! 

Arrival Airport: (FAR) Fargo Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (DLH) Duluth Int’l Airport

Does anyone want to put their tire in all 5 Great Lakes?  Commencing with a visit to Lake Superior, this starts a special four-week stretch that will see us visiting all five Great Lakes and concludes just past our visit to Niagara Falls.

This will be one of our higher mileage weeks, but also one with lots of experiences.  Starting on Duluth, MN on Lake Superior,  we navigate across the Northwoods of Wisconsin. After experiencing an energizing volunteer day with the Fuller Center in Marinette, WI, we will end the week by crossing over the state line into Gladstone, MI.

Arrival Airport: (DLH) Duluth Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (ESC) Delta County Airport

Discover Michigan’s hidden coast on two wheels: beginning at Gladstone, trace the glassy blue edges of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, hop the ferry to historic, car-free Mackinac Island, then roll through pine-framed dunes and past storied lighthouses before arriving in Durand’s welcoming streets.

Every mile merges sweeping water views with small-town charm, crafting an unforgettable adventure for riders hungry for horizon-to-horizon thrills and serene coastal magic.

Arrival Airport: (ESC) Delta County Airport

Departure Airport: (FNT) Flint Bishop Int’l Airport

We start the journey this week in Michigan, and ride across the top of Ohio, and end up in Pennsylvania. 

Our route journeys down various parts of the North Coast Inland Trail as we approach Lake Erie in Cleveland, OH.  The Trail is part of the U.S. Bicycle Route 30 that we will largely follow from outside of Toledo to Cleveland.  Some of this path will be on paved bicycle trails and some on crushed stone while others will navigate us on roads towards our destination.  

This week ends with the bang of hammers as we volunteer in Aurora, Ohio with local families through the local Fuller Center there. 

Not only do the states become shorter to cross, our volunteer days continue  — a reminder of why this ride impacts so many of us for a lifetime with each family that is touched by you.   

Arrival Airport: (FNT) Flint Bishop Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (ERI) Erie Int’l Airport

Here come the mountains again!!  The country is not going to allow us to cross easily, but it also represents one of our final pushes as we approach the coast.  These lush forests and glistening lakes will be revealed as we cycle through the area.  

After leaving Pennsylvania, we will have a short ride day so riders can explore the splendor of Niagara Falls. From there, the group will follow the often unpaved Empire State Trail for nearly 300 miles on their way to Albany.

This will be a great week tor riders who want to experience the Adirondacks of Upstate New York.

Arrival Airport: (ERI) Erie Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (ALB) Albany Int’l Airport

Segment 10 is finally here!  This is where the journey gains closure for the cycling and the realization of what’s next starts.  All the training miles done, miles journeyed and reflection of how many new friends you’ve made begin to reflect in your mind, it becomes both bittersweet and sentimental.  Here is where the mileage begins to slow down, but before wrapping up we have the opportunity to serve one more family in Sebago Lake, Maine.  

This will be a hilly section as we cross over into some historic areas, crossing the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine then ending in Portland ME.

Our last ride day will be a 35 -mile emotional ride on that Saturday.  We plan to gather early as we hit the coast together, stopping to make sure no one is left behind to celebrate this group success. 

Soon after, we will begin our path back to our regular lives.  Departures can begin after we arrive that afternoon around 2 p.m. and will continue until Sunday morning when we all must depart.  

This can be a tough point for some and we will offer the opportunity to share memories and reflections of the event.  Many will be impacted by the churches and builds, and its a time to unpack those events and head back to our daily lives.  How will this ride affect your future?  Come find out.  Even though we depart, many of these friends will be joining you for other rides in the future and remain friends for the rest of our lives.   

Arrival Airport: (ALB) Albany Int’l Airport

Departure Airport: (PWM) Portland (Maine) Int’l Jetport