Last winter, Chris Wilson and two of his friends traveled south from the Pacific Northwest to tackle California’s Stagecoach 400 bikepacking route. They were dead set on making this a relaxing getaway in the sun—but it didn’t exactly pan out that way. Watch the 40-minute film Chris put together from their ride here…
The Stagecoach 400 route was designed by Brendan Collier and Mary Metcalf-Collier, and kicked off as a race in 2012. In the years since, it has become a popular route for non-racers to follow in the spring and fall. The purpose-built bikepacking route begins and ends in Idyllwild, California, following dirt doubletrack, sandy desert roads, technical singletrack, urban bike paths, and rolling tarmac. What makes it unique is how it travels through three distinct biomes: craggy forested mountains, spectacular and desolate desert, and the ocean, with its rich coastal canyons and urban center of San Diego.
Last winter, Chris Wilson of the PNW Bikepacking YouTube channel and his good friends Rob and Paul left the wet and cold of the Pacific Northwest in search of warmer temperatures and sunshine. Unlike previous rides together, they were also convinced that this trip would be “chill,” although that didn’t exactly go as planned. Watch the 40-minute video Chris put together from their ride below.
You can find the full route guide for the Stagecoach 400 bikepacking route here. The 2025 Stagecoach 400 grand depart is scheduled for April 4th, and you can learn more about that on the event page.
Further Reading
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