U.S. Bicycle Route 76 (USBR 76) is a cross-country

bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. Bic ...

route east of

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes, the other being

U.S. Bicycle Route 1 U.S. Bicycle Route 1 (often called U.S. Bike Route 1, abbreviated USBR 1) is a cross-country bicycle route that will run the length of the United States eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes ...

. USBR 76 runs from the Midwestern state of

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

to the eastern seaboard state of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. It is also known as the TransAmerica Bike Route and is contained within the

TransAmerica Bicycle Trail The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail was the first bicycle touring route to cross the U.S. It was developed and mapped by Adventure Cycling Association, and travels between Astoria, Oregon, and Yorktown, Virginia, along mostly rural, two-lane highways. ...

. A spur, U.S. Bicycle Route 176, was established in Virginia in 2016.

History

Bicycle Route 76 originated as the

Bikecentennial Bikecentennial '76 was an event consisting of a series of bicycle tours on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail across the United States in the summer of 1976 in commemoration of the bicentennial of America's Declaration of Independence. The route cr ...

, the route for a large bike tour organized for the 1976 celebration of the

United States Bicentennial The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...

. The Adventure Cycling Association was at that time also known as the "Bikecentennial." USBR 76 was established in 1982 as an original U.S. Bicycle Route, along with U.S. Bicycle Route 1 from

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

to Virginia. Bicycle traffic along a good deal of Bicycle Route 76 has been sparse to practically non-existent for several years. However, a 2003 conference encouraged the establishment of new interstate bicycle routes, as well as proposing the extension the two existing ones, 76's western terminus being conjectured on the

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

coast. Since 2014, the annual Trans Am Bike Race has used the route.

Route description

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Kansas

In Kansas, USBR 76 runs from the Colorado state line at K-96 near

Towner, Colorado Towner is a census-designated place (CDP) in and governed by Kiowa County, Colorado, United States. The population of the Towner CDP was 22 at the United States Census 2010. The Sheridan Lake post office ( Zip Code 81071) serves Towner postal ...

, to the Missouri state line at K-126 near

Pittsburg, Kansas Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States, located in southeast Kansas near the Missouri state border. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the ci ...

Missouri

In the state of

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, USBR 76 is signed. The route begins at the

border west of Golden City, continuing east across of the state before reaching the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

just west of Chester, Illinois. The route passes through the following counties: *

Ste. Genevieve County Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County (French: Ste-Geneviève), is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,479. The largest city and county ...

St. Francois County St. Francois County () is a county located in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 66,922. The largest city and county seat is Farmington. The county was officially organized on Decem ...

Iron County Iron County is the name of four counties in the United States: *Iron County, Michigan *Iron County, Missouri *Iron County, Utah *Iron County, Wisconsin Iron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, t ...

* Reynolds County * Shannon County * Texas County * Wright County * Webster County * Greene County ** Just east of Walnut Grove, USBR 76 intersects the Frisco Highline Trail, which connects the route to

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

to the south and Bolivar to the north * Dade County *

Jasper County Jasper County is the name of eight counties in the United States of America. All are named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Five counties share a boundary with a Newton County, named for John Newton John ...

* Barton County

Illinois

In the state of

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, USBR 76 intersects the

Tunnel Hill State Trail The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a bicycle trail running from Eldorado to Karnak, Illinois. The trail runs along the former bed of a part of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad, a transportation unit led during its early years by Civil War General Am ...

in southern Illinois and passes through the following counties: *

Randolph County Randolph County is the name of eight counties in the United States: *Randolph County, Alabama *Randolph County, Arkansas *Randolph County, Georgia *Randolph County, Illinois *Randolph County, Indiana *Randolph County, Missouri *Randolph County, Nort ...

* Jackson County * Williamson County * Johnson County * Pope County * Hardin County

Kentucky

In the state of

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

, USBR 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycle tours publication.

Virginia

In the state of

, part of USBR 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycling publication. The route passes along the following roads and through the following counties and communities: * State Route 80 (Virginia) from Elkhorn City, Kentucky to

Meadowview, Virginia Meadowview (listed as Meadow View by the Census Bureau) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 967 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport– Bristol (TN)– Bristol (V ...

in Washington County * Buchanan County (10.9 mi.) *

Dickenson County Dickenson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,124. Its county seat is Clintwood. History Dickenson County, formed in 1880 from parts of Buchanan County, Russell County, ...

(20.6 mi.) * Russell County (20.1 mi.) * Washington County (38.4 mi.) ** Meadowview to

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

U.S. Route 58 U.S. Route 58 (US 58) is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee, to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only ...

from Damascus, where the route crosses the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail to County Route 603 through

Smyth County Smyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,800. Its county seat is Marion. History Smyth County was formed on February 23, 1832, from Washington and Wythe counties. The county i ...

to Troutdale in Grayson County * Smyth County (6.4 mi.) * Grayson County (7.4 mi.) ** State Route 16 from Troutdale to Sugar Grove in Smyth County *

(14.7 mi.) *

Wythe County Wythe County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,290. Its county seat is Wytheville. History Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County in 1790. It wa ...

(34.7 mi.) * Pulaski County (23 mi.) * City of Radford (2.6 mi.) * Montgomery County (27.9 mi.) ** County Routes 787, 664, 600, and 666 from Radford to Christiansburg ** Ellett Road (County Route 723) from

Cambria Cambria is a name for Wales, being the Latinised form of the Welsh name for the country, . The term was not in use during the Roman period (when Wales had not come into existence as a distinct entity). It emerged later, in the medieval period, a ...

in Christiansburg to Ellett crossing the

Eastern Continental Divide The Eastern Continental Divide, Eastern Divide or Appalachian Divide is a hydrographic divide in eastern North America that separates the easterly Atlantic Seaboard watershed from the westerly Gulf of Mexico watershed. The divide nearly span ...

and passing under the

Wilson Creek Bridge The Wilson Creek Bridge (also known as the Smart Road Bridge) is the second tallest bridge in Virginia at tall, the tallest being the US-460 Corridor Q bridge over Grassy Creek and Virginia State Route 610 between Pike County and Buchanan Coun ...

, second tallest bridge in Virginia, and part of the

Virginia Smart Road The Virginia Smart Road, also known as simply the Smart Road or Smart Highway, is a short, limited access road in Montgomery County, Virginia, used for the testing of pavement technologies and as a proving ground for new transportation technologie ...

, and passing Trinity United Methodist Church,

Earhart House Earhart House, also known as Earhart Farm #2 and Walters Farm, is a historic home located near Ellett, Montgomery County, Virginia. The house was built about 1856, and is a two-story, frame dwelling with an integral two-story rear ell. It has ...

, and

Blankenship Farm Blankenship Farm is a historic home and barn located near Ellett, Montgomery County, Virginia. The farmhouse was built around 1929, and is a three-bay, two-story, brick, hipped roofed, American Foursquare-style dwelling. In addition to the far ...

** Lusters Gate Road (County Route 723) from Ellett to Lusters Gate passing through the Virginian Railway Underpass and New Ellett and through Ellett Valley with the North Fork of the Roanoke River to the east and the Eastern Continental Divide and Blacksburg a few miles to the west ** Catawba Road (County Route 785) from Lusters Gate to the

Roanoke County Roanoke County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Cave ...

line passing through Catawba Valley * Roanoke County (13.7 mi.) ** Blacksburg Road (County Route 785) from the Montgomery County line to Catawba passing out of the Roanoke River watershed and into the

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...

(

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesapea ...

) watershed ** County Route 779 from Catawba to the

Botetourt County Botetourt County ( ) is a US county that lies in the Roanoke Region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the mountainous portion of the state, the county is bordered by two major ranges, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mount ...

line * Botetourt County (40.5 mi.) *

Rockbridge County Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its county seat is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the ...

(17 mi.) * City of Lexington (3 mi.) * Rockbridge County (27.6 mi.) *

Augusta County Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county ...

and Nelson County (29.8 mi) * Just south of Waynesboro near

Afton Mountain Rockfish Gap is a wind gap located in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Charlottesville and Waynesboro, Virginia, United States, through Afton Mountain, which is frequently used to refer to the gap. Joining the Shenandoah Valley to the Piedmont ...

, the route runs along the

Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenand ...

for about 25 miles, overlooking the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge- ...

to the west and Nelson County's Rockfish Valley to the east. * Albemarle County (38.9 mi.) * City of Charlottesville (3.7 mi.) *

Fluvanna County Fluvanna County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,249. Its county seat is Palmyra, while the most populous community is the census designated place of Lake ...

(21.7 mi.) *

Goochland County Goochland County is a county located in the Piedmont of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its southern border is formed by the James River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,727. Its county seat is Goochland. Goochland County is includ ...

(4.1 mi.) * Louisa County (31.4 mi.) * Hanover County (50.7 mi.) * Henrico County (16 mi.) *

Charles City County Charles City County is a county located in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated southeast of Richmond and west of Jamestown. It is bounded on the south by the James River and on the east by the Chickahominy River. The ...

(26.8 mi.) *

James City County James City County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,254. Although politically separate from the county, the county seat is the adjacent independent city of Williamsburg. Located ...

(13.9 mi.) ** Along the

Colonial Parkway Colonial Parkway is a scenic parkway linking the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It is part of the National Park Service's Colonial National Historical Park. Virginia's official state cla ...

to Yorktown * City of Williamsburg (3.2 mi.) * York County (11.4 mi) ** Yorktown Total miles: 560.1

Auxiliary routes

U.S. Bicycle Route 176

U.S. Bicycle Route 176 is a

connector route A connector is a highway or freeway road that connects to another highway or freeway. It can be part of an interchange such as the MacArthur Maze or a longer roadway such as the Interstate 635. A connector route is a type of special route or su ...

that connecting USBR 1 and USBR 76 at a point a little further south than where the routes cross. It travels along the Virginia Capital Trail for .

References

External links

Adventure Cycling - TransAmerica Trail
{{authority control 076 Bike paths in Illinois Bike paths in Kansas Bike paths in Kentucky Bike paths in Missouri Bike paths in Virginia