Biking through Indian Reservations

[mathieu]

For 2014 I have in mind to cycle on dirt roads from Tucson-AZ to Vancouver-BC, through Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Washington.
I am European and in the past years I did several bike tours in the US. I am familiar the distinction between public and private lands regarding use of roads and camping, and with the existance of Indian reservations languishing in poverty behind the few casinos along the highways.
I  noticed that American companions that I had occasionally on some of these tours, e.g. on the GDMBR, were reluctant to use dirt roads going through these reservations.
My provisional route crosses several Indian reservations, e.g. the San Carlos reservation in AZ, the Uintah reservation in Utah, the Nez-Perce reservation in Idaho and possibly the Colville reservation in Washington
I certainly don't want to intrude on the rights and sensibilities of Natives Americans. I have the impression that they got a very poor deal in the past.

Questions:
(1) Is there a shared feeling that as an outsider you shouldn't take the dirt roads through the reservations?
(2) Is it 'safe' to ride there as a soloist, apart from the nuisance of a few unleashed dogs?
(3) Is there a distinction between private and public land, or is it all private?
(4) How about wild camping inside a reservation?

[mattyp]

i don't know specifically about those reservations, but i used to live near the navajo reservation; so bear that in mind for my answers.  The other thing to consider is that the reservations are all essentially a separate nation from the usa; so their laws will vary from nation to nation.
1)  i would stick to only the main road in and out of the reservation.  there aren't too many roads usually anyway and those are likely on native american lands; i would just assume to stay on public roads that are marked as public unless you have permission from the tribe to cross some other way.
2)  the navajo res is scary to ride through, but it can be done.  the scary part is the narrow shoulders and traffic that would rather you not be there.  res dogs are usually not an issue.
3)  the reservation is a separate nation; so it all belongs to the tribe.  there are no public lands unless specified by the tribe.
4)  i would not; see above; the laws for different tribes regarding camping would probably be different for each tribe and very difficult to find out..  if you can't push through the res in one day, consider trying to stay at a casino or take a different route.

[danimal]

Mathieu, Do you have a good idea of your route into NW Washington? Or will you go up into BC from Colville?  I live in Bellingham, WA and would be happy to share what I know of my area, and I know the east side of the state a bit too.  I can also offer a campsite if you need one around here.  Sounds like a very cool trip, except that it's going to be really hot.

[mathieu]

While Idaho is like a box of chocolates for a dirt road aficionado, my survey of Washington's road atlas was a big disappointment. For some time I was dismayed to believe that I had to cross the Cascades Range on pavement! Recently I found a short piece of dirt that should carry me over the Pacific crest:  from Yakima on WA-40, continuing along the Little Naches River and descending along the Greenwater River towards Enumclaw. From there north to Abbotsford. Not a very appealing route, but my best option so far.

Another option is to go north of the Colville reservation via Kettle River - Toroda Creek - Chesaw - Oroville into BC. The US part seems fine to me, but I haven't yet found a similar continuation on the BC side.

Any suggestions are highly welcome.

[Von Petrol]

Sounds interesting Mathieu!

Colen

[chrisx]

The Indians are big into asking for permission.
Just ask an Indian for permission to camp or use their road.
 
Its easy, sometimes getting permission includes a plate full of cookies and a cup of coffee.

If they say, ¨NO¨, or direct you to a public camp ground,   listen to them. 

(1) no
(2) yes
(3) The Indian Nations are just that, a Nation.  Similar to the German Nation, or the Dutch Nation.
(4) Ask for permission, they are nice people.


http://www.traillink.com/trail/john-wayne-pioneer-trail.aspx
check if the tunnels are open, etc.

[Adam Alphabet]

..... - Oroville into BC. The US part seems fine to me, but I haven't yet found a similar continuation on the BC side.

Any suggestions are highly welcome.

Look up the Kettle Valley Railway Rail Trail (KVR). It's a brilliant way to go east/west from the Okanagan (Canada side) towards Hope which leaves you about 150km east of Vancouver. I rode it from Hope to Kelowna last summer.

http://www.kettlevalleyrailway.ca/

Look at the 'map' tab. You could pretty much pick up the KVR (Osoyoos Subdivision) as soon as you cross the border over from Oroville.

From Hope the direct route into Vancouver is not the most appealing. Look up the Trans Canada Trail (TCT). It's more of a patch work of path and road segments arbitrarily 'connected' rather than a proper trail as the name implies.

Best of luck in the planning sounds like an incredible journey you've got in the making.

[mathieu]

Colen, I'll probably follow your tracks through the Cottonwood Canyon and Burr Trail , then going north along Capitol Reef NP (UT).

ChrisX, thanks for balancing the views on biking through reservations. My own impression, after cycling half-a-day through the Navajo reservation near Leupp-AZ, was also that through-bikers are a bit of a surprise to the locals but not treated with hostility. Anyway, I don't expect shoulders on dirt roads.

Addy, thanks a lot! I had read about the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in the Adventure Cyclist (2009), but didn't know that the trail extends much further than from Midway to Penticton. I now have Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway by Dan Langford on my e-reader and consider it a serious option.

[chrisx]

http://www.gwt.org/
http://www.pnt.org/
http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/centennialtrail/maps.cfm
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,5853.0.html

It is conceivable to take the Great Western Trail, to the Idaho Centennial Trail, to the Pacific Northwest Trail, then cross into Canada and ride the Kettle Valley Railway/Trans Canada Trail to Vancouver.  As yanks we don't ride these routes, because there is no guide book.  


Heir alpenzorro has posted here about a similar journey.
http://www.alpenzorro.de/

[Adam Alphabet]

Addy, thanks a lot! I had read about the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in the Adventure Cyclist (2009), but didn't know that the trail extends much further than from Midway to Penticton. I now have Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway by Dan Langford on my e-reader and consider it a serious option.

Glad to help. That guide is all you'll need for the KVR. In terms of back roads route planning you'll need this:
http://www.backroadmapbooks.org/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&products_id=193

They have a bunch of guides for BC and Alberta which break the provinces down regionally. From Hope to Vancouver the above guide will get you into Vancouver.