^{Photo Credit: Lizard Head Cycling Guides}

Cycling the Hayduke Trail isn’t your average bikepacking route—it's a rugged, raw, and mostly off-the-map journey through some of the wildest terrain in the American Southwest.

The original Hayduke is a hiking route that runs through six national parks—places like Arches, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon—but some hardcore bikepackers have figured out ways to link up the rideable sections with dirt roads, jeep tracks, and stretches of slickrock.

It’s tough, though. You’re way out there, and it can be days before you see another person. Water’s hard to come by, the terrain is all over the place, and a lot of it’s not exactly bike-friendly—you’ll probably be pushing your bike a fair bit.

The terrain is constantly changing—one minute you're weaving through sandstone hoodoos, the next you're grinding up a dusty canyon wall. It’s a tough ride, but the payoff is worth it.

The massive, empty landscapes make you feel like you’re riding on Mars, and the sunsets that set the whole desert glowing are unreal.

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