U.S. Bicycle Route 20 (USBR 20) is a U.S. Numbered Bicycle Route that is planned to run from the Oregon Coast to Marine City, Michigan.[4] As of 2021, sections of the route in Washington state and Michigan have been approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), comprising 387 miles (623 km).

U.S. Bicycle Route 20 marker
U.S. Bicycle Route 20
Route information
Length579.8 mi (933.1 km)
Existed2011–present
Washington segment
Length77.9 mi[1] (125.4 km)
West endColumbiaWalla Walla county line near Waitsburg, Washington
Major intersections
East endSouthway Bridge at Idaho state line in Lewiston, Idaho
Minnesota segment
Length314 mi[2] (505 km)
West endRed River at Interstate 94 bridge in Moorhead, Minnesota
East endHester Park on the Mississippi River north of downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota
Michigan segment
Length314 mi[3] (505 km)
West endwith US 10 at SS Badger in Ludington, Michigan (currently)
East endnear M-29 at the Bluewater Ferry in Marine City, Michigan
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesWashington, Minnesota, Michigan
Highway system
USBR 11 USBR 21

Route description

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Lengths
  mi km
WA 77.9 125.4
MN 187.9 302.4
MI 314.0 505.3
Total 579.8 933.1

Washington

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The route runs 77.9 miles (125.4 km) from the ColumbiaWalla Walla county line near Lewis and Clark Trail State Park to the Idaho state line at Clarkston, Washington, following U.S. Route 12.[5][6]

Minnesota

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The section of USBR 20 in Minnesota is 187.9 miles (302.4 km). It starts at the North Dakota border at Moorhead and the Red River. From there it is on roads and trails to Pelican Rapids. It merges with the Heart of the Lakes Trail to Maplewood State Park, and then to Fergus Falls on a section of the North Country Trail. It continues on the Central Lakes Trail to Osakis and then the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail and on to the Mississippi River at St. Cloud.

Michigan

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USBR 20 in Michigan is 314 miles (505 km). The route connects with ferries on both sides of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In Marine City in the east, it meets the Bluewater Ferry which connects to Sombra, Ontario, Canada. In the west, it connects to the Lake Michigan Carferry from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.[7]

History

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On May 4, 2011, AASHTO voted to approve the Michigan Department of Transportation's application for designation of the 310-mile-long (500 km) Michigan segment of the route.

The Washington section was approved by AASHTO in August 2021.

The Minnesota section was announced by Adventure Cycling Association on June 28, 2022.[8]

The remaining sections of the route are not yet well-defined, but it is planned to run through Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin as well as Washington, Minnesota, and Michigan.[9]

Images

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Bicycle Route System Adds 2,903 Miles of New Routes in 5 States" (Press release). Missoula, Montana: Adventure Cycling Association. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  2. ^ USBR 20 MN eastbound (Map). Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Michigan Department of Transportation (March 15, 2011). "Application for Designation of a U.S. Bicycle Route" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Packer, Jeri (February 17, 2010). "New Bike Route Ends in Downtown Marine City". The Voice. New Baltimore, MI. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Washington adds four new U.S. bike routes to its system" (Press release). Washington State Department of Transportation. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  6. ^ U.S. Bicycle Route 20, State of Washington (PDF) (Map). Washington State Department of Transportation. April 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  7. ^ Brown, Deborah (June 10, 2010). "Bike Routes Bring Big Bucks with Summer Tourism, Local Communities On Board with Proposed Bike Route". The Saginaw News. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  8. ^ "3 new routes add 650 miles to U.S. Bicycle Route System". Adventure Cycling Association. June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  9. ^ United States Bicycle Route System: National Corridor Plan (PDF) (Map). Adventure Cycling Association. August 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
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