The core route in the Connecticut Valley makes use of two bicycle paths to pass through the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, with their busy cultural life. Extensions to the core route invite the casual riders to expand their horizons, and serve bicyclists who seek a greater challenge or a longer ride. These extensions, along with the core routes, form through touring routes and link to other recognized touring routes in Connecticut, New York and Vermont. The extensions to the core routes offer additional scenic and cultural opportunities and attractions, as well as access into state parks, campgrounds and public swimming areas. All in all, route selection was inevitably subjective.
All riding is on paved roads or paths, except for a very few stretches on well-groomed dirt roads.
While the routes do proceed regularly, they do not proceed directly. Rather, they zigzag so as to take in as many points of interest and attractive scenic locations as are consistent with reasonable progress across the map. The routes avoid long, steep climbs except as options. There is always an alternate route which does not involve a major athletic challenge. Care was taken that the routes pass through town centers and other shopping areas every few miles, so that bicyclists have access to food stores, lodging and other necessary services.