Backroads
Backroads is the world's leading active travel company, founded in 1979 by Tom Hale. It operates over 5,000 trips annually across 60+ countries, specializing in cycling, hiking, multi-adventure, and family vacations.
The Story
Backroads was founded in 1979 when Tom Hale left an environmental planning job to launch a bike touring company from the San Francisco Bay Area. The first trip — four guests in Death Valley — set the tone for a brand built on exceptional guest experiences rather than scale at any cost.
Over four decades, Hale grew Backroads from basement operations into the world's largest active travel operator. The company weathered a bike burglary, a van rollover, 9/11, the Great Recession, and COVID-19, using each crisis to refine its operations and strengthen its value proposition.
Today, Backroads runs more than 5,000 trips a year across 60+ countries, with a portfolio that spans cycling, walking, hiking, multi-adventure, family, and culinary tours. The company remains headquartered in Berkeley, California, where it employs hundreds of staff and draws on a global network of Trip Leaders to deliver its signature small-group experiences.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
1979 — Backroads founded
Tom Hale and his wife Judy start Backroads as a small cycling tour company in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1985 — National expansion
Expands beyond California to offer cycling and hiking trips across the United States and internationally.
2000 — Multi-activity trips
Launches hiking, kayaking, and multi-sport trips alongside cycling, broadening the active travel portfolio.
2010 — Family and private trips
Introduces family-focused departures and private custom trips for groups, expanding the customer base.
2018 — Global active travel leader
Operates over 4,000 trips annually across 50+ countries, becoming the largest active travel company in the world.