Southwest USA motorcycle vacation - looking for suggestions

[elvisboy77]

I am thinking of doing a week or so long vacation in the Southwest US next year, maybe fall??  Want to ride with my daughter, who also rides.  Looking for suggestions for rentals, best time of year, and routes.  Would like to see the Grand Canyon, southern Utah stuff, etc.

Phoeniz AZ looks like a good starting point, anyone know of good bike rentals there?

Thanks for any advice!

[blackbuell]

If you travel there in the summer you will encounter very dense crowds of tourists/campers in the major national parks, such as Zion, Arches, and Bryce. Things calm down a bit in late September/early October. We spent 10 days in the four corners area this year during early October; weather wasn't too bad, but you can encounter snow then at high altitudes.

Jon

[Lcarlson]

Southwestern Utah is spectacular and has the parks BB mentioned and more, including the fabulous Utah route 12 through the the Grand Staircase Escalante National monument. Rent in Las Vegas is easiest.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Southwestern Utah is spectacular and has the parks you mention and more, including the fabulous Utah route 12 through the the Grand Staircase Escalante National monument. Rent in Las Vegas is easiest.

What Larry says. I've been everywhere, man.. wrote a song about it.. that part of Utah is not to be missed.

[kingoffleece]

Oh, yea.  Rt. 12 all the way to Capital Reef.  fantastic.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Tough call, but that may be the most beautiful road in the US. <shrug>

[PeteS]

Tough call, but that may be the most beautiful road in the US. <shrug>

No argument here.

With a week to explore let me suggest getting a map of the SW US.

Find Prescott, AZ and draw a horizontal line from California to I-25
Find Kingman, AZ and draw a vertical north south line from I-70 south to the line you just drew.
Use I-70 as your east west line across the top and I-25 as your north-south line on the east.
That box will encompass many of the most scenic areas of the Southwest.
Others can fill in the details.
Some other high points for me is US64 east of Taos, US550 from Durango to Ouray, CO., Old US66 from Kingman to Williams, AZ, mostly for the history.
Monument Valley, Mesa Verde..........

Pete

[Guzzistajohn]

Chaco Canyon, NM is the most quiet, serene place I've ever been. The historical significance surrounding this place is incredible. Mesa Verde is a must see also IMHO

[JJ]

* Spring and Fall are the BEST seasons, by far in Arizona.  Summer is BRUTAL in the "Valley of the Sun" - not recommended

* Flying into and out of Phoenix is not an issue.  There are several EAGLE RIDER locations to rent motorcycles.

* If you DO come in the summer, you want to head north, to the high country in Utah / Colorado / New Mexico.  Zion / Capital Reef / Bryce Canyon in Utah all worth seeing.  The Grand Canyon is a "Tourist Zoo" during summertime. 

* Monument Valley /  Painted Desert / Petrified Forest / Meteor Crater also worth seeing.

* Just my two cents...

[Guzzi Gal]

* Spring and Fall are the BEST seasons, by far in Arizona.  Summer is BRUTAL in the "Valley of the Sun" - not recommended

* Flying into and out of Phoenix is not an issue.  There are several EAGLE RIDER locations to rent motorcycles.

* If you DO come in the summer, you want to head north, to the high country in Utah / Colorado / New Mexico.  Zion / Capital Reef / Bryce Canyon in Utah all worth seeing.  The Grand Canyon is a "Tourist Zoo" during summertime. 

* Monument Valley /  Painted Desert / Petrified Forest / Meteor Crater also worth seeing.

* Just my two cents...

^^^ and consider visiting the Grand Canyon's north rim instead.  It will have fewer people and breathtaking scenery.

[LowRyter]

You want to skip Colorado? 

[blackbuell]

On our most recent trip to the four corners area we avoided the major tourist traps and visited some less popular spots, including petrified forest/painted desert, moki dugway, goosenecks state park, natural bridges national monument, goblin valley state park, and Colorado national monument. We had planned to camp at the north end of lake Powell, but when we got there we found that part of the lake to be completely dried up and the campgrounds had been bulldozed. We took wonderful hikes at most places; goblin valley was our favorite; hiked through a slot canyon there.


The best MC roads in the area IMO: Utah 12/24/95, and 128 near Moab; 550, 141, 149 in SW Colorado. All are among the BEST motorcycle roads in the country.


Keep us informed,


Jon





Route 128 south of Moab.

[Kiwi Dave]

goblin valley was our favorite.

+1

I suggest visit later in the afternoon, when the shadows are forming.  Midday is the wrong time.

[Tkelly]

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a poor man's Grand canyon without crowds.

[PJPR01]

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a poor man's Grand canyon without crowds.

...and exceptionally beautiful as well, with a very nice steep road you can ride all the way down to the river...great stop for a picnic on the ride.

[LowRyter]

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a poor man's Grand canyon without crowds.

not me. 

[SeanF]

You could easily spend a week in any of the four corners states, riding scenic roads and doing touristy things along the way.

Arizona - Arrive & rent in Phoenix, from there, do a clockwise loop through Sedona (have coffee with JJ), Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly*, Petrified Forest, back to Phx via 2-lane roads through National Forest. (*Canyon de Chelly (say "canyon de shay") is in the middle of the Navajo Reservation, which is quite vast and mostly flat, but the canyon itself is a very special place, and IMO well worth the trip. There is one foot trail to the bottom from the rim for which a guide is not required. Local indigenous folks still grow crops and herd livestock in the canyon bottom.)

Utah - Arrive & rent in Las Vegas, slab it to southern Utah. Pick up Highway 9 to Zion National Park, pick up 89 northbound to Highway 14 and  148 for Cedar Breaks, then 143 toward Panguitch, then on to 89 again & onto 12 to Bryce Canyon and environs.  Slab back to Vegas.

Colorado - Fly into any city that rents bikes and point your front wheel toward the mountains. Like an optimistic motorcycle ad on Craigslist, "too much to list!"

New Mexico - Arrive & rent in Albuquerque. A nice clockwise loop(-ish) is Cuba, Los Alamos, Chama, Tres Piedras, Taos, Santa Fe.  It may lack the big name tourist spots but, they don't call it The Land of Enchantment for nothing.

I haven't spent much time in California so I'll leave that to others.

But for the Four Corners states, those are some suggestions. As already stated, fall really is the best time to visit, so Mid-September through say late April. Summer temperatures at Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce are brutal, as are the tourist crowds. They also clog up the beautiful roads, campgrounds and hotels.

By and large, looking at a map, the green National Forest areas will be scenic and have wonderful 2-lane paved highways. I know this falls into the category of "easier said than done", but try not to rush through to see everything in the shortest amount of time. Many places reveal their beauty in their own time.

Good luck, ride safe, post pics!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Many places reveal their beauty in their own time.

*Very* good point, Sean..

[elvisboy77]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied!  I think I need to take a month or two off to do it right.

I will go over these suggestions this weekend with my Meredith and let you know what we decide.  Sounds like it would be hard to go wrong with any of these.

It is so exciting to plan a trip like this.  I went through this area in 1986 on an XC trip on my V65SP.  Been too long!

[PeteS]

Most everyone has mentioned the natural sights to see. In addition there are many manmade creations worth a visit including the two steam railroads operating through some spectacular country. The Durango and Silverton out of Durango, CO and Cumbres and Toltec out of Chama, NM. Google the names to get an idea of the their trains and scenery they travel through. Have lunch or stay over night in the St James Hotel in Cimarron, NM. Goes back over 150 years and many famous people stayed and fought there.
Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Taos, NM all worth a stop.
Get a copy of "Roadfood" by the Stearns. Lots of little places to eat that only the locals know about and off the beaten path. Two we found in the book are Durango Cafe in Durango, CO and Capitol Reef Inn and Cafe in Torrey, Ut.
Places we never would have thought of on our own.

Pete

[Dharma Bum]

"almost heaven, West Virginia Colorado" fixed it!

[rocker59]

Most everyone has mentioned the natural sights to see. In addition there are many manmade creations worth a visit including the two steam railroads operating through some spectacular country. The Durango and Silverton out of Durango, CO and Cumbres and Toltec out of Chama, NM. Google the names to get an idea of the their trains and scenery they travel through. Have lunch or stay over night in the St James Hotel in Cimarron, NM. Goes back over 150 years and many famous people stayed and fought there.
Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Taos, NM all worth a stop.
Get a copy of "Roadfood" by the Stearns. Lots of little places to eat that only the locals know about and off the beaten path. Two we found in the book are Durango Cafe in Durango, CO and Capitol Reef Inn and Cafe in Torrey, Ut.
Places we never would have thought of on our own.

Pete

I'm with Pete.   

[rocker59]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied!  I think I need to take a month or two off to do it right.
 

It's really big country out there.  It's easy to plan "too much, too far".

If you're flying into Phoenix, doing Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and then taking the curvy way back through eastern AZ will eat up your trip without allowing you enough time in Utah.

Many of the Harley-Davidson rental peeps I've met on the road in Utah flew into Las Vegas Nevada to tour Southern Utah / Northern Arizona in a big oblong loop either side of the AZ/UT border.  That would mean doing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, to keep the loop manageable.

Something like this:  https://goo.gl/maps/n8tXGuJ71US2

There are many ways to skin a cat.  Just don't plan too much for one trip.  It will still be there for your next one.

Mid- to Late-September is good. Moderate temperatures and most of the tourists are done after Labor Day Weekend.  If you get too far into October the temps will be cool at elevation, with snow likely. The good thing about the last week of September to the first week of October is the Aspen trees will be yellow.  When you're at elevation, the fall colors can be spectacular.

[elvisboy77]

It's really big country out there.  It's easy to plan "too much, too far".

If you're flying into Phoenix, doing Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and then taking the curvy way back through eastern AZ will eat up your trip without allowing you enough time in Utah.

Many of the Harley-Davidson rental peeps I've met on the road in Utah flew into Las Vegas Nevada to tour Southern Utah / Northern Arizona in a big oblong loop either side of the AZ/UT border.  That would mean doing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, to keep the loop manageable.

Something like this:  https://goo.gl/maps/n8tXGuJ71US2

There are many ways to skin a cat.  Just don't plan too much for one trip.  It will still be there for your next one.

Mid- to Late-September is good. Moderate temperatures and most of the tourists are done after Labor Day Weekend.  If you get too far into October the temps will be cool at elevation, with snow likely. The good thing about the last week of September to the first week of October is the Aspen trees will be yellow.  When you're at elevation, the fall colors can be spectacular.

Thanks!  Yes, I will reserve the mindless wandering for about 3 years from now, when I retire!  Meantime this sounds like FUN!

[kingoffleece]

I hope to retire out that way 2-3 years also.

[elvisboy77]

I hope to retire out that way 2-3 years also.

I'm not counting the hours yet, but I will be 62 in just 938 days.....

[twowheeladdict]

Here are some of my UT photos to tempt you further.








symbol for lead nitrate

[JJ]

I hope to retire out that way 2-3 years also.

We moved from north Scottsdale to the VOC, (Village of Oak Creek, outside of Sedona), in 2016.  I retired in Aug. 2018 (@ age 64).  No regrets whatsoever!   







From northern AZ, if you draw a wagon wheel on a map, there are unlimited areas to ride to and explore within 5-6 hours!!   ...and best of all, 300 days of sunshine per year and very "temperate" weather.  

However, you must really like all outdoors activities, local wildlife, and nature's scenic beauty. It is definitely NOT a place for for people who like all the amenities and "action" of a big city (IMHO)

[Joliet Jim]

That fastest color yellow Centauro sure looks good with those rocks in the background.

[JJ]

That fastest color yellow Centauro sure looks good with those rocks in the background.

Thanks Joilet Jim!   A few more photos for you!




<br

My poor Centauro GT...now 20 years old...with 13K miles on the clock.  I worry about it, and have installed every known upgrade available to make it more reliable...and hope it will continue to.  All I can do is to RIDE IT and maintain it.  It is a BLAST to ride, and the most fun of the 5 Guzzi's I have ever owned.

God willing, it will be at the Cottonwood N.A.R, The New Mexico State Rally in Datil, and SOCAL Lake Henshaw N.A.R. again in 2019!