Desert roadtrip: things to see?

[nm.otter]

Consider making a swing through southwest NM on your way back. Head south on 180 from Holbrook (or west on 70 from Globe) and see the Gila on your way to Albuquerque. Gorgeous country, big fun on two wheels.

 

[robtattoo]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll have the time to hit The Gila this time around. My major route is +/- 2000 miles. By the time I've added on side quests, detours & break days (hopefully not break down days...) that's a lot to do on a bike in 10 days! Averaging 300 miles a days on my Softail is going to be pretty challenging!

If I had a big, fluffy touring bike with a screen, stereo, A/C, TV & minibar (too much like a recliner with an engine for my liking!) no problem. But then I wouldn't have a reason to go back again!

 

[Fatcamp]

A less well known area that's worth checking out in Southern Utah is Comb Ridge. Parts of the dirt road get a little borderline in wet season.

We stayed there in March. Pretty cool place.

 

[Fatcamp]

I kinda had that route out of Moab bookmarked. Looks awesome!

Thanks for all the tips so far folks! I'm making a list of everything to plot on maps & see how much of it I can take in.

Please keep them coming

Oh, & if anyone sees this parked up somewhere, leave me a note (or a gallon of gas.....)

View attachment 897915

That's a cool bike, Rob. Did you put it together?

 

[cal30_sniper]

40 goes so close to so much cool stuff.

But misses just about all of it!

I don't understand how 40 west of the Mississippi passes close to so much cool stuff, but misses just about all of it!

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert is cool, not amazing.
Cadillac Ranch is cool as part of American motoring pop culture.

And a whole lot of nothing.

The truck traffic on 40 is what really does it in for me. US-60 is so much prettier and so much more relaxing of a drive. I feel the same about US-93 from Phoenix to Las Vegas.

 

[cal30_sniper]

If you are looking for scenery in southern Cali, you won’t regret this 100 miles. I spent a lot of time in Yuma and El Centro, and my brother was in San Diego for about 6 years. I’d take this route over the Salton Sea 10 times out of 10:

 

[robtattoo]

That's a cool bike, Rob. Did you put it together?

Thanks!
Yessir, I did. I honestly have a much fun building them as riding them.
I've got another chopper project on the go right now

 

[OMF]

Definitely hit San Diego if you can. As a former resident it is one of the best large cities in the US. It has changed much in terms of politics over the recent years, but still an awesome city.

Oh yeah. If you end up in CA in the valleys, get a date shake if you can. Trust me.

If you do the date shake, I highly recommend staying around a chitter for awhile. They're delicious but those things will clear you out!

 

[Fatcamp]

Thanks!
Yessir, I did. I honestly have a much fun building them as riding them.
I've got another chopper project on the go right now

The Sportster looks good too. What's your current project?

 

[robtattoo]

The Sportster looks good too. What's your current project?

It's another Sportster hardtail, but I'm leaning towards more of a streetfighter/tough guy build.
Example:
I'm building this'n to sell though. My heart is set on a Shovelhead....

 

[Southernfried]

LOL one thing we have learned, and we have been out West from Tennessee 7-8 times, all driven. In July, in Vegas, it is not the peak season due to the heat. But their 112° is like our 85° here. I couldnt believe it, there really was a difference to a "dry" heat vs ours. Sounds like a great trip. New Mexico, specially the Northern part is beautiful, but like others have said I40 sucks, and we have painted our names 8 times at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo lol. Just cant stop from doing it lol be safe. Sedona was one of our favorite places, and Monument Valley. My wife loves it out there due to all the "colors" you see, our green in Tennessee and everywhere East of the Mississippi is just boring after seeing it for 58 years lol

 

[Backyard]

I gotta jump in here. As mentioned, you are choosing to tour the area during the crappiest time of the year for motorcycle touring. Good luck getting even 200 miles/day on that bike in that heat. But if you do, having just come back from a 2k + mile bike trip in the SW myself last spring when it was cool, I can offer a couple suggestions on what to see and ride.
Capitol Reef, be sure to get yourself a caramel roll at the Fruita trading post, then down 12 thru Escalante to Bryce Canyon. Ride thru Zion. It’s too crowded anyway. Hit up the North Rim. Great ride in and out. And usually not crowded. Then zip down to Flagstaff, head west on the dreaded 40 for a few miles till you get to old 66. Take that down to Oatman down the Arizona Sidewinder (191 curves in 8 miles) watch out for the burros. Head to Vegas from there. Then head back east towards Sedona via Prescott and Jerome. Stop in to the oldest operating saloon in Arizona, The Palace in Prescott. Then head to Jerome. Another sweet curvy road and a pretty neat town. Then Sedona. South of there is Montezuma’s Castle, look it up. From there head south to Tortilla Flats, stick yer dollar bill on the ceiling. Then for a real treat head back towards New Mexico and hit up the curviest road in the US, Hwy 666 (191 now)the Devil’s Hwy. 460 turns in 120 miles and almost no guardrails. If you go N - S, you’ll end up riding in and through the largest copper/gold mine in the US in Morenci. From there head back up thru Durango and the Million Dollar hwy.
In between all this are countless spots of interesting things to see and experience. Just keep your eyes and mind open. Remember that almost every Natl Park has timed entry during that time of the year now also.
Have fun and ride safe.


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[RS_Non-Res]

@Backyard isn't that "curviest road in the US" ... US 191... from maybe Safford AZ to Alpine AZ (not NM)?
It was weird pulling up on the middle of the mine in the middle of the night.
I'm seeing ~137 miles in 3:10
Link to google map

No time for scenery. Example four miles:

Backwards (?) Alpine to Three Way AZ ...tops out about 9400'. the mine is that low point on this right end.

 

[Fatcamp]

@Backyard isn't that "curviest road in the US" ... US 191... from maybe Safford AZ to Alpine AZ (not NM)?
It was weird pulling up on the middle of the mine in the middle of the night.
I'm seeing ~137 miles in 3:10 but
Link to google map

That would be an epic ride on a bike!

 

[mflo]

I rode from So Cal up to Natural Bridges in August a few years ago (had a Ducati Multistrada at the time) which is covering some of the same areas you are, and I would not want to do it on an air cooled bike - kudos to you.

You've already got a ton of great suggestions for routes and places to check out, especially that route through Hanksville / Boulder / Escalante. My advice is to carry extra water... enough to douse yourself with to stay cool and to stay hydrated.

Will be an epic trip though!

 

[robtattoo]

I rode from So Cal up to Natural Bridges in August a few years ago (had a Ducati Multistrada at the time) which is covering some of the same areas you are, and I would not want to do it on an air cooled bike - kudos to you.

You've already got a ton of great suggestions for routes and places to check out, especially that route through Hanksville / Boulder / Escalante. My advice is to carry extra water... enough to douse yourself with to stay cool and to stay hydrated.

Will be an epic trip though!

People keep mentioning that about the air cooled bike. We get plenty of >100⁰ days in middle TN (with enough humidity that it stays up there at night too!)

The faster you go, the cooler it stays!

I plan on strapping a 3 liter bladder to my back & refilling it with ice & water at every stop. I'm guessing with the dry air, it should be fairly cool once the sun drops, so I may end up doing my major traveling after sunset & sightseeing during the day.

 

[sz28]

I would avoid the i40 through AZ at all costs. It's such a shit drive. Take the 260 to the 60 east through AZ and you'll hit some of the best country in the state. Head south off the 40 to the i17 and then hit 89 through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona for the best scenery. From Sedona head south to Cottonwood to pick up the 260 and continue on.

 

[Backyard]

@Backyard isn't that "curviest road in the US" ... US 191... from maybe Safford AZ to Alpine AZ (not NM)?
It was weird pulling up on the middle of the mine in the middle of the night.
I'm seeing ~137 miles in 3:10
Link to google map

No time for scenery. Example four miles:
View attachment 899533
Backwards (?) Alpine to Three Way AZ ...tops out about 9400'. the mine is that low point on this right end.
View attachment 899540

You are correct, it is in AZ. I said to head back towards NM. As in go east.
I also mentioned that the Devil’s Hwy is now named 191. It used to be 666 hence the moniker “Devil’s Hwy”.

Route 666 | Hannagan Meadow Lodge

Drive along the historic US 191, originally nicknamed The Devil's Highway. Learn more about its history, and the area, during your visit today.

www.hannaganmeadow.com

FWIW, the wife and I rode that entire route (half of which is in NM) from counterclockwise from Safford and back last spring as a day trip. We lunched in Reserve. Had the absolute worst BLT and service ever at Smokeys Cafe.
We’ve been all over the west. Thousands of miles. And I will say that the Devil’s Hwy was the hardest ride Ive done. Also the funnest.


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