My wish list…
Day 1 – Visit Capulin Volcano National Monument and stop for the night at Sugarite Canyon State Park outside Raton, NM
Day 2 – Mesa Verde National Park near Cortez, CO
Highway of Legends out of Trinidad http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/co12.html “The Scenic Highway of Legends is a national scenic by-way. Beautiful, and relatively un-discovered part of Colorado. Start in Walsenburg at I-25 and Hwy 160. Modern hotels, the Mining Museum, Art Museum. You’re in Spanish Peaks Country. The Peaks dominate the landscape, and the Culebra Range of the Rockies frame the western view. Take Hwy 12 to La Veta…art museums, Francisco Fort, quaint and friendly town. Head south on Hwy 12, through the village of Cuchara, have to stop at the Dog Bar, head south on 12 over Cuchara Pass into Las Animas County, follow Hwy 12 into Trinidad for great food, shopping, modern hotels. Hwy 12 is designated as a Scenic Byway. The route from Walsenburg to Trinidad is about 80 miles, plan on a day as you’ll be whipping your camera out every 10 minutes!!! Enjoy the ride, it’s one of the most scenic rides and convenient to the Front Range.”
US 160 through Colorado http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/co_us160.html “I rode this in July starting just east of Durango. Going over the Wolf Creek Pass is breathtaking. Going up the west side, it’s mostly 4 lane, so it’s easy to pass. Going down the east side was mostly 2 lane after you got about halfway down, but it wasn’t a problem as people were going fast enough. Pagosa Springs is a great place to spend the night and spend some time soaking in the hot springs. Then everyone can wonder why you smell like sulpher the next day.”
Day 3 – full day touring the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park
Day 4 – Ride through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Zion National Park (both in Utah) and stay at Great Basin National Park in Nevada
Leaving Mesa Verde from http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/co_us160sw.html “Excellent 2 lane paved highway through barren and lonely high desert area. Very little traffic. Route is through the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. The highway passes the Four Corners Monument and Navajo Tribal Park. The only geographical location in the USA where four states intersect. New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado. The monument is on Navajo Tribal Park land and costs $3.00 to enter. Booths are set up around the monument and sell Indian handicrafts. Good riding highway for all skill levels with curves, twists, long sweeps and elevation changes. Fascinating scenery. Full amenities in Kayenta. Gas and snacks available at Red Mesa and Mexican Water.”
Road through Zion http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ut9.html “I highly recommend this scenic drive to anyone interested in a leisurely ride through unique scenery. Don’t plan to travel quickly along this road, though. Even if the traffic is flowing, the speed limit is slow (through the towns and especially Zion Nat’l Park). Once in Zion you’ll want to go slow to enjoy the unique scenery and wildlife, and take the occasional short hike; spotting wild rams and other animals is not unusual. You could spend days enjoying the park if you can stay there, but it’s winding roads with steep sides, lots of tourist traffic, and eager park rangers with ticket-books make this a leisurely ride, not a canyon knee-dragger. I make a habit of hitting this road twice a year: once in early spring and once in late fall. Traffic though Zion requires a fee of $25 (2008 prices) or an annual pass, even if you don’t stop along the way. It’s worth it!”
Day 5 – Overland Hotel & Saloon in Fallon, NV on Highway 50 “The Loneliest Road in America” (had to change route when I found out the road I planned to take to Yosemite is still closed for the winter)
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/nv_us50.html “US 50, the ‘Loneliest Road in America’, is a great ride. We started in Delta, UT @7:30 MDT 6/16/06 and stopped for coffee and a snack at the Border Inn near Baker NV. Nice folks, nice place, food looked good. Passed through Ely, a unique western town as our route paralleled the Pony Express in spots. There is an old way station along the route which is in the process of being restored. Mountain passes and huge flat stretches with marvelous vistas the entire way. Stopped for lunch in Eureka at the Owl Casino/Cafe. Very good. Cruised through Austin, another unique western town (actually they all are on this stretch), and stopped at Cold Spring for a beer. Great little place, a true oasis in the desert. Cruised in to Fallon and stayed for the night before visiting Virginia City and Reno. We stayed at the Stockman Hotel and Casino, very nice acommodations and we had a terrific steak dinner at the casino restaurant.”
Day 6 – Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite National Park for the Treasures of Yosemite Rally
Taking US 88 because 4 and 108 are closed for winter. http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ca88.html “I rode this road from Plymouth to junction with 89. I loved this ride, the scenery was great, with plenty of elevation changes and twists. There is a few blind corners that had a wild turkey or a deer around them, but as long as you’re awake you will be just fine. I didn’t have to much trouble with other traffic, but I was out in the morning on a Saturday. Had a lot of fun and am ready to go again.”
From 88 to Yosemite http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ca49.html “CA 49 is one of my favorite local routes. It stretches from Loyalton all the way south to Oakhurst, near Yosemite. From tip to tip, it’s one of the most beautiful and relaxing rides there is. There are spots of annoying congestion (Auburn and Placerville are the two biggest offenders) as it winds through many towns (mostly very small), but it doesn’t take long to get back to the beauty of the natural area. As the ’49’ suggests, this highway visits many of the old Gold Rush towns, each with their own personality. You get a little bit of everything from a ride perspective on this route (twisties, sweepers, flat open ground) and there are very few sections of this highway that don’t offer at least pleasant scenery. 49 ties in with almost all of the passes that take you over the Sierras (towards 395) and they are all pretty special as well. There is ample opportunity for fuel, food and rest stops along 49. I travel portions of this route every year (I’ve done every mile of it on differnt trips) and look forward to it every time. The route could be done tip to tip all in one day if so desired without trying too hard.”
Route 41 to Tenaya http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ca41.html “Very scenic and great sweepers!”
Day 7 – Yosemite National Park
Day 8 – Yosemite National Park
Day 9 – Visit Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park and stay at undetermined stop
Day 10 – Visit Death Valley National Park and stay at Grand Canyon Hotel (hostel rooms) in Williams, AZ
Route 190 through Death Valley http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ca190.html “Gorgeous, vast nothingness. This is a beautiful route across one of the most infamous areas of California. We went through it on the way back from Vegas to the Coast in late October. It was in the 40’s in Las Vegas, 90’s at the floor of Death Valley. Unlimited visibility. Keep in mind that it is a National Park and there are Park Rangers that patrol with radar. Generally, you can see their green and white SUV’s at quite a distance. The road is super smooth with awesome sweepers. It was an incredible experience that I will not soon forget.”
Historic Route 66 http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/az66.html “Road is in fair shape with patchwork and an occasional pothole here and there. Very scenic with mountains to the north and the cool northern Arizona air. Area is great if there is a storm on the horizon. Seligman has a place to gas up and get a snack before heading on to Kingman, also one can get on Route 66 from I-40 here.”
Day 11 – Visit Grand Canyon National Park and stop at Route 66 Hostel in Albuquerque, NV
After Grand Canyon http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/az_us89.html “Remarkably scenic route if you like the unlimited variations of volcanic rock formations in all colors. Straight and ‘boring’ ride in motorcylist’s terms, which allows you alot of time to enjoy the scenery. Gas at every opportunity – civilization (besides the occasional ‘Indian Blanket’ stand) is non existent from about 50 miles north of Flagstaff all the way to Page. Obviously a bit hot in the summer (carry plenty of water), but a must travel road.”
Day 12 – It’s over 650 miles to get home from here so I’m not sure if I’ll want to do it in one day or stop somewhere along the way.
