My wish list…<\/p>\n
Day 1 – Visit Capulin Volcano National Monument<\/a> and stop for the night at Sugarite Canyon State Park<\/a> outside Raton, NM<\/p>\n Day 2 – Mesa Verde National Park<\/a> near Cortez, CO<\/p>\n Highway of Legends out of Trinidad http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/co12.html “The Scenic Highway of Legends is a national scenic by-way. \tBeautiful, and relatively un-discovered part of Colorado. \tStart in Walsenburg at I-25 and Hwy 160. \tModern hotels, the Mining Museum, Art Museum. \tYou’re in Spanish Peaks Country. \tThe Peaks dominate the landscape, and the Culebra Range of the Rockies frame the western view. \tTake Hwy 12 to La Veta…art museums, Francisco Fort, quaint and friendly town. \tHead 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. \tHwy 12 is designated as a Scenic Byway. \tThe route from Walsenburg to Trinidad is about 80 miles, plan on a day as you’ll be whipping your camera out every 10 minutes!!! \tEnjoy the ride, it’s one of the most scenic rides and convenient to the Front Range.”<\/p>\n US 160 through Colorado http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/co_us160.html “I rode this in July starting just east of Durango. \tGoing over the Wolf Creek Pass is breathtaking. \tGoing up the west side, it’s mostly 4 lane, so it’s easy to pass. \tGoing 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. \tPagosa Springs is a great place to spend the night and spend some time soaking in the hot springs. \tThen everyone can wonder why you smell like sulpher the next day.”<\/p>\n Day 3 – full day touring the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park<\/p>\n Day 4 – Ride through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area<\/a> and Zion National Park<\/a> (both in Utah) and stay at Great Basin National Park<\/a> in Nevada<\/p>\n Leaving Mesa Verde from http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/co_us160sw.html “Excellent 2 lane paved highway through barren and lonely high desert area. \tVery little traffic. Route is through the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. \tThe highway passes the Four Corners Monument and Navajo Tribal Park. \tThe only geographical location in the USA where four states intersect. \tNew Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado. \tThe monument is on Navajo Tribal Park land and costs $3.00 to enter. \tBooths are set up around the monument and sell Indian handicrafts. \tGood riding highway for all skill levels with curves, twists, long sweeps and elevation changes. \tFascinating scenery. Full amenities in Kayenta. \tGas and snacks available at Red Mesa and Mexican Water.”<\/p>\n 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. \tDon’t plan to travel quickly along this road, though. \tEven if the traffic is flowing, the speed limit is slow (through the towns and especially Zion Nat’l Park). \tOnce 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. \tYou 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. \tI make a habit of hitting this road twice a year: once in early spring and once in late fall. \tTraffic though Zion requires a fee of $25 (2008 prices) or an annual pass, even if you don’t stop along the way. \tIt’s worth it!”<\/p>\n Day 5 – Overland Hotel & Saloon<\/a> in Fallon, NV on Highway 50 “The Loneliest Road in America”<\/a> (had to change route when I found out the road I planned to take to Yosemite is still closed for the winter)<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/nv_us50.html “US 50, the ‘Loneliest Road in America’, is a great ride. \tWe started in Delta, UT @7:30 MDT 6\/16\/06 and stopped for coffee and a snack at the Border Inn near Baker NV. \tNice folks, nice place, food looked good. \tPassed through Ely, a unique western town as our route paralleled the Pony Express in spots. \tThere is an old way station along the route which is in the process of being restored. \tMountain passes and huge flat stretches with marvelous vistas the entire way. \tStopped for lunch in Eureka at the Owl Casino\/Cafe. \tVery good. \tCruised through Austin, another unique western town (actually they all are on this stretch), and stopped at Cold Spring for a beer. \tGreat little place, a true oasis in the desert. \tCruised in to Fallon and stayed for the night before visiting Virginia City and Reno. \tWe stayed at the Stockman Hotel and Casino, very nice acommodations and we had a terrific steak dinner at the casino restaurant.”<\/p>\n Day 6 – Tenaya Lodge<\/a> in Yosemite National Park<\/a> for the Treasures of Yosemite Rally <\/a><\/p>\n 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. \tI loved this ride, the scenery was great, with plenty of elevation changes and twists. \tThere 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. \tI didn’t have to much trouble with other traffic, but I was out in the morning on a Saturday. \tHad a lot of fun and am ready to go again.”<\/p>\n From 88 to Yosemite http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/ca49.html “CA 49 is one of my favorite local routes. \tIt stretches from Loyalton all the way south to Oakhurst, near Yosemite. \tFrom tip to tip, it’s one of the most beautiful and relaxing rides there is. \tThere 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. \tAs the ’49’ suggests, this highway visits many of the old Gold Rush towns, each with their own personality. \tYou 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. \t49 ties in with almost all of the passes that take you over the Sierras (towards 395) and they are all pretty special as well. \tThere is ample opportunity for fuel, food and rest stops along 49. \tI travel portions of this route every year (I’ve done every mile of it on differnt trips) and look forward to it every time. \tThe route could be done tip to tip all in one day if so desired without trying too hard.”<\/p>\n Route 41 to Tenaya http:\/\/www.motorcycleroads.us\/roads\/ca41.html “Very scenic and great sweepers!”<\/p>\n Day 7 – Yosemite National Park<\/p>\n Day 8 – Yosemite National Park<\/p>\n Day 9 – Visit Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park<\/a> and stay at undetermined stop<\/p>\n