Country Roads

[3UteDad]

I have been contemplating starting a thread here geared toward motorcyclists, but began to think there may not be a lot of bikers of the motoring variety on this forum. By naming it Country Roads, we can open it up to anyone that likes to sight-see and hit the open road, 2 wheels or 4, motor or not. Many of us live in one of the most incredibly scenic parts of the country, and I'm amazed by the undiscovered (in my eyes) variety and beauty in my own backyard.

I bought a motorcycle (Suzuki Vstrom) about 5 years ago, after not having been on one since college. I took the Motorcycle Safety Training class, and haven't looked back. To me there is a serenity bordering on spirituality in hitting some remote stretch of road on a sunny day with no traffic...at least for the first few hours until my rear end starts aching...

With that said, I'd like to learn from others what their favorite sightseeing road tours have been, either by motorcycle, car, or bicycle...in the state of Utah, or anywhere else. If you have pictures to share, even better.

I'll start it out with one of my favorite summer rides when I have a long weekend. I start out in Star Valley, WY at the south end of Palisades Reservoir and head north on Rte 26 along the eastern shoreline. There are many turnoffs along the way with awesome views. Then continue on through Swan Valley to Pine Creek Road, where you veer off toward Victor, ID. Once in Victor, you can loop down over the Teton Pass toward Wilson and Jackson, or head north toward Island Park or West Yellowstone. Beautiful views and breathtaking scenery either way. If you do the loop through Jackson, it can easily be completed in a day with time for a leisurely breakfast and lunch.

http://goo.gl/maps/B4kBn

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Sitting here looking at the snow outside is giving me the itch...hope to learn about other great places I should see. Happy Trails.

[SavaUte]

I love me some mirror lake highway, especially if you head up on the dirt and go to Black's fork commissary. I pretty much just do the normal ones everyone knows about.... Guardsman, Alpine loop, skyline above Bountiful, etc.... I'm looking forward to what others say, as i always like learning new routes

[3UteDad]

Been on Mirror Lake Highway many times, but not familiar with Black's Fork. I'm fine on fire roads, but my bike isn't suited for a lot of ruts and bumps...what kind of condition is the road?

[SavaUte]

It's hard to find unless you already know where it is. I'm going to have to have my dad show me how to get there again this year.

A toyota corolla could make it there, if you ride gravel roads i think you would be ok. I'll try to remember to report on it this summer when I go back

It is 10 or 15 old cabins in various states of disrepair. Cool place

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[chrisrenrut]

Great idea for a thread. I ride motorcycles, an FZ-1 and V-Star 1100. I do sport touring on the FZ-1 with my dad and brothers, and cruiser touring with a group of my wife's friends that are mostly on Harleys.

Day trips in Utah are awesome. Some of my favorites include:

Any sort of loop including 2 ot of the 3 of Bear Lake/Logan Canyon, Monte Cristo, and Mirror Lake highway. (Evantson is usually involved, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.)

Loop from Kamas up Wolf Creek Pass to Duchesne, then back to Heber City along Hwy 40 (or vise versa)

Energy Loop from Huntington to Fairview, with options of going around Scofield.

The Alpine Loop and Mt Nebo loop are nice, but overdone.

Probably the most epic in Utah is Hwy 12 between Escalante and Torrey, with a side trip up the Burr Trail. It's more than a day trip from SLC, but we have done it as a day trip out of St George.

If you are down in the south part of the state, loops on highways between I-15 and Hwy 89 are fun. They can incorporate Hwy 9 through Zion, Hwy 14 from Cedar City (my favorite), Hwy 143 from Parawon to Brian Head to Panguitch.


When I get more time, I'll post some of our favorite roads outside of Utah, and see if I can incorporate some pictures.

[Devildog]

Good stuff here. Motorcycles and 4x4's on back roads and trails... great time.

Sturgis S.D. campground

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_0450-1.jpg

Wendover MDA ride with friends

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/9eb97c98.jpg

[3UteDad]

How do you get all those girls on one bike?

[3UteDad]

Great idea for a thread. I ride motorcycles, an FZ-1 and V-Star 1100. I do sport touring on the FZ-1 with my dad and brothers, and cruiser touring with a group of my wife's friends that are mostly on Harleys.

Day trips in Utah are awesome. Some of my favorites include:

Any sort of loop including 2 ot of the 3 of Bear Lake/Logan Canyon, Monte Cristo, and Mirror Lake highway. (Evantson is usually involved, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.)

Loop from Kamas up Wolf Creek Pass to Duchesne, then back to Heber City along Hwy 40 (or vise versa)

Energy Loop from Huntington to Fairview, with options of going around Scofield.

The Alpine Loop and Mt Nebo loop are nice, but overdone.

Probably the most epic in Utah is Hwy 12 between Escalante and Torrey, with a side trip up the Burr Trail. It's more than a day trip from SLC, but we have done it as a day trip out of St George.

If you are down in the south part of the state, loops on highways between I-15 and Hwy 89 are fun. They can incorporate Hwy 9 through Zion, Hwy 14 from Cedar City (my favorite), Hwy 143 from Parawon to Brian Head to Panguitch.


When I get more time, I'll post some of our favorite roads outside of Utah, and see if I can incorporate some pictures.

Chris, nice list. The Burr Trail is on my to-do list this year.

[chrisrenrut]

Chris, nice list. The Burr Trail is on my to-do list this year.

One other that is on my list, but haven't gotten to yet is the Moki Dugway road (Hwy 261) in far southeast Utah. The part in the picture is dirt road, except on the corners of the switchbacks where it is paved.

http://roadtrips.blogs.com/photos/thanksgiving_2004_roadtri/moki_dugway_3198.jpg

[3UteDad]

This thread has already paid off...I hadn't heard of Moki Dugway before. Looks like a desolate ride getting there...probably better to go before it gets hot, but spectacular views!

[chrisrenrut]

Yeah, I'm really trying to figure out how to do it this year. I'm thinking mid-May might be good for decent temperatures and avoiding crowds. It seems that it is at least a 3 day trip, one getting down, one taking the road and exploring the area, and one day back. There are some other things nearby that could be cool to see too, such as Gooseneck State Park and Natural Bridges National Monument

[IdahoUteTroutHead]

Chris- do it, I took my family down to Bridges last year.......you won't regret it.

[Devildog]

The million dollar highway between Ouray and Silverton Colorado is incredible. The kind of ride that can get you in trouble with the twisting road because the views are amazing.

[chrisrenrut]

The million dollar highway between Ouray and Silverton Colorado is incredible. The kind of ride that can get you in trouble with the twisting road because the views are amazing.


Yes, beautiful and scary in places. There are some stretches that have no guardrail, and a 200 foot sheer cliff off the side. We did it in a nice loop from Durango to Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray, Silverton, and back to Durango. Very memorable trip.

Colorado is a state I would love to spend a couple of weeks just riding around. One other great road is Hwy 149 from South Fork (the city, don't get excited trouthead) to Gunnison. Pretty isolated, and lots of curves and scenery. I couldn't talk the Harley guys into doing it as a 400 mile loop from Durango.

[chrisrenrut]

One of my favorite rides is from Boise to Missoula. The ride from Boise to Grangeville is nice, it goes through beautiful McCall, and Hells Canyon is, umm, interesting. We took a rest near Hells Canyon, and I got this picture:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8498593219_c9635a8d21.jpg

Just past Grangeville, you turn southeast and head into the canyon carved by the Clearwater River. At the beginning of the canyon, this sign gives you an idea of what is to come:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8499709918_6645d31ec3_n.jpg

The next 99 miles are motorcycle nirvana. Fast, sweeping curves along the river. The road is smooth, and there is no traffic. You can smell the pine trees and river, hear the resonance of your exhaust, and feel yourself leaning deep into the turns. There are nicer and more scenic roads out there, but when we road this last summer, it was about as perfect as it could get.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8499711020_14b18f575a.jpg

[Devildog]

Yes, beautiful and scary in places. There are some stretches that have no guardrail, and a 200 foot sheer cliff off the side. We did it in a nice loop from Durango to Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray, Silverton, and back to Durango. Very memorable trip.


Yep. I've done that trip several times on the motorcycle. Telluride is a great place to stop, eat, and spend some time.

I've also taken the truck over the mountain (Black Bear Pass) from Ouray into Telluride. Spent the day, and then taken Imogene pass back to Ouray. I stay at the Box Canyon Lodge (I'd recommend that place to anybody). That is always a great July trip.

You can see the tight switchbacks on Black Bear Pass crisscrossing the mountain in the center of this pic. That road is so narrow that my passengers side tires are literally hanging over the edge of the trail. Scary.

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3145.jpg

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3139.jpg

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3131.jpg

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3110.jpg

[FN Phat]

One of my favorite rides is from Boise to Missoula. The ride from Boise to Grangeville is nice, it goes through beautiful McCall, and Hells Canyon is, umm, interesting. We took a rest near Hells Canyon, and I got this picture:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8498593219_c9635a8d21.jpg

Just past Grangeville, you turn southeast and head into the canyon carved by the Clearwater River. At the beginning of the canyon, this sign gives you an idea of what is to come:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8499709918_6645d31ec3_n.jpg

The next 99 miles are motorcycle nirvana. Fast, sweeping curves along the river. The road is smooth, and there is no traffic. You can smell the pine trees and river, hear the resonance of your exhaust, and feel yourself leaning deep into the turns. There are nicer and more scenic roads out there, but when we road this last summer, it was about as perfect as it could get.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8499711020_14b18f575a.jpg


awesome pics. That is a great stretch of road. Makes me miss home!

[Jarid in Cedar]

awesome pics. That is a great stretch of road. Makes me miss home!

Welcome FN!!

[FN Phat]

Welcome FN!!

You know I have to support my boy! I dig the new board...minus all the red!

[Jarid in Cedar]

You know I have to support my boy! I dig the new board...minus all the red!

Couldn't do a Bronco's theme, sorry. :)

[Devildog]

Here are a few more pics from the Telluride area.

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3073.jpg

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3063.jpg

Looking down onto Telluride from above on Black Bear.

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/IMG_3111.jpg

Here is an old Warn winch ad from 1975 showing the Black Bear switchbacks they way they used to be. They're still tight now (but not quite like this), and the drop over the edge is straight down... The trail today is not to be taken lightly or for the faint hearted... but back then it was only for the truly crazy.

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/RuggedH2/BlackBearJeep_zps3c6e2c7f.jpg

[3UteDad]

Devildog, you have convinced me to add southwestern Colorado to my list (I think I'll be skipping the Black Bear switchbacks). How many days would you suggest allowing for travel from SLC, and what's the best time of year for the trip?

[Devildog]

Devildog, you have convinced me to add southwestern Colorado to my list (I think I'll be skipping the Black Bear switchbacks). How many days would you suggest allowing for travel from SLC, and what's the best time of year for the trip?

You can't go wrong with the San Juan range in Southwestern Colorado. The state of Colorado has (I think) 14 - fourteen thousand foot high mountains, and most of them are in the San Juans. I've been on top of one 14 thousand footer and could see five more from there. The town of Ouray bills itself as "The Switzerland of America". The whole area is spectacular. The drive is only about 6-6.5 hours from SLC. I usually 4 wheel the trails there and bring the motorcycle in a trailer now, and that requires waiting until late July for all the snow to melt and expose the 4x4 trails, so that's when I've always made my trips.

The first time I ever found Ouray was when a friend and I were headed to Durango on motorcycles... and we got caught in a torrential mountain rain storm. We pulled into Ouray just as the clouds broke and a rainbow was pointing straight into this outstanding little mountain town. We stopped at a place that had natural hot springs hot tubs set along the incredibly scenic ridge. We dried off, went and grabbed some steaks at a great little steak house right on Main street, picked up a case of beer and took it back to the hot-tubs and sat there and got ripped while the deer came down and ate the shrubs around us.

It was such a great time, I've been back half a dozen times, and have never been back to Durango. I keep finding new cool things to do in the Ouray-Silverton-Telluride area.

[OrangeUte]

Devildog, you have convinced me to add southwestern Colorado to my list (I think I'll be skipping the Black Bear switchbacks). How many days would you suggest allowing for travel from SLC, and what's the best time of year for the trip?

I keep imagining getting to the top of those switchbacks and celebrating only to realize that you have to now go down them. Talk about coming back down to earth.

[chrisrenrut]

Springerville to Clifton, AZ (http://goo.gl/maps/rf11Y)

It takes a bit of doing to get to ride this stretch of road. My dad and I took our motorcycles down to the Arizona State game last year, and took the opportunity to go out of our way to take this road. I had heard good things about if from other motorcyclist. Unfortunately, it was the highlight of the trip, since the team decided figuratively not to show up for the game.

As you head south out of Springerville, you start heading up into the mountains. I did not know that southeastern Arizona had such great pine forests. The road goes through a small village called Alpine, and then there is nothing but the mountain, forest, and road.

The road twists lazily at first. For a few miles I was worried that this was all there was, and started to wonder what the fuss was. The curves were labeled by road signs as 35 to 45 MPH, which on a sporty motorcycle are taken about 20 MPH higher.

About 10 miles in, a new sign arrived. 25 PM Curves Next 10 Miles. And sure enough, the curves got tighter, and there were no more signs to tell you how to guage your entry speed.

5-10 miles later, another sign, 15 MPH Curves next 10 Miles. We are having to slow down a lot in the corners now, downshifting to 2nd. Lost of accelerating and breaking, which is a lot of work, and a lot of fun.

After another 10 miles or so, another sign, 10 MPH Curves Next 20 Miles. We have crossed over the mountain range, and are now traversing our way down the backside, winding in and out of side canyons which is where the sharpest curves are. At 10 miles an hour, it feels like you are about to stop. First gear is a given, and it’s a lot more work mentally to coordinate the break, lean, and acceleration.

As we get towards the end, we are coming out of the pine trees and to a lower elevation, but still with a lot of curves. I notice my front and back tire seem to be slipping a bit in the corners, which is disconcerting. We stop for a rest and view, and I check my tires to see if they are under-inflated, but they aren’t. I start to notice dust coming from our tires, which seem strange because it feels like we are in a remote place. Finally as we got to the bottom, it is very apparent that we are traversing a very large mining operation. The Morenci mine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Morenci_Mine.jpg) is apparently one of the larges open pit mines in the world, bigger than Bingham. There is dust everywhere. The road winds through the operations area of the mine.

It was fun exploring this road, and having to adapt our riding to new conditions. However, I think I will enjoy the road more the next time I ride it, whenever that may be.

[chrisrenrut]

Flying out to Knoxville, TN in a couple of weeks to buy and ride back a 2009 BMW R1200RT. I have been searching the country for a used one, and this seems to be the best out there. It has less than 2000 miles on it, and has all the options I want. It a little more than I wanted to spend, but nothing great came up in my price range (I was looking for a 2007 with low-ish miles).

There won't be many country roads riding it back. But we have rides planned this year for the Oregon Coast and Canadian Rockies that this bike will be perfect for.

I'll be selling my Yamaha V-Star that I have had for 12 years and 50,000 miles to make room for the new bike.

[Devildog]

Flying out to Knoxville, TN in a couple of weeks to buy and ride back a 2009 BMW R1200RT. I have been searching the country for a used one, and this seems to be the best out there. It has less than 2000 miles on it, and has all the options I want. It a little more than I wanted to spend, but nothing great came up in my price range (I was looking for a 2007 with low-ish miles).

There won't be many country roads riding it back. But we have rides planned this year for the Oregon Coast and Canadian Rockies that this bike will be perfect for.

I'll be selling my Yamaha V-Star that I have had for 12 years and 50,000 miles to make room for the new bike.

Congrats on finding the bike you want. I hope you have great luck with it.

I finally got my bike into the shop for new tires today. This weather has me thinking about riding all day while I'm stuck at work.

[GarthUte]

Utah SR 12 from Torrey to Panguitch is an 122 mile incredible drive. The Hogback between Boulder and Escalante is probably my favorite stretch of road. Ever. The photo is a view of the road from the air:

http://www.kratzmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hogsair-300x240.jpg

It's a great drive, but if you want to have a lot of fun, get a 4WD vehicle so you can take SR 12 from Boulder to Escalante, then go back to Boulder via Hell's Backbone road. That'll get your blood pumpin'.

This video is SR 12 from Bryce Canyon to Boulder. It's worth the 15 minutes it takes to watch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOhy8RJYMKQ

[chrisrenrut]

Utah SR 12 from Torrey to Panguitch is an 122 mile incredible drive. The Hogback between Boulder and Escalante is probably my favorite stretch of road. Ever. The photo is a view of the road from the air:



It's a great drive, but if you want to have a lot of fun, get a 4WD vehicle so you can take SR 12 from Boulder to Escalante, then go back to Boulder via Hell's Backbone road. That'll get your blood pumping.

Below is a pic of my brother near the overlook just outside of Escalante.

Also, if you are in the area, a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is a must.

[GarthUte]

Below is a pic of my brother near the overlook just outside of Escalante.

Also, if you are in the area, a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is a must.

Great photo of your brother. And agreed about the lower falls. Easy access and worth the little bit of time it takes to get to them. I'd also suggest seeing the upper falls, It's a shorter hike, but more difficult.

http://www.redrocktrails.com/trips/images/IMG_3988.JPG

[GUBA]

One of my favorite roads to drive back home is Alberta Highway 22. I was looking this up yesterday after reading this thread. I discovered that at some point in the last few years they named it The Cowboy Trail. There are plenty of beautiful places along this road. They have created a website also that you can look at if you want. Just look up thecowboytrail.com. Its been a few years since I have driven along this road but may have to go that way this summer when we go up to visit family.

[chrisrenrut]

We rode Hwy 40 from Heber to Duchesne, and then took Wolf Creek Pass back (Tabiona to Francis/Kamas).

Wolf Creek Pass is one of the underrated roads in Utah. It is beautiful up there, and the road is a lot of fun.

[FMCoug]

Utah SR 12 from Torrey to Panguitch is an 122 mile incredible drive. The Hogback between Boulder and Escalante is probably my favorite stretch of road. Ever. The photo is a view of the road from the air:

http://www.kratzmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hogsair-300x240.jpg

It's a great drive, but if you want to have a lot of fun, get a 4WD vehicle so you can take SR 12 from Boulder to Escalante, then go back to Boulder via Hell's Backbone road. That'll get your blood pumpin'.

This video is SR 12 from Bryce Canyon to Boulder. It's worth the 15 minutes it takes to watch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOhy8RJYMKQ

I once drove that in a 37' motorhome. ;)

[chrisrenrut]

We are on a motorcycle trip, and spent yesterday traveling from Cody, Wy to Great Falls, Mt. Neither city is a destination, but two roads between the two are.

WY HWY 296- Cheif Joseph Highway. Amazing vistas and curvy road.
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HWY 212 from WY to Red Lodge, MT. Pictures and words can't do this road justice. The top of the pass is just shy of 11,000 feet in elevation.
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Next up, Waterton Park in Canada, on the way to Banff, Lake Louis, and possibly Jasper, dodging thunderstorms along the way.

[Devildog]

We are on a motorcycle trip, and spent yesterday traveling from Cody, Wy to Great Falls, Mt. Neither city is a destination, but two roads between the two are.


Great pictures! Looks like a good time, keep the shiny side up and enjoy.

[chrisrenrut]

One of my favorite roads to drive back home is Alberta Highway 22. I was looking this up yesterday after reading this thread. I discovered that at some point in the last few years they named it The Cowboy Trail. There are plenty of beautiful places along this road. They have created a website also that you can look at if you want. Just look up thecowboytrail.com. Its been a few years since I have driven along this road but may have to go that way this summer when we go up to visit family.

We ended up taking part of The Cowboy Trail today. We didn't plan on it, we wanted to take Alberta 40 from Hwy 3 to Canmore, but we found out when we got there that it is a dirt road (why would Alberta number a dirt road!?!) The Cowboy Trail was ok, but a lot of it was straight through farmland, not the most fun on motorcycles.

Then, we got to Black Diamond and had to turn east because a couple of bridges were out from the recent flooding. So we got to see Calgary. We finally made it to Canmore/Banff. Words cannot do the beauty of this place justice.
This is from the patio of our room:
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[Solon]

I'm in. Just bought a motorcycle at the end of last week. It's a little Suzuki DR200 - perfect for someone like me who just wants to ride to work but also be able to do an occasional dirt road or easy trail.736

On July 24, my kids and I visited a ghost town in the Wah Wah Mountains a little southwest of Milford. There are about 4 or 5 buildings still standing and several mine buildings (the shafts seem to be all filled in, which is good since I was there with kids).
It was an oddly humid afternoon and eerily quiet.

[U-Ute]

Below is a pic of my brother near the overlook just outside of Escalante.

Also, if you are in the area, a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is a must.

My wife's family had property on the north end of Boulder, and we'd go down there several times a year. Burr Trail, Hogs Back, and Lower Calf Creek falls were my favorites. Check out Hell's Backbone trail as well..

Thanks for the pictures. They bring back lots of memories...

[chrisrenrut]

We are on a weekend getaway at Brian Head. Today we decided to drive Hwy 12 in the car. The rain may limit what we can do, but my wife has never been on the road before.

We stopped at the M Cafe in Panguitch for breakfast. While there, some motorcycle riders stopped in. They had Bandidos on their jackets. I looked it up, mostly because I thought they had misspelled Banditos. Turns out they are part of a motorcycle gang that call themselves 1%'ers, and the FBI classifies as organized crime.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandidos_Motorcycle_Club

http://fox13now.com/2013/08/30/bandido-motorcyle-club-bound-for-southern-utah/

I stopped and talked to them briefly. They weren't too friendly, but that may have been more about being wet and cold than anything.

[3UteDad]

After taking that picture, I fear you may now be a candidate for the witness protection program.

When riding through Panguitch, I always try to make a breakfast stop at the Cowboy Smokehouse Cafe...biggest pancakes I've ever seen.
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[Devildog]

We are on a weekend getaway at Brian Head. Today we decided to drive Hwy 12 in the car. The rain may limit what we can do, but my wife has never been on the road before.

We stopped at the M Cafe in Panguitch for breakfast. While there, some motorcycle riders stopped in. They had Bandidos on their jackets. I looked it up, mostly because I thought they had misspelled Banditos. Turns out they are part of a motorcycle gang that call themselves 1%'ers, and the FBI classifies as organized crime.

I stopped and talked to them briefly. They weren't too friendly, but that may have been more about being wet and cold than anything.

They are not going to be friendly. They are on their way to their National run which is in Utah this year. Outlaw motorcycle club members might be very angry with you for taking their picture (it's a good thing they didn't see you do that).

One of my best friends from High School is a Hells Angel (He's currently back in prison). They don't get along with the Bandidos well. I have spent some time around 1%ers and the rules they adhere to about respect are rigid... and being naive about the rules doesn't necessarily get you off the hook.

[chrisrenrut]

We spent last weekend in Southern Utah. I was a little disappointed that the temperature in St George was about the same as SLC, but we had a good, relaxing time.

We had all day Sunday to come back, so we decided to take the backroads home. We took 14 from Cedar City to Hwy 89, and then up to 12. We took 12 to Torrey (what a great road). We jaunted over to Loa, and then took 72/10 up to Price. Then Price back to Centerville on 6 and I-15.

It took us about 8 hours. It was a partly cloudy day, and we stopped a few places along the way to take in the scenery. It was a great drive to appreciate the diverstiy of landscape in utah.


State Road 72 from Loa to I-70 was an interesting road I had never been on before. There was a "scenic overlook" or "parking area" nearly every mile, and most had us scratching our head over what was scenic, or why anyone would need to park. It also had a bunch of named features that we couldn't figure out. We saw signs like Willow Springs and Frying Pan Flat, and we could never really figure out what feature within our sight was being named.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Cedar+City,+ut&daddr=UT-14+E+to:Boulder,+UT+to:Loa,+UT+to:Castle+Dale,+UT+ to:Centerville,+Ut&hl=en&ll=38.671037,-111.334076&spn=0.441743,0.44838&sll=39.124677,-111.936858&sspn=5.743884,7.174072&geocode=FaXpPgId-89C-SnRwl7gf2G1gDHp0XOA4soU7w%3BFVQKPAId_iNL-Q%3BFVyuQgIdwcVb-Sl_8ef0YvQ1hzFDVUBUH9HMuw%3BFcX6SQIdrnZY-SkHai62Q0VKhzGOBKRmv7HpUQ%3BFaBUVgIdo_lh-SmZYTTO3VZJhzECFJmS3GUgRA%3BFfBbcAIdYPdU-Sm1wE5IX_hShzEWWKI09GwUWg&mra=ls&t=m&z=11

[chrisrenrut]

1142On motorcycle trip in Colorado this weekend. This is Independence Pass, between Leadville and Aspen (where the beer flows like wine). The road at the top of the pass is 12,095 feet in elevation.

[chrisrenrut]

We're back in Colorado for more motorcycle riding. We went from Moab to Ouray, via Naturita. I had never been on that road before, it was fun and had nice and varied scenery. Coming into Ridgeway and Ouray, the snow capped peaks were majestic. I couldn't get pictures very well at 60 mph.

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[Sullyute]

Love the pictures in this thread. Makes me jealous. Keep them coming.

[chrisrenrut]

Stop along the Million Dollar Highway between Silverton and Durango:
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Heading towards a thunderstorm in Taos, NM:
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[chrisrenrut]

Highway 64 in New Mexico between Taos and Chama. Great road, fast sweeping turns, and no one around. Beautiful forest, with no cabins or development at all. This is a stop towards the top, looking at a the Brazos Cliffs.
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View of Mt Uncompagre from just below Slumgullion pass (who comes up with these names?). Just south of Lake City on Colorado state road 149.

[Devildog]

Great Pictures, looks like an outstanding time on your bike. There is nothing like riding... when you are in a car, you're in the car. When you are riding... you are in that environment. If it's raining you are wet, if it's hot you are sweating, and when it's beautiful... it's all around you. It reminds you that you are alive.

[chrisrenrut]

Decided to ride some new roads this weekend. We got a hotel in Cedar City, and gave ourselves all day to get there. We took hwy 6 from Santaquin to Delta. Then hwy 50 across the Great Basin to Great Basin National Park. Just outside of The small town of Hinkley, there is a sign that says No Services for 89 Miles. It’s a stark landscape, but still interesting with dry lakebeds and desert mountain ranges.

Great Basin NP is basically a mountain oasis in the desert. The drive to Wheeler peak goes from ~5,000 to ~10,000 in elevation. There was still a lot of snow up there, which made for a challenging hike, but very cool scenery.

[sancho]

Great Basin NP is basically a mountain oasis in the desert. The drive to Wheeler peak goes from ~5,000 to ~10,000 in elevation. There was still a lot of snow up there, which made for a challenging hike, but very cool scenery.

Wheeler Peak was the windiest hike I ever did. Felt like it was going to knock me right off the ridge.

[chrisrenrut]

This has to be one of the less visited national parks, being so remote. Still, on this holiday weekend, the parking lot was full, and they cave tours were all booked. Still, I’m sure the crowds were nothing compared to Zion, Bryce, or Arches this weekend.
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We then took the back roads to Milford, Minersville, and Cedar City. Still trying to decide our route home tomorrow.

[Applejack]

This has to be one of the less visited national parks, being so remote. Still, on this holiday weekend, the parking lot was full, and they cave tours were all booked. Still, I’m sure the crowds were nothing compared to Zion, Bryce, or Arches this weekend.
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We then took the back roads to Milford, Minersville, and Cedar City. Still trying to decide our route home tomorrow.

Love wheeler peak (I believe I hiked it when Sancho did). But look out for skunks! They got one of us.

[Sullyute]

Decided to ride some new roads this weekend. We got a hotel in Cedar City, and gave ourselves all day to get there. We took hwy 6 from Santaquin to Delta. Then hwy 50 across the Great Basin to Great Basin National Park. Just outside of The small town of Hinkley, there is a sign that says No Services for 89 Miles. It’s a stark landscape, but still interesting with dry lakebeds and desert mountain ranges.

Great Basin NP is basically a mountain oasis in the desert. The drive to Wheeler peak goes from ~5,000 to ~10,000 in elevation. There was still a lot of snow up there, which made for a challenging hike, but very cool scenery.

I love that picture!

[mUUser]

Decided to ride some new roads this weekend. We got a hotel in Cedar City, and gave ourselves all day to get there. We took hwy 6 from Santaquin to Delta. Then hwy 50 across the Great Basin to Great Basin National Park. Just outside of The small town of Hinkley, there is a sign that says No Services for 89 Miles. It’s a stark landscape, but still interesting with dry lakebeds and desert mountain ranges.

Great Basin NP is basically a mountain oasis in the desert. The drive to Wheeler peak goes from ~5,000 to ~10,000 in elevation. There was still a lot of snow up there, which made for a challenging hike, but very cool scenery.


Gorgeous. But I don't think I want to see any snow for awhile.

[chrisrenrut]

it's not easy getting there, but the effort can be worth it to see some of the scenery and ride some of the roads in northeast Wyoming and western South Dakota. We just finished a 4 day ride. Our time was limited due to my brother not having much time off available.

The Bighorn mountains east of Yellowstone were a welcome site after crossing the high desert from Lander to Worland. The Cloud Peak Skyway is a classic high mountain pass road. It's a nice diversion prior to about 70 more miles of high desert on the way to Devil's Tower.

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The Black Hills of South Dakota are amazing. Great scenery, history, and windy roads. Spearfish Canyon to Deadwood was a treat. Deadwood is interesting. It is the only place where casino gambling is legal outside of Nevada, Atlantic City, Indian reservations, and riverboats. The history is interesting, but everything else has turned pretty touristy.

From Deadwood, we headed south to Mt Rushmore. This was the ultimate destination, and it did not disappoint. Huge crowds, but they do a good job of managing traffic and accommodating everyone. The story of how it was created is well captured in the museum and theater. It was awe inspiring.

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Leaving Mt Rushmore, we continued south on a road that looked like a scribble on the map. It had loops in it, which I couldn't understand until we experienced them, a 270 degree switchback that bridged over itself. The road went through Custer State Park, and on to Hot Springs. Just a beautiful, fun to ride 100 mile stretch of road. There are lots of things to see and to such as caves, lookout points, lakes, etc. But we wanted to make it to Casper, so Mt Rushmore was our only stop. No sightings of Rocky Raccoon, or McGill/Lil/Nancy.

After Hot Springs, it was back to grasslands and high desert. We hit a huge thunder cell 10 miles east of Casper. The rain and wind was so heavy, we pulled off the freeway and stopped for 20 minutes. A lot of other cars stopped too. Lightning was all around us, the kind you see, hear, and feel at the same time. Very scary, but we got through.