Las Vegas-Sedona-Grand Canyon, Zion loop
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23
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From: Minnesota
Las Vegas-Sedona-Grand Canyon, Zion loop
I am looking for advice on what roads to take on my ride this weekend. I am starting in Vegas and my first stop is in Sedona for one night. We have three more days to ride and by looking at the map thought it would be great to see the Grand Canyon and then maybe loop around the Canyon toward Lake Powell and to Zion National Park and back to Vegas.
Any feedback regarding back roads, sites to see, places to stay etc. would be greatly appreciated!
Any feedback regarding back roads, sites to see, places to stay etc. would be greatly appreciated!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 3
From: OC SoCal
Don't know if you prefer hwy's or back-roads.
This suggestion will be a longer way to Sedona but includes nice little twisty roads through the desert, as well as twisty climbs and desents thru Jerome. Well paved and little to no traffic. May be HOT in the lower elevations.
About 22mi east of Kingman, Take the 93 south.
About 62mi south on the 93, you will come to Nothing, AZ.
Just past Nothing, turn east onto the 97.
Take the 97 about 10mi and head east on the 96.
Don't know how long this stretch is. Go thru the town of Yava.
About 12mi past Yava, you can head N/E on the 10 to go thru the town of Iron Springs on the way to Prescott, or you can continue on the 96 to the 89 and turn N to Prescott.
From Prescott, head up the 89, and up and over the hill thru Jerome and Cottonwood on the way to Sedona.
Not sure about the elevations, but I believe this route goes from under 200ft to over 2000 or 3000ft.
My BIL and I did this ride (heading west) in April and it was awesome.
Whatever way you go, enjoy your ride and ride safe.
This suggestion will be a longer way to Sedona but includes nice little twisty roads through the desert, as well as twisty climbs and desents thru Jerome. Well paved and little to no traffic. May be HOT in the lower elevations.
About 22mi east of Kingman, Take the 93 south.
About 62mi south on the 93, you will come to Nothing, AZ.
Just past Nothing, turn east onto the 97.
Take the 97 about 10mi and head east on the 96.
Don't know how long this stretch is. Go thru the town of Yava.
About 12mi past Yava, you can head N/E on the 10 to go thru the town of Iron Springs on the way to Prescott, or you can continue on the 96 to the 89 and turn N to Prescott.
From Prescott, head up the 89, and up and over the hill thru Jerome and Cottonwood on the way to Sedona.
Not sure about the elevations, but I believe this route goes from under 200ft to over 2000 or 3000ft.
My BIL and I did this ride (heading west) in April and it was awesome.
Whatever way you go, enjoy your ride and ride safe.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Your route sounds good already. Once at the south rim of the GC, there's really only one way around to Zion. 64 East to 89 North. When you get close to the Utah border 89 splits...89 goes to Page, AZ. 89A (to the left) is the way you want to go. About 15 miles after the split, you cross Marble Canyon on the Navajo Bridge. You've seen this bridge in tons of movies but never knew where it was. If you have time, take a side trip to the North Rim on RT 67. It is really cool and less crowded than the south rim. At Fredonia, you're faced with a choice: (1) take 89 north through Kanab to 9 west through Zion (this is by-far the fastest & easiest way.) (2) Stay straight (becomes 389) and ride through Colorado City, AZ and Hildale, UT. These are the polygamous towns that HBO's "Big Love" modeled their "compound" after. Don't stop in either of these towns. Just ride through. If you're lucky, the cops won't "escort" you through the entire town! At Hurricane, UT, you can get to Zion pretty quickly. After Zion, believe it or not, I-15 is pretty fun. About 20 miles south of St. George, you will enter the Virgin River Gorge. Great riding! After the gorge, I-15 is pretty boring to Vegas. There are a few exits after Mesquite, NV (Exit 93 toward Loganville & Overton) that will take you through the high desert and around the Valley of Fire. Stay to south and you'll ride along/above Lake Mead all the way to the Hoover Dam. I'm pretty sure this is rte 167 or "River Road." A nice alternative to I-15 and all of the construction going on in north Vegas.
Last edited by TheBlackBastard; May 27, 2009 at 02:54 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 174
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From: Kingman Arizona
Been suggested by other forum members that instead of the 96/97 through skull valley to go all the way down the 93 and pick up the 89 just outside wickenburg. They said the skull valley ride is good but there is nothing out there. I was planning on the ride this weekend but plans didn't work out. I drove the cage past the turnoff's on monday on my way to phoenix. The skull valley run does seem to be in a more desolate area. The view from 93 heading up the 89 hits a rather large mountain not far from the turnoff. Also been advised that headin north up the 89 is better due to uphill direction. May be a nice ride to leave kingman and turn on the 93 and then go up the 89 to prescott on the way to sedona. A lot of people have recommended "the loop" from kingman to prescott to sedona then flagstaff and back. One guy even said that the 89a is the best road around aside from utah area. I will be doing that run later in summer. A lot of choices and so little time. Happy riding no matter what the decision. If you search for a post titled "Prescot az ride" by me you will see all the info first hand that was offered to me.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 3
From: OC SoCal
Nothing out there, including traffic (cagers)
Sometimes just the way I like it It's personal preference. For myself, I do like desert landscape and like being on derserted roads, at least for parts of a trip.
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23
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From: Minnesota
Thanks for great feedback. Would everyone suggest I do the longer route suggested to Sedona and then loop back to Vegas, or is the ride around the Canyon and up through Zion worth doing? I have never been to the Grand Canyon or Zion area. Also, is Lake Powell worth going out of the way if I go that route?
I really appreciate all of the help!
I really appreciate all of the help!
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Kingman Arizona
All the club guy's I know like skull valley due to the fact they can ride a lot faster. My wife is the main reason I look for other things around the area. I am going to ride both eventually and might even go up one and down the other.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Gilbert, AZ
I'd head south out of Vegas on 95 to Laughlin/Bullhead City, then south on 95 again to RT 66 turnoff and hit Oatman and the twisties into Kingman. Then stay on RT 66 thru Hackberry, Seligman, and Williams. Then head noth to the canyon, enter the park and then hit 64 east to 89 North. The reservation area in that park of AZ is amazing. Then hot Page, Kanab and onto Zion. Great loop. If you extra time you can the southern loop outdise of Kingman on 93 to 96 thru Skull Valley and Prescott, Jermoe, Sedona, and back up to Flag and the Canyon...that's a day trip in itself.. Enjoy the run..
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 414
From: Ellensburg, WA
just returned from a two week trip, including the area you are wanting to travel. IMHO skip the GC, hit Zion, takes most of a day to see, and make the effort to see Bryce. Both are much more impressive than the GC. At Panguach, which is a little north of the Red Canyon turn off where you head for bryce, you can head west and hit I-15. Makes a little longer loop milesge wise, but you will save a day staying out of GC.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, AB Canada
Thanks for great feedback. Would everyone suggest I do the longer route suggested to Sedona and then loop back to Vegas, or is the ride around the Canyon and up through Zion worth doing? I have never been to the Grand Canyon or Zion area. Also, is Lake Powell worth going out of the way if I go that route?
I really appreciate all of the help!
I really appreciate all of the help!
I highly recommend the ride between Sedona and Flagstaff on 89A through Oak Creek Canyon. One of the best rides I have done in many years. For me it was a nice morning on May 24th after rain the night before so the cool air was full of the pine scent making it more worthwhile. I continued on to the twistys through Jerome and then up to the Grand Canyon. Up until that day I had never seen the GC either. That was a full days ride back to where I stayed in Flagstaff.
I did ride into Flagstaff from the North via Lake Powell/Page AZ where it was some pretty scenery. There are alot of nice places to ride where you're going so IMO I don't feel it would be worth going too far out of your way to Lake Powell unless you have a reason to go there.