Still looking for suggestions. Thanks.

 

I took a similar trip this year...Early Sept to be exact. The heat didn't bother me in the least (but I'm a Texan and am pretty accustomed to it). We got a good bit of rain though, which, I hear is unusual for the month as August is their "monsoon" season. Basically, Sept should be a fine time to go.

We stayed in "marble Canyon" at Lee's Ferry Lodge. Check out their website. Nice people and good place to eat. I'd definitely recommend it...it's actually easier to find if you use the mile markers. The location is great for the area...another 1 hr 45 min ride down to the North Rim. I was going to stay in Page, but ended up picking Lees Ferry Lodge as it's simply closer to the North Rim and timing-wise...worked out better. There isn't much to do there, as it's just a stop off the hwy, but for a friendly, inexpensive place to lay your head and get a good bite to eat...it's fine. The surrounding "vermillion cliffs" are definitely picture-worthy.

If you look through this thread...I started and thread & posted some pictures from the trip. It was awesome! and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Can't think of too many better places to ride...and more beautiful...plenty of eye-candy for sure. Hwy 12 is AMAZING! Unfortunately, we encountered heavy rain the entire length of it...no photos. Plenty of free-range cattle on the road as well.

If you happen to have reason to stay in or near St George and or need to get service done at Zion HD...the only dealer in the state, I recommend spending the night at the Holiday Inn Express in Washington. The Dealer is a walk across the parking lot. It's a new hotel and they have "bike lockers". For something like $5, you can park your bike inside a storage locker. No worries about taking all your stuff off it at night and it's safe from the rain/dust etc. I wish more hotels had those! The staff was very friendly too. From there, it's another 30 minutes to Zion NP.

Sounds to me like you have a great trip planned and aren't trying to do too much each day. It's just so pretty, if you like to stop and enjoy the sites, take pics, etc....this is not the area you want to fly through.

 

Just a word to say a buddy and I did almost the identical trip out of Los Angeles the last week of this past June -- I only wish we'd had the benefit of Doc_CJ's knowledge and advice. He's right when he says that you really can't go wrong anywhere in the area for scenery.

In June, other than a momentary light shower in Zion, we hit no rain whatsoever throughout the circuit. Monument Valley was interesting, but you can't ride through the valley itself -- you need to take one of their tours. Also, accommodations in the immediate area were the most expensive of our trip.

We stayed 2 nights in Kanab, at Aikens Lodge, which was cheap and clean. Next time it will be the Parry Lodge, which is very funky and has an interesting history.

My friend lost his rear brake in Zion NP, and we headed over to Zion Harley, in Washington, UT. They were great, had us in and out in a little over an hour. The service writer, Mike (I think) was a retired police chief of Vernal, UT. Turned out we'd all been in the Marine Corps in Vietnam at the same time (1968). Small world. Nice people all around, actually. You're going to love this trip.

Don't know your age, but if you're as ancient as we are you can buy a lifetime national park pass for $10 before you leave, or at your first stop.

 

One more thing. I don't know if you guys are animal lovers or not. But if you are, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a couple of miles outside Kanab, and offers 1.5-hour tours that must be booked in advance. There was a recent TV series about the place called Dogtown. They rescue all kinds of animals, but mostly dogs. They rescued the dogs in the Michael Vick case. If they can't adopt them out, they keep them for life. Warning: If you go there, leave room in your saddlebags for the two pups you'll be riding out with

 

We stayed at the Parry Lodge when we were in Kanab in May. Great little quirky place for sure.

 

What about the above questions? Which place in Mexican Hat - Mexican Hat Lodge, San Juan Inn, or Hat Rock Inn? Anyone done the Antelope Canyon tour?

 

I ate at the Mexican Hat Lodge this past August. EXCELLENT. I stayed at the Desert Rose Inn just "up the road" in Bluff. Was going to stay at the San Juan Inn but it was booked up. I don't know if it could have been any better than the Desert Rose Inn. Excellent place with very nice people. Gave me a chance to eat one night at the Cottonwood Steakhouse in Bluff and have breakfast two mornings at the Twin Rocks Cafe. Both were excellent too!

 

If you've never been in a slot canyon, Antelope Canyon is definitely one of the prettiest ones. $40 is a little steep, but they take you out to the canyon in these awesome 4x4s, provide drinks and a tour of the canyon. If you have the time, it is a neat place to see.

If you're planning on hiking around in Zion NP, you can get into the Narrows (slot canyon) or "the Subway," which is an extinct lava tube. You're gonna pay about $20 to get into Zion anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!

And Ruby's Inn at Bryce is the best! Good choice!

 

We will trailer the bikes out to Moab from Indiana due to time restraints plus my wife just can't ride that far. I will need a place to store the trailer and truck while we are gone on the 6 day loop. Does anyone have any suggestions for me about where to store them in Moab?

 

I live in Southern Utah and you are headed into my hood. To begin, if you are doing all the parks than you want to go to the NPS web page and purchase a Parks Pass you will save money and it makes it real easy to get into the parks. The way you have planned, I am sure you have been on the NPS web page. In the north area of Canyonlands do go all the way to the Grand View and you will understand why I am stressing this. Moab is a busy place but there are good restuarants,Bars and many motels. The only place you might want to make a reservation is Ruby's Inn. There is no reason to go to Page. When you go through Fredonia and Kanab those ARE mannequins in those Cop cars. It can get very hot around here in the suummer-DRINK WATER. One guy recommended the Moki Dugway on RT 261-I WOULD NOT unless you are a extreme rider there is no sense in riding 12% grades on gravel roads for 4 miles. From Hanksville back to Moab you can go either of two ways. If you go north: stop at Goblin Valley state park and in Greenriver,UT stop at Rays Tavern and get a burger it is a traditional stop around here-if you go south go to Bullfrog on Lake Powell and ride the ferry across the lake and than on to Blanding. You have a good route planned and you are going to see some incredible places. You are going to meet people on and off bikes from all over the world. Everywhere you go people are going to be good to you and if they aren't let me know. If there is anything I can do futher let me know. Happy Trails