We just got back from a 2 week tour of the northeast up to Nova Scotia and are already planning next years trip. Any thoughts or comments about a tour through the southwest. I know we'd want to hit Vegas, Sante Fe, Zion & Bryce. Any other can't miss places. Also, how long would you recommend to see the sights.

Thanks,
Mike

 

If you have the time and you're coming as far as Santa Fe, I'd definitely hit Carlsbad Caverns (words and pics cannot capture it!) and the Gila Cliff Dwellings and ruins (old Native American dwellings made in caves/cliffs.) They are on opposite ends of the southern part of the state, but they are something to see. I'm a transplant here and I think those have been my 2 favorite places so far. If you spend the night in Carlsbad, you can stay late and watch the bat flight out of the cave. Pretty amazing. Also, in my neck of the woods, there is the White Sands Desert. There are a couple pics of these on my homepage: www.zianet.com/pica I don't have webpage software, so it is pretty basic...but it gives you an idea.

 

If you're going to make it to Vegas, I would suggest a jaunt into Arizona to see the Meteor Crater off I-40 between Flagstaff & Winslow. Then you could roll into Winslow and stand on a corner and tell everyone that you were living out part of an Eagles tune. Not sure how much time you have to spend, but a trip to the southern part of AZ would bring you to Tombstone (rich with history), very cool. There's a ton of places you could go to in AZ, these are just a few of the cool destinations, not to mention some of the coolest back roads. Depends on what you decide to see, but you could do a nice run through the spots I mentioned in just a few days. A week would buy you the scenic route.



[IMG]local://upfiles/9114/4E5D872279A143A090BCD85E83F2C3F4.jpg[/IMG]

 

If you're going as far as Bryce make sure you take highway 12 from Bryce Canyon to Tropic. Spend the night in Tropic, nice hotels and such. On highway 12 take a dead-end detour at Boulder Town. It's called the Burr Trail. About 25 miles of the greatest road you'll see. Like I said, it dead-ends. Well, better said, it changes from asphalt to gravel after about 25 miles. Turn around at the end of the asphalt and come back. I won't tell you what you'll see but make sure to take a camera with plenty of room on the flash card. I know of bikers that come from all over the western US to take that 25 miles. I grew up in that area and go back every chance I can. Have fun.

 

CopperGlobe: I second your suggestion! My wife and I just got back from staying at Ruby's Inn (Bryce Canyon) for three days and riding all those roads in that region on our '05 Road King Classic. I told my wife that Utah State Highway 12 from US 89 to Boulder rivals the 'Dragon'. We love riding that road! Be a little careful in Escalante because it is getting a reputation as a "radar trap". Every small town has at least one gas station and there are plenty of places to get eats.

Generally speaking, Southern Utah isn't called "Color County" for nothing. All of the area north and east of St. George is well worth riding many times. If you want a really good 'home cooked' meal, stop in a very unlikely looking cafe in Circleville (US 89) by the name of "Circleville Cafe". You won't be disappointed. .................. BC

 

Southern Utah has some of the greatest scenery there is. I'm biased being from here. Not too long ago I went on a trip here in the State that lasted 980 miles, not one inch of freeway/interstate, went from 3,800 feet to above 10,000 feet, from above the timberline, through dark forests, to redrock desert country, several national parks and monuments, never ate at a place where you un-wrapped your food (ate only at ma and pa diners like that in Circleville). It's a route that is mile after mile of great two-lane asphalt beauty. Highway 12 is included. As is the Burr Trail, Bicentennial Highway, Zions Park, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, Colorado River Byway, Skyline Drive, Boulder Mountain, Thousand Lake Mountain, Highway 89, LaSalle Mountain Loop Road, Lake Powell Ferry Crossing. I know I sound like a travel agent but this place is tremendous. I'd better stop as I've got to go to work tomorrow. If you do come, don't forget to spend some money at the "ma and pa" places along the route. Big Cholla understands. These areas have been hurt over the years economically by environmental restrictions. Even if you simply stop and buy a candy bar it helps. OK, now I'm really going to stop.....

 

Our local HOG group (86 bikes) did a run from SoCal to Zion and Bryce Canyon. The best part of the trip was the 2 mile tunnel out the north entrance to Zion heading for Bryce Canyon. The sound of 86 Harleys going one way in a long tunnel was unforgettable Music. Rubys Inn outside of Bryce Canyon is great. If you stay there ask for a view of their lake in back. Nice and quiet.
Oh...I forgot...if you do come through New Mexico...Carlsbad caverns is great, you can also see Roswell (where the little green men hang out) and into southern Arizona by way of the I-10. Catch the 80 South just before the border and that will take you on a great loop south through Douglas (where Pancho Villa used to fight the US Army) then Bisbee (rare turquoise and copper) on to Tombstone (visit the Tombstone Hawg Corral for a t-shirt) then back to the I-10 just south of Tucson.
If you go the north route through New Mexico by way of Santa Fe, stay on I-40 into northern Az. Then you can catch all the famous Indian ruins like Canyon De Chelly. Great place to buy real Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry not the cheap fake stuff. Plenty of great riding there and it sets you up to see the Grand Canyon if you want, then head north to see Zion/Bryce Canyon.

 

I'll add my "amen" to the comments about Southern Utah. I live here and never get tired of riding the area. Today my buddy and I rode out through Zion NP, over to Kanab, out to Johnson Canyon where the old "Gunsmoke" movie set is. Then back through Fredonia, AZ and west to Hurricane, UT and then home, about 200 miles all told. We saw literally hundreds of bikes including two groups from Ontario, Canada. At the intersection of I-15 and State Route 9, exit 16, stands Zion Harley Davidson where you will find the most helpful dealership on earth and the coffee is always on. Top notch service department as well. A Holiday Inn Express is under construction right there and will feature covered parking for bikes.

Click on my signature phote for this year's "Thunder in the Tunnel Ride" where we had 265 bikes going through the Zion tunnel under escort. Deafening comes to mind.

 

Some of these are already listed but here's my .02...

White Sands in Southern New Mexico is such a unique landscape that you almost feel like you're in a Twilight Zone episode when you travel through it...definitely worth a look. If you're into guns and old west history, check out the Billy The Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, NM. All of Northern NM is gorgeous also. In AZ, check out The Grand Canyon, Painted Desert and The Petrified Forest. You can also check out several sections of Route 66 in either state...the best and longest uninterupted section is in Western Arizona from Ash Fork to Kingman.

 

Almost forgot...don't miss Monument Valley in Northern Arizona! This is the landscape that was used in many movies; old John Wayne Westerns, Easy Rider, Back To The Future, Forrest Gump etc. If you're as awestruck as I was you may even make an avatar out of one of your photos.