So some buddies and I are headed to Southern Utah. Plan to leave the TX Panhandle and cut across Southern Colorado to Durango, then over to Medicine Hat and work our way to Zion Nat'l Park. Back up to Moab, then home...6 days. Any sights, roads, eateries we need to check out? Thanks,
JMc

 

That's my wife's favorite touring/vacation area.

We're hoping to get out that way later this year if all goes well.

Ride safe and if you don't mind getting your bikes dirty check out the Moki Dugway.

 

And Mules Point. It is nearby. Be careful taking your bike out there. I think it is pretty gravely.

 

Sunset Grille in Moab has a great view and some interesting history. It also has great food and was probably our favorite restaurant when we spent 2 weeks in Utah in 2019.

 

If you do ride the Moki , take it from Mexican Hat up and over.

 

In Mexican Hat, have dinner at the Swinging Steak, good time for sure.

We detoured into Colorado and went to Mesa Verde NP, lots to see and road in the park is killer.

We did Moki going down, didn't seem any easier or harder.

If you take 95 from Mexican Hat up to Hanksville, 95 going Hite Crossing Bridge is a pretty spectacular and not often traveled road. Get gas, nothing between those two towns and over 150 miles.

 

My favorite route through Utah. Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef N.P.'s and Goblin Valley SP and then Moab.



Highway 128 from Moab to I-70 is a fun ride.



Delicate Arch near Moab.



The view from the Sunset Grill in Moab.

 

Utah Trip
Every time I’ve been to Zion it was crowded and had to take shuttle bus to get around. The road in and out is bumper to bumper.
I would spend more time at Bryce. Spend night at Ruby’s. Great restaurant. Then up to Panguitch, Richfield, across I-70 to Moab.

Leaving Durango: Cortez, Mexican Water, east side of Monument Valley to Mexican Hat, Moki.
Frye Canyon, Hanksville, Torrey, Capitol Reef, Hwy 12 to Escalante and Bryce.




Then 89 & I-70 to Richfield and Moab.

 

128 is a great ride, when we rode it cars in front would pull off and let us by, unusual. Extend it by riding on through Cisco, parallel with the interstate before getting back on I-70.

 

We did this trip in 2018, I'd highly recommend it: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...pic-heavy.html

What I learned:

Hwy 12 is a must, just an amazing road all the way from the 89 junction to Torrey.

Bryce is motorcycle friendly. Ride all the way out to Rainbow Point first thing, then work your way back. All the best pullouts will then be on your right and you can get a little head start on the crowds who will start stopping at the first pullout.

Zion is amazing but very crowded. It's still a great ride through the park, but get an early start and skip Zion Canyon and the tour bus. We hit the East Entrance at 6:45 and had the road to ourselves until we got to the Zion Canyon area and the visitor centers.

Galaxy of Hatch is a great little Harley-themed motel/diner with a little indy bike shop. We would have stayed there but the logistics didn't work for us.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is an easy day ride from the Bryce/Zion areas and well worth a side trip.

Good beer and coffee are hard to come by in Utah, imagine that.