thanks for that info. we have ridden the million dollar hwy. thinking about going to cortez and riding by way of telluride. never have seen that side of the mountain range. still looks like a 240 mile day but that's not to bad in the mountains. is there anything worth stopping for there. google streets doesn't go into town. Thx mike

 

I have ridden over to Moab from Grand Junction the past two years in August and it will be hot (100+ degrees) so plan accordingly. I did my riding before noon. T-storms and dust storms in the late afternoon. SJ Ron

 

If you do this you will still have some mountains, Lizard Head Pass, over 10,000 ft., but not as much as through Durango. It is a nice ride. The ride up the river from Teluride to Norwood is nice. There is a place just south of Moab call the "Hole in the Rock". It is an interesting stop. Teluride is someplace to stop, but I'm not a fan. Costs too much, and I didn't find the people real hospitable.

240 miles on this route will be no problem.

Have a good trip.

Bill

 

Get ready for H E A T and a lot of it.

 

Was in Moab mid August last year mid 90's, like others have said stay hydrated & grab some shade whenever you can and you'll be fine.

 

I would look at it being warm. Last year when I was in the high desert in Boise that was like a furnace blowing on you. Kind of makes it miserable.

 

Now I feel confused. Last night I was on go, now undecided. Thanks for the info. Decisions, decisions.

 

I have crossed southern Utah a number of times in August on my returns from Sturgis. It can be anywhere from a pleasant mid 90's, to an intolerable 110+. Somewhere around 102-103 is where I draw the line. Hotter than that and I think it is dangerous for me to ride.

This summer my buddies and I are planning to ride from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sturgis, mostly along I80. We only plan on staying in Sturgis for a couple of days and then head south to Colorado where we'll ride all the high mountain passes. This is the main part of this summer's ride. The part of the ride we have left open is the return from Colorado to California. If it looks like it will be 102+ in southern Utah, we'll head north where it will be cooler. If it is cooler than 102, we'll cross southern Utah and hit all the scenic spots, Moab, Lake Powell, Capital Reef, the Escalante Ridge, Bryce and Zion National Parks. But we are also prepared to head way north. It doesn't make sense to us to ride through an oven when there are beautiful alternatives available.

 

Last year after Sturgis, I headed north and did Glacier, Canada, then south all the way through Utah. Did Bryce, Zion and then into AZ to the Grand Canyon. It was not bad. These guys I talked to just had me worried about how hot Moab is.


Heck, when I head home, it may be 100+ there.

 

And it ain't no "Dry Heat" there

Bill