Every year for the past ten years I take off the day after Labor Day for a 4K to 5K mile trip. Don't usually have have anyplace I need to be on any certain date but this year I've booked a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon out of Las Vegas so I need to be there on September 9th. I mapped out a tentative route (see link below) that takes me through 12 National Parks and 3 National Monuments. Any feedback on good side trips along my route would be appreciated. I've only planned about 400 miles a day so I will have time to stop and take pictures or take any interesting side trips.

Edit: http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo

 

Can't get the link to work, but I am assuming that you are going to be doing some mountain riding and a lot of 2 lane stuff. If that is the case, you might be getting a little ambitious with 400 miles a day. When riding mountains in Colorado/Utah/NM/Az. 400 miles is going to be a 10-12 hour proposition if you stop to smell the roses, take pics, etc.

Bill

 

I recreated the route in MapQuest so this link should work

http://mapq.st/1rGxyUo

You're right, it is a 10 to 12 hours day to average 400 miles a day with sightseeing and picture taking. I start each day at 7 AM and end each day by 7 PM. Get checked in, have dinner and get to bed by 10 PM. Up by 6 AM and on the road at 7. Some days are only 300 miles and others are 500. The 500 miles days got long when I was doing these trips on my Dyna but their a piece of cake on the Street Glide, guess that's why they call them "touring" bikes. I love cruise control and a fairing for the long days.

Still looking for advice on any recommended side trips. Thanks.

 

I wish I could plan like that...my plans fall apart while enroute.


I ride too far and its not good...get too tired and enjoyment level goes down.


I know your route thru Colorado and Utah very well and have ridden some of those roads.


From Rangely Colorado to Fruitia near I70 you wont see a red light or stop sign! I love that route...


And like billnourse indicated speed and two lanes will make an impact, that little road from I-70 to Moab is incredible...but for some sections its down to 30mph. I know those side trips near Moab will take up time. They just do.


enjoy

 

I always leave extra time in a day for whims, and targets of opportunity, including enjoyable downtime in nice places.

I don't think I'd go that close to Monument Valley without going there, especially if I hadn't been there before.

I liked Ennis, MT.

 

I was in Monument Valley on my trip two years ago. What's in Ennis, MT I could route through there and enter Yellowstone from the west. If I did that I would miss North Yellowstone.

 

Just mentioned in passing that I liked it, probably not much different from some other neat mountain towns, and probably different from when I was there in 1989.

 

Million Dollar Highway in Colorado is too close to miss.

 

I rode that route thru southern Utah on my last trip, and it is some of the most beautiful scenery. Can't wait until I can head that way again.

+1 on riding the Million Dollar Hwy, also.