Hey guys,
My friends and I are planning a trip from Denver to LA. We're flying into Denver and riding to LA. I'm asking for roads to ride and sights to see along the way. From Denver we will be going through Utah and Las Vegas. Probably staying in Grand Junction Co. Beaver UT. Las Vegas, and finally LA. Good places to eat and stay that are reasonably priced would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

get out your map:

I'd suggest dropping down CO285

then West on 160...pagosa springs ( hot), durango ( detour up to silverton), 4 corners, mexican hat, monument valley ( via 41, 162,163), kayenta to cameron ( AZ) and the grand canyon ( 89, 64).
exit grand canyon at williams AZ...at Seligman get off I40 to rt 66 take that to kingman then up 93 to LV

CO/UT/AZ are choice States, NV and CA will require hard hats

weather- great variation in altitude, you could see cool temps in Northern AZ often 10~15ºC cooler than Phoenix

cover up from the sun, use sunscreen that won;t sting your eyes, drink a litre an hour and augment with pedialyte or gatorade at fuel stops.
under estimating the desert climate and requirements of the body leads to a couple of tourist deaths each week- really




doing this will chew up time- you'll be able to run 110KPH most of it, but scenery demands will slow your progress to 500 600 km a day.

LV is a pit- choose your hotel parking situation carefully.
some properties have motorcycle areas- the flamingo does...but when my truck with broken into at the same structure the security were useless- they didn;t stop it, they didn;t have video and they actively discouraged me from making a police report. ( I was on a job for the casino , so difficult situation)
I like the Platinum hotel, they have an area visible from the lobby for bikes, all suites, no smoke, non gaming, 2 blocks from ballys/caesars/ flamingo/link/bellagio


Mike

 

How long you going to take? There's enough things between Denver and LA that you could take a year and not see most of them.

What are you passions and dislikes?

When are you doing this? You're already starting to get late in the season for some of the things on a bike. But since you're from Ontario, you're probably well used to it.

 

Took the words right out of my mouth, I used to live in Dolores and work helicopters all over that part of the country. Great scenery. Oh, and Op, take some warmies for those 8000 ft mornings in the mountains

 

I agree with 90% of this BUT I don't agree with the Vegas comment..Stay at the MGM signature as they have a gated entrance which they require a permit to enter that is given at the time of stay you will be fine plus they have 2 bedroom suites so you can split the bill if needed. If I where you when coming to Los Angeles cut through Death Valley and come down the 395/14 through lone pine MUCH better scenery than the 15...When you get to Los Angeles make sure you go to the Rock Store and Neptunes net.

 

id hit Moab out of CO then hwy 70 west to 24 south, then take scenic route 12 , headed twards Zion.... Grover to the 89 junction is awesome...then you can take the 15 up to Beaver

 

Snowed in the Mountains outside Salt Lake last night.

 

I agreee 100%! Southern Utah is a must!

 

what are the dates you plan to ride thru Colorado? Winter is coming pretty soon here I would guess....
I'd suggest 285 down to Salida - then Gunnison, Telluride, Million dollar highway to Durango, 4 corners, Masa Verde park, then hit the Grand Canyon, Bryce national park, etc

 

Thanks guys! Great advice and choices for us. We're flying into Denver Oct 1 leaving LA Oct 6. I know we could spend a lot of time in each state, but we don't have that much of it.