Daily Slideshow: 7 More Rides to Do Before You Die
Smooth ribbons of road, twisties & curves, hills, breathtaking scenes... these can all be found in the United States. Here are just a few of the many amazing places you can go on two wheels. Sprinkle in a few rallies, and you have the making for some memorable rides. Take a look at these and start riding. Stop often and take photos to share!
A Tucson favorite: Mount Lemmon
Just Northeast of Tucson is Mount Lemmon. To the locals, it's always been a great way to beat the heat three-quarters of the year. For those of us on two wheels, Catalina Highway is a scenic ride for both the experienced and novice alike. The charm of this ride is that it packs a breathtaking view and a challenging ride into a short trip. From the entrance of Coronado State Park to the top of the mountain is less than an hour. Halfway up is a scenic overlook worth stopping at to view Tucson and the entire valley. Proceeding up to the top yields a fun little town with the best pie in the county!
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Taking the Scenic Route to the Laughlin River Run
Keeping with the Southwest theme, one would be remiss if they did not attend the Laughlin River Run held annually during the last full week of April. The Laughlin River Run, going into its 36th year, is touted as the largest motorcycle gathering/event in the Western United States. Laughlin, Nevada is in the southernmost point of the state meet Arizona and California. While Laughlin has plenty to see and do, half the fun is getting there. The most direct route from Phoenix is AZ SR-60, transitioning to AZ SR-93 in Wickenburg provides a fun ride through foothills and beautiful desert landscape. For those wanting to take the scenic route, take AZ SR-89 out of Wickenburg to AZ SR-89A which will take you through Prescott, Cottonwood, Sedona, and finally to Flagstaff and Interstate 40. This route has beautiful red rock formations and dips down into the cool mountain air of Oak Creek Canyon. Bring your bathing suit if you plan on stopping at Slide Rock.
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Tail of the Dragon/Deals Gap
Revered as one of the best rides for motorcyclist and sports cars alike, the Tail of the Dragon is one many riders enjoy taming. While scenic, the real reason to ride is the road. A challenging course, one must pay attention to the many twists and turns as US 129 has 318 curves in 11 miles. As a testament to the precariousness of this ride, there is a map detailing the Tail of the Dragon Deaths going back as far as 1995. Fear not! Annually, thousands prove the Dragon is not too perilous.
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The Twisted Sisters
Deep in the Heart of Texas is one ride that stands out over all the amazing roads Texas has to offer: The Three Sisters or the Twisted Sisters. This route is approximately 130 miles starting near Medina, TX (1.5 hours NW of San Antonio) Ranch Routes 335, 336 and 337 make up the roads for this trip that typically lasts about three hours (not including stops) ending in Leakey, TX. To add another hour to the trip, continue back to Medina along RR337. This trip really showcases the beauty of Texas Hill Country while cruising on well maintained curvy roads. There are plenty of lodging options in Medina, Leakey, Camp Wood, and of course, San Antonio. This is highly recommended as it takes a day to travel almost anywhere in Texas.
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Utah's Highway 12
Utah Highway 12 itself is about 120 miles from Torrey, UT ending about seven miles south of Panguitch, UT. In 2002, this stretch was designated "All American Road". It was also voted the 2nd most beautiful highway in the world. UT-12 has 120 miles of breathtaking views that include pine tree laden mountainsides, amazing rock arches, stunning red rock formations, and cliffs. It crisscrosses through Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Dixie National Forest. Couple this with temperate weather, well-maintained roads, and curves to keep the biker happy, this is one trip not to miss.
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Skyline Drive Virginia
Skyline Drive is a short 105 miles along the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains deep in Shenandoah National Park. Due to traffic, curves, wildlife, and amazing views, the speed limit is 35 mph. At that speed, it gives one a chance to take in the amazing sights that can only have been seen in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Riding out early with the rising sun allows for the already breathtaking view to be capped with fog in the valleys. During the fall, this is one of the premier locations to visit as the changing color of leaves provides a view that even Bob Ross could barely touch.
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Lone Star Rally
One of the great rides not far from the 4th largest U.S. City (Houston, Texas) is also one less known. A 70 mile stretch of highway that rides along the Texas Gulf of Mexico coast. The journey there can be adventurous with Houston's notorious traffic (which is, surprisingly, slightly more biker friendly than Tucson, AZ). Starting from the West, Surfside Beach is 65 miles south of Houston and right on the coast. Head east on SH-257. 13 miles later, at the San Luis Pass bridge, expect to pay a $2 toll. After paying the troll his toll, the mile trek over the bridge brings you to Galveston Island and SH-3005, which turns into Seawall Boulevard. Enjoy your time in Galveston, or continue on to until you come to the Port Bolivar Ferry (free!). Enjoy the 30-minute ride across the bay to Bolivar Peninsula and SH-87. 27 miles later, it becomes SH-124 and heads North for 20 miles until getting to I-10. The ride along the coast is relaxing, and then fun as you get onto Seawall Boulevard. Going during Off-season is usually nice and surprisingly warm during much of the year. However, the best-kept secret in Galveston is the Lone Star Rally. Galveston has been hosting the Lone Star Rally the first week of November. This year marked the 16th anniversary of this rally that has grown exponentially. Galveston's Tourism website reported 400,000 bikers converging to the island in 2017, quickly becoming the third largest just behind Daytona's 500,000 bikers and Sturgis' 750,000 bikers!
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