Moab in August
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 87
From: Dallas,Tx
Durango is 75 or a little more from Ouray. Ridgeway is another 25, so you are looking at about 250 miles from Durango to Moab, and this is almost all mountain riding so don't plan on making great time. This is going to pretty much be a full day. You are going to go over 3 10,000+ passes and the road from Silverton to Ouray has a lot of 25 mph curves and not many guard rails.
While in Ridgeway go about 1 mile North and visit Dennis Weaver Park. There is a beautiful Bronze Eagle on a 15 ft. high rock pedestal. Anyone in town can give you directions.
Lunch in Ridgeway at True Grit, or Norwood at Lone Cone.
Bill
While in Ridgeway go about 1 mile North and visit Dennis Weaver Park. There is a beautiful Bronze Eagle on a 15 ft. high rock pedestal. Anyone in town can give you directions.
Lunch in Ridgeway at True Grit, or Norwood at Lone Cone.
Bill
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
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 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
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
240 miles on this route will be no problem.
Have a good trip.
Bill
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 87,491
From: Western South Dakota
Planning to ride Colorado this year and thought I might leave Ouray and ride over to Moab to spend one night. Is it too hot in mid to late August to ride the Moab area for a day?
Talking with some guys last year while in Glacier and they were telling me how hot it is there and you don't want to ride it in August. I rode all through Utah last year and it did not seem so bad.
Any information would be appreciated.
Talking with some guys last year while in Glacier and they were telling me how hot it is there and you don't want to ride it in August. I rode all through Utah last year and it did not seem so bad.
Any information would be appreciated.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,420
From: San Francisco
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.
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.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
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.
Heck, when I head home, it may be 100+ there.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
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.
Heck, when I head home, it may be 100+ there.
Bill