Two trip choices, help me choose
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,422
Likes: 2
From: Las Cruces, NM
185 north out of Las Cruces to Hatch (beautiful road along the Rio Grande)
then west on 26 Nutt (stop for a cool one)
semi north on 27 to Hillsboro ( lot of history in this area Lake Valley, Hillsboro and Kingston)
west on 152 over Emory Pass (twisties enjoy)
Now a choice to make
north on 35 and south on 15 (more twisties) to Pinos Altos(another cool one at the Buck Horn) and then on to Silver City
or continue on 152 to Silver City.
Follow jmorgan from Silver City, but the above will keep you off the interstate. PM me if you have questions!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,566
Likes: 85
From: Calgary
The Coronado Trail or as it used to be called (The Devils Highway) is not to be missed if you choose to ride that direction, best ride in AZ. It's a road that can really test you,it's like a bunch of Dragon's Tails in one road and zero traffic. It's in the middle of nowhere cept these old mountains with a big windy road in the middle of them. It alone is worth the trip.
I like the other route going East as well, so much to see, do and ride. Those roads around the Smokies are really a ball to ride on. A bit more congested at time's but overall I found it not to bad, been to crowded areas in the West as well so nowhere is immune to crowds.
East for me if I was you.
I like the other route going East as well, so much to see, do and ride. Those roads around the Smokies are really a ball to ride on. A bit more congested at time's but overall I found it not to bad, been to crowded areas in the West as well so nowhere is immune to crowds.
East for me if I was you.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
Many great suggestions, guys. I'm gonna have to break my day 2 down into 2 days instead of one so I can ride Hwy 191 in AZ.
I also like the suggestions for places to get a cool one. Think I'll take you up on that.
Again, thanks to you all and have a good holiday.
I also like the suggestions for places to get a cool one. Think I'll take you up on that.
Again, thanks to you all and have a good holiday.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
I agree with the above however, you can take;
185 north out of Las Cruces to Hatch (beautiful road along the Rio Grande)
then west on 26 Nutt (stop for a cool one)
semi north on 27 to Hillsboro ( lot of history in this area Lake Valley, Hillsboro and Kingston)
west on 152 over Emory Pass (twisties enjoy)
Now a choice to make
north on 35 and south on 15 (more twisties) to Pinos Altos(another cool one at the Buck Horn) and then on to Silver City
or continue on 152 to Silver City.
Follow jmorgan from Silver City, but the above will keep you off the interstate. PM me if you have questions!
185 north out of Las Cruces to Hatch (beautiful road along the Rio Grande)
then west on 26 Nutt (stop for a cool one)
semi north on 27 to Hillsboro ( lot of history in this area Lake Valley, Hillsboro and Kingston)
west on 152 over Emory Pass (twisties enjoy)
Now a choice to make
north on 35 and south on 15 (more twisties) to Pinos Altos(another cool one at the Buck Horn) and then on to Silver City
or continue on 152 to Silver City.
Follow jmorgan from Silver City, but the above will keep you off the interstate. PM me if you have questions!
One thing I overlooked is from Red River you should really go to Eagles Nest then go to Ute Park, then to Cimarron. This will take you through Cimarron Canyon which is one of the best rides in New Mexico. From Cimarron you will go to Springer. From Springer go east to Clayton. Speed limit on this road is what ever you got the ***** to ride. Eighty miles of open road and you can cross it in about an hour. Cimarron Canyon has a rock formation that is called the Palisades I think. Very impressive. Clayton to Dalhart to Dumas to Amarillo. Red River to Amarillo is only about a six hour ride. Also, if it is open, The Eklund Hotel in Clayton is a nice place to eat and an interesting building. Don't speed in Clayton.
Last edited by jmorganroadglide; Dec 21, 2012 at 06:40 PM.
Great Smokies and Blue Ridge Pkwy for me...Then on up into WVA.
Straddle the smaller roads on border twee WV and Va and have a ball.
BRP is a 450 mile road w/ no stop signs, lights or towns.
To get therefrom Tx I'd do the scenic Natchez Trace from Vicksburg to Nashville.
This another 400mi stretch w/no nuttin'
Straddle the smaller roads on border twee WV and Va and have a ball.
BRP is a 450 mile road w/ no stop signs, lights or towns.
To get therefrom Tx I'd do the scenic Natchez Trace from Vicksburg to Nashville.
This another 400mi stretch w/no nuttin'
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
Of the two routes, we've done both several times however we've never done either this early in the year.
I'd lean towards the western choice and consider the eastern route later in the summer months.
We did a huge loop from Clovis, NM up through Albuquerque and then on to Moab, UT, and then down to Page, AZ, Carlsbad, NM and then back to Clovis in late September/early October and it was some nice riding weather but we did have to bundle up on a few days in the higher elevations. We had heavy frost on our seats a couple of times but no snow.
FWIW, if you have the uime, go to the Carlsbad Caverns and take the tour, preferably duringthe "bat" season, and be sure to be there in the evening when the bats do their mass exodus...you'll never forget or regret it.
I'd lean towards the western choice and consider the eastern route later in the summer months.
We did a huge loop from Clovis, NM up through Albuquerque and then on to Moab, UT, and then down to Page, AZ, Carlsbad, NM and then back to Clovis in late September/early October and it was some nice riding weather but we did have to bundle up on a few days in the higher elevations. We had heavy frost on our seats a couple of times but no snow.
FWIW, if you have the uime, go to the Carlsbad Caverns and take the tour, preferably duringthe "bat" season, and be sure to be there in the evening when the bats do their mass exodus...you'll never forget or regret it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 18,716
Likes: 61
From: calif
I'm planning a trip for the late spring of 2013, probably around mid May. I'm the one trying to decide whether to go east or west. I've planned out two trips here: http://txharleyrider.com/routes/.
If you get a chance, take a look a give me your 2 cents.
If you get a chance, take a look a give me your 2 cents.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
Thanks again guys for all of your input. I've been out of pocket for a few days with the holidays.
It seems like riding west is the consensus. I've had some great suggestions here and can't wait to try them.
West it is. Any additional info will be greatly appreciated.
It seems like riding west is the consensus. I've had some great suggestions here and can't wait to try them.
West it is. Any additional info will be greatly appreciated.
