Road Trips Let us know where you've been on your Harley, the best places to visit on a bike, etc.

La-utah-arizonia-16 days 5k miles advice

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 10:18 PM
  #1  
masterjosephfr's Avatar
masterjosephfr
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Default La-utah-arizonia-16 days 5k miles advice

leaving mid june for 18 days...is this doable..any suggestions
1 slidell, la - alexandria, la 250 miles
2 alexandria- denton tx 350 miles
3 denton- amarillo tx 325 miles
4 amarilio - walsenburg co (hwy of legends) 320 miles
5 walsenburg - montrose-durango 350 miles
6 durango - Mesa Verde NP-4 corners-mexican hat- moki dugway- monticello 345 miles
7 monticello ut- archsNP- canyonlandNP- green river 220 miles
8 green river -torrey-tropic- bryce canyon NP 250 miles
9 tropic- zion np- kanub 150 miles
10 kanub- north rim-flagstaff 300 miles
11 flagstaff- sedona-precott valley-phoenix 210 miles
12 phoenix- tombstone-bisbee-lordsburg 300 miles
13 lordsburg- alphine (coronado trail) - silver city 275 miles
14 silver city- carlsbad 345 miles
15 carlsbad - sonora tx 280 miles
16 sonora texas- sisters- san antonio- columbus 370 miles
17 columbus tx - slidell,la 450 miles
one open day to fit in

re-thinking day 11..been reading about lake/bridge etc east of flagstaff and then hitting alpine and go south on coronado trail. Is this any better than prescott valley????

will I have enough "free time to sight see the National parks??/
any other suggestions????
thanks
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 10:43 PM
  #2  
doc ock's Avatar
doc ock
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
Default

Hopefully there is a little flexibility, such a schedule might be hard to keep. And yes Alpine is WAY better than Prescott Valley, nothing really to see their. Prescott on the other hand is a nice old west town. "Whiskey Row" is historical but riding wise Alpine is a must. Know as the Dragon of the west. If you do end up going to Prescott then Jerome should be in your ride. Are you camping or motel? It is possible to ride south from Flagstaff- Sedona-Jerome-Prescott. Then head east through Camp Verde and head over to Alpine from their. void Phoenix if possible, nothing but cars, truck, and 100 deg temps.
 

Last edited by doc ock; Apr 16, 2013 at 10:50 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 07:43 AM
  #3  
robertwy's Avatar
robertwy
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
Default

Originally Posted by doc ock
Hopefully there is a little flexibility, such a schedule might be hard to keep. And yes Alpine is WAY better than Prescott Valley, nothing really to see their. Prescott on the other hand is a nice old west town. "Whiskey Row" is historical but riding wise Alpine is a must. Know as the Dragon of the west. If you do end up going to Prescott then Jerome should be in your ride. Are you camping or motel? It is possible to ride south from Flagstaff- Sedona-Jerome-Prescott. Then head east through Camp Verde and head over to Alpine from their. void Phoenix if possible, nothing but cars, truck, and 100 deg temps. North Rim, AZ to Lordsburg, NM - Google Maps
I'm doing much of your proposed route in May. We leave on May 10 from Arlington, TX and will go through Silver City, Tombstone, Alpine, Show Low, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, Four Corners, etc. I'm going to try to post here daily if I have time with a brief description of the day and then do a comprehensive report when I return home.

I'll send you some info when I return on 5/24 which should hopefully help you before you leave in June.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 08:19 AM
  #4  
masterjosephfr's Avatar
masterjosephfr
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Default

thanks .....I will be traveling 2 up and will be staying in hotels......
I will be watching your reports Robertwy
Doc ***-agree with you on alpine...like your route suggestion....only reason I was going thur phoenix was to come south an see the Saguaro catcus(a must see for OL) and then Tombstone(not a must do). maybe I can make a "southwestern loop" after hitting Lordsburg. Are there any other locations to see the big catcus other than just outside Tucson???
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 08:49 AM
  #5  
BUZZARD II's Avatar
BUZZARD II
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Default

I understand you're wanting to get to Colorado in a hurry but once you're there it is time to slow way down. Just west of Walsenburg is Great Sand Dunes National Park. Were you planning on passing that at what, 70 MPH? Then one day to get to Durango? You will fly by the best riding in the San Juan Range.

You mention Mexican Hat, how about Monument Valley? One day passing through Arches and Canyonlands is a sin.

Cut your mileage in half and see twice as much.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:09 AM
  #6  
jmorganroadglide's Avatar
jmorganroadglide
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Default

I do question your length of day planning on the first four days. I think that from Denton to Amarillo is not anywhere near a good day. Amarillo to Walsenburg will put you at your destination hours before you can check into a hotel. Just think you should at least kick out 500 miles a day until you get to Colorado. This will free up time to enjoy the ride that is really the "ride". As an example, if you could end up on day four in South Fork, Colorado it will let you ride north through Lake City up close to Gunnison, then west to Montrose, then south on the Million Dollar Highway to Durango. All of this is great riding that is must see. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is worth a look. Also if your going to do this many national parks, buy a pass which will save time and money at each park.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:09 AM
  #7  
slhanks4's Avatar
slhanks4
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 50
From: Gilbert, AZ
Default

Just a word to the wise here, June is the hottest month of the year in Phoenix. By mid-June we are usually well above 110° here, and it doesn't cool off much at night. It can still be 100° past midnight.

The saguaro cactus only can be found at elevations below about 3000'. You start seeing them about 50 miles north of Phoenix near Cordes Lakes, which is one of the junctions to get to Prescott from Phoenix. If you REALLY want to see lots of them, visit Saguaro Nat'l Monument outside of Tucson, but I wouldn't recommend it in June.

Here's a couple about 50 miles E of Phoenix on US-60 at Florence Jct:


Keep going through Mexican Hat about 20 miles and see Monument Valley, you'll be glad you did.
 

Last edited by slhanks4; Apr 17, 2013 at 09:21 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:12 AM
  #8  
doc ock's Avatar
doc ock
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
Default

Originally Posted by masterjosephfr
thanks .....I will be traveling 2 up and will be staying in hotels......
I will be watching your reports Robertwy
Doc ***-agree with you on alpine...like your route suggestion....only reason I was going thur phoenix was to come south an see the Saguaro catcus(a must see for OL) and then Tombstone(not a must do). maybe I can make a "southwestern loop" after hitting Lordsburg. Are there any other locations to see the big catcus other than just outside Tucson???
June will be HOT, but if you start early should be ok. You could come south out of Payson on 87 to the 60 then east towards Globe. I'll map it out.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:32 AM
  #9  
drew4jan's Avatar
drew4jan
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 845
Likes: 45
From: Tucson, AZ
Default

I rode from Flagstaff though Payson to Tucson last June. It was real nice through Payson. Once you got to Roosevelt Lake all the way to Tucson it was hotter than hell. We stopped quite often just to cool off.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:54 AM
  #10  
dan conner's Avatar
dan conner
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 9
Default

jump on the interstate and haul *** to colorado--not much to see until you get there. i would do really long days getting there. those days are for covering miles. take your time in colorado and utah. i would leave arizona for a different trip and time of year. you can easily spend several days in most national parks--2 or 3 a day is just taking a picture or two and saying you were there. slow down and enjoy the scenery...you may never pass that way again.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:27 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE