USA Trip
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 10
From: 3 hours south of 60
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I've got a fairly long list of things to see by now, and just hope that I will have enough time to see it all. Hope to do a trip on the bike every summer at least once, so what I can't see this year I will get next time
Any help on the hotel and national park questions in my previous post?
Any help on the hotel and national park questions in my previous post?
Sounds like a great trip. Are you posting pictures as you go? Also I'm in Northern California. Make sure you hit the Redwood Forest in Northern California. You won't be sorry. Have a safe and great trip.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,922
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From: Running with the gators
For 20 years I had a dream to buy a Harley and take a nice long road trip. I finally bought the bike last summer, and did get one great trip in, which was a lot of fun. I spent the winter months doing some trip planning, but mostly just trying to figure out some of the highlights I want to make sure I see. The plan is to not make too many plans, just kind of go day by day.
I've secured a month off of work, mid-June to mid-July. Here's a few of the highlights that I want to get done, probably in this order:
1. Black Hills in South Dakota (looking at a few days here to ride the roads and see the sights)
2. Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph highway, Yellowstone
3. Find a suitable route through some of Utah and Colorado
4. Would love to squeeze in the Grand Canyon
5. Northern California/Oregon and ride up the coast to Washington
6. Independence Day in Tri-Cities area in Washington (with friends)
7. Meander back up to my home in northern Alberta
The plan is to try and avoid major cities and interstates. I guess the reason for posting this thread is to get some input from those of you who have ridden or live in the areas I'm planning to ride through.
I'm hoping that I can do this trip without making too many reservations at hotels, just finding a place to sleep once I am tired of riding for the day. Part of me wants to just ride a ton of miles, but part of me really wants to stop often and make sure I take in the sights and sounds.
Am I trying to get too much into my trip? Finding rooms will be okay? I'm a little nervous about this trip to be honest, I'm a small town hick from way up north and don't really know what to expect as far as riding alone. Thanks in advance for any info, advice.
I've secured a month off of work, mid-June to mid-July. Here's a few of the highlights that I want to get done, probably in this order:
1. Black Hills in South Dakota (looking at a few days here to ride the roads and see the sights)
2. Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph highway, Yellowstone
3. Find a suitable route through some of Utah and Colorado
4. Would love to squeeze in the Grand Canyon
5. Northern California/Oregon and ride up the coast to Washington
6. Independence Day in Tri-Cities area in Washington (with friends)
7. Meander back up to my home in northern Alberta
The plan is to try and avoid major cities and interstates. I guess the reason for posting this thread is to get some input from those of you who have ridden or live in the areas I'm planning to ride through.
I'm hoping that I can do this trip without making too many reservations at hotels, just finding a place to sleep once I am tired of riding for the day. Part of me wants to just ride a ton of miles, but part of me really wants to stop often and make sure I take in the sights and sounds.
Am I trying to get too much into my trip? Finding rooms will be okay? I'm a little nervous about this trip to be honest, I'm a small town hick from way up north and don't really know what to expect as far as riding alone. Thanks in advance for any info, advice.
Anyway, look into HWY 550 from Montrose Colorado to Durango Colorado. It's called the Million Dollar highway. Beautiful scenery, high elevation, windy, no guard rails, fun, fun, fun. You may be able to worked that into the Grand Canyon coming or going.
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 52
From: Hinton, Alberta
You might look at getting a year pass for the USA parks if you are going into a bunch of them. We went there a few years back and after going through a few we stopped at one info building the lady asked us if we wanted a year pass. We said we were from Alberta and wouldn't get the use out of it. She showed us a little adding of some of the parks we were still going to go to.........we bought a year pass. We should have got one right away, we already paid entry to a few parks and still saved getting the year pass.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 10
From: 3 hours south of 60
You might look at getting a year pass for the USA parks if you are going into a bunch of them. We went there a few years back and after going through a few we stopped at one info building the lady asked us if we wanted a year pass. We said we were from Alberta and wouldn't get the use out of it. She showed us a little adding of some of the parks we were still going to go to.........we bought a year pass. We should have got one right away, we already paid entry to a few parks and still saved getting the year pass.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 10
From: 3 hours south of 60
Day 1 of my trip is in the books, spent the majority of the days travel in the rain. Prolly wont be updating this thread too much, as I will try to post daily reports to my blog, www.genoridesagain.blogspot.ca
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 271
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From: 3 hours south of 60
Thanks 6gear, the offer is much appreciated I don't think I will be going that far east on this trip, hopefully in the next summer or two.
Zeus33, thanks for the heads up on the Highwood Pass road, it was amazing coming through there yesterday.
I don't think I will be going that far east on this trip, hopefully in the next summer or two. Zeus33, thanks for the heads up on the Highwood Pass road, it was amazing coming through there yesterday.
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 93
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From: Las Vegas
A National Park pass is 80.00 and is good for 12 months. You'll save money after you visit 3-4 parks.
Here are a few of my suggestions.
Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier is spectacular. Head south from there through Yellowstone and the Tetons. I don't think you can miss the Tetons. Continue your southbound Journey to Rocky Mountain NP; and, take any number of possible roads to Durango. From Durango, head WSW and visit Mesa Verde, 4 corners, Moab, Canyonlands and Arches.From Moab go SW to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is better than the South; and, has fewer people! From the North Rim hit up Bryce and Zion and then head for Las Vegas.
From Vegas head west through Death Valley and over to hwy 395. Take hwy 120 over Tioga pass and through Yosemite. I'd avoid Sacramento and San Francisco and catch the coast around Point Reyes. The Redwoods and the Pacific coast are spectacular all the way up to Astoria, OR. From there I like to ride up through Puget sound. Do this either by going inland along the Columbia; or going North along the coast (sorta) and cutting inland through Alma, WA.
Hope you have a great trip!
Here are a few of my suggestions.
Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier is spectacular. Head south from there through Yellowstone and the Tetons. I don't think you can miss the Tetons. Continue your southbound Journey to Rocky Mountain NP; and, take any number of possible roads to Durango. From Durango, head WSW and visit Mesa Verde, 4 corners, Moab, Canyonlands and Arches.From Moab go SW to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is better than the South; and, has fewer people! From the North Rim hit up Bryce and Zion and then head for Las Vegas.
From Vegas head west through Death Valley and over to hwy 395. Take hwy 120 over Tioga pass and through Yosemite. I'd avoid Sacramento and San Francisco and catch the coast around Point Reyes. The Redwoods and the Pacific coast are spectacular all the way up to Astoria, OR. From there I like to ride up through Puget sound. Do this either by going inland along the Columbia; or going North along the coast (sorta) and cutting inland through Alma, WA.
Hope you have a great trip!
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 10
From: 3 hours south of 60
Wow, thanks for taking the time to add all those suggestions gonenomad! I appreciate every bit of advice, as this is all new to me. Will certainly be seeing some of what you posted, and that bit about riding up the coast will be very helpful. I'm not sure if I will make it as far south as I originally thought, but if not this trip then I can take it in the next time I make a trip south