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.

 

Take in the sites and enjoy. Did a similar thing 20 years ago and am doing it again in a couple of weeks. The areas you are riding thru are beautiful. I wouldn't worry a whole lot. I camped on picnic tables at rest stops or camp areas and stayed in a hotel about every 3rd nite to catch up on laundry. My ride was from Delaware to Anchorage, Alaska. This one will be a little longer. SC, GA, NC, DE, TN, IL, WI, ND, SK, AB, BC YT and AK. If you're a HOG member, use their trip planner. Otherwise, MapQuest works fine. Unless you are just wanting to take back roads, I don't understand wanting to avoid interstates. If there's something to do and see of the beaten path, it makes sense. Hiway is a good way to make up time. I wouldn't worry about travelling alone. People are either going to be curious and approach you to ask questions (especially with AB tags) or their going to avoid you 'cause you're on a bike.
I'll be passing thru your neck of the woods end of June or early July. Where in AB are you from?

 

Sounds like a great trip, Geno. If you do decide to get in a visit to the Grand Canyon, US-89 is closed between Page AZ and Bitter Springs AZ due to highway damage. If you are coming into AZ from Kanab UT, take 89A instead of 89 and you'll be fine.

 

I've done all that hdgeno. You have some good rides there in your list but the order wont work.
Beartooth first, then Black Hills. Ride through Colorado on your way to Utah, then pop down to the grand canyon.

Some great rides in Colorado and Utah, very spectacular.

 

The reason for avoiding interstates is mostly so that I ride more back roads and see more of the scenery. If I need to make up time, or want to save time to have more available in certain areas, I will be taking advantage of the highways.
I'm in the far northern part of Alberta, small town an hour southeast of High Level called La Crete. Sounds like you have a great trip planned for yourself, enjoy!

Thanks for the info, exactly the reason I started this thread

The reason I had that order was that I was planning to pass through southern SK, and the dropping down to the Black Hills through ND. Your idea certainly makes it a more manageable loop, and I'll evaluate my desire to pass through SK and ND. Thanks for the input

 

Here's some more food for thought... Instead of doing Sask, and ND, which are prairie roads, look at this on the map...
- Hwy 16 west to Jasper
- Jasper - Louise on Icefield parkway (touted as one of most beautiful roads in the world).
- Hwy 40 from transcanda - longview over the highwood pass. (Highest pass in Canada)
- longview to border on hwys 22 and #6
- Hwy to the sun/ glacier ntl park in the states

... then stick with the rest of your plan starting with beartooth.

 

Looks like you've got a good ride planned, looking forward to reading how it plays out. Enjoy it!

 

The parkway is beautiful, been through there many times, but finally rode it for the first time last year on the bike. Hmmmm, never knew about highway 40, now I feel like that road has to make it into my trip somehow. I was kind of thinking of coming back home via Banff and Jasper anyway. Going-to-the-Sun road and glacier are possibilities if the road is plowed by the time I'm in the area. Thanks again for the info, it's appreciated

Can't wait to get on the road, should be the best vacation I've ever taken

 

I'm planning to take my modular helmet in case of rain, but man that takes up a lot of room in the luggage. Really contemplating leaving it at home, and just going with the half helmet/goggles I normally wear and adding a bandanna. I'm trying to get everything packed into two bags (which is tons of room without the big helmet) so I don't have to empty the bags on my bike every night at hotels. I'd like to leave things like gas and dirty laundry in the bags if possible. Is a full face/modular necessary?

 

I would take the modular helmet only taking one helmet on the trip. It would be on your head and not taking up space. I like the protection from bugs and road debris.