Southwest Utah: Dual Sport Riding from St. George

[RedRockRider]

Index of Rides:

2011 - SEPTEMBER, start of year 1

Post #2: Virgin River Gorge - AZ Strip (South Side)
Post #3: Virgin River Gorge - Utah (North Side)
Post #10: Brian Head Peak
Post #14: Cedar Breaks & Zion via North Fork Road
Post #17: Apex Mine Road. Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #22: Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site
Post #36: Duck Creek
Post #44: Virgin River Gorge (Utah) and Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #49: Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Cove Road
Post #50: Sand Cove Road and Gunlock Reservoir
Post #56: Enterprise Reservoir (Veyo Shoal Creek Rd / Goldstrike Rd)
Post #57: Diamond Valley
Post #61: Mammoth Creek, Duck Creek, Cedar Breaks
Post #62: Brian Head - High Mountain Meadow
Post #79: Diamond Valley - Pine Valley Mountain, Rt. 033
Post #92: Toroweap via Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse
Post #95: Mohave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #96: Leeds / Silver Reef and Oak Grove
Post #102: Eardley Road (Beaver Dam Wash at Lytle Ranch)
Post #117: Gold Butte Road (near Mesquite, Nevada)
Post #120: Motoqua Road and Nevada Loop
Post #121: Hell Hole Pass, West Mountain Peak, Indian Canyon
Post #128: Manganese Spring Road
Post #131: Pahcoon Flat (south side of Motoqua Rd.)
Post #142: Bloomington Cave
Post #144: Indian Springs Trail
Post #165: Green Valley (dirt just west of St. George)
Post #170: AZ Strip - short loop
Post #171: Warner Valley (dirt just east of St. George)
Post #177: Snow Canyon State Park
Post #181: Gunlock Town & Enterprise Reservoir
Post #189: Tule Desert & Rainbow Canyon, NV
Post #193: Tule Desert & Rainbow Canyon, NV (including Caliente, NV)
Post #199: Warner Valley Loop
Post #229: Diamond Valley - Snow Canyon Loop
Post #238: Smith Mesa (views of Zion)
Post #250: Motoqua Road and Nevada Loop
Post #253: Warner Valley & AZ Strip South of Hurricane
Post #255: Veyo Loop (on pavement)
Post #260: Green Valley to Santa Clara on Dirt
Post #261: Bloomington to Santa Clara on Dirt
Post #276: AZ Strip: Maple Canyon
Post #279: Above Green Valley
Post #280: Mountain Meadows Massacre Site
Post #282: Virgin River South of Bloomington
Post #283: Caliente, NV
Post #284: Caliente, NV
Post #296: Kolob Canyons - Zion National Park
Post #300: Cedar Breaks, Bryce, Zion
Post #303: Cedar Breaks, Kodachrome Basin, Bryce, Zion
Post #314: Inmate Ride (starting at Navajo Drive, Bloomington)
Post #319: St. George Ironman Moto Support
Post #325: Barclay, NV (and Caliente and Crestline Road)
Post #332: Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway, Gooseberry Mesa, Grafton Ghost Town
Post #333: Kolob Reservoir Road
Post #347: Motoqua to Enterprise Reservoir
Post #351: Goldstrike
Post #354: Pine Valley
Post #358: Snow Canyon and Pine Valley Mountain
Post #377: Summit Mountain Road, Parowan Gap, Paragonah to Panguitch Lake -- Brian Head area
Post #380: Mammoth Rd, Alton, Johnson Canyon, Kanab, Aspen Mirror Lake -- Brian Head area
Post #385: AZ Strip: Rt. 101 & Lime Kiln Pass
Post #395: Yankee Meadows Reservoir
Post #399: Pinto (north of St. George)
Post #405: Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway (west of St. George)
Post #414: New Harmony - Circumnavigation of Pine Valley Mtn
Post #419: Road Ride to Nevada

2012 - SEPTEMBER, start of year 2

Post #424: Skutumpah Road
Post #436: The Pinnacles, near Enterprise Reservoir
Post #444: Lund, Utah
Post #447 & 448: Silver Reef (old mining area)
Post #457: Backside of Utah Hill
Post #462: Seegmiller Mountain, AZ Strip
Post #470: Veyo Compressor
Post #475: AZ Strip Powerline Road
Post #503 (p 34) - Post #523 (p 35): St. George to San Diego and back (4-day road trip)
Post #533: Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #538: Motoqua Rd - Manganese Wash - Gunlock Reservoir
Post #545: Oak Grove, AZ Strip
Post #562: AZ Strip: Route #101, Whitney Pass & Whitney Pockets
Post #570: Panguitch Lake - Spring Thaw
Post #583: Inmate Ride to Toroweap
Post #604: Indian Springs Trail (same as Post #144)
Post #619: Toroweap Moto Camping
Post #623: Toroweap Moto Camping
Post #628: Round Trip to Brian Head
Post #631: Moto Support for St. George Ironman 70.3
Post #647: Las Vegas - Valley of Fire
Post #648: Las Vegas - Hoover Dam
Post #650: Las Vegas - Red Rock Canyon, Pahrump, Mt. Charleston
Post #654: Coral Pink & East Fork of Virgin River

_____________________________________


Welcome Inmates & Lurkers! Thanks for checkin' in. This thread is about dual sport daytrips from St. George, UT.

First an introduction, and a few pics

One of my bikes, the trusty TW200. Very good for exploring. More bike photos to follow, but on to the family . . .



The gorgeous wife, at Bryce Canyon National Park. We've known each other since age 17 (college freshman), married at age 30. Now 46 and going strong. I keep trying to interest her in polygamy since we live in Southern Utardia -- so far, no luck.




One of us just outside Moab:





With my son, age 10, in the Narrows of Zion National Park. Do this hike if you ever get the chance. Very easy from the bottom up.




And the group shot, from a recent rafting trip.




ADV is about motorcycles, so here's a few. Me with the 2008 Yamaha WR250R. Bought this bike a few years ago. It was the first time I had ridden a motorcycle since the Peace Corps in Africa, 25 years ago.




My dad, now 73, never rode motorcycles before. Just after I bought my WR, my dad started having troubles with his knees and could no longer hike or bicycle. Solution: I bought him the Honda 230 Dual Sport. He's not going to set any speed records, but he's always up for a ride -- nothing too nasty. Here's dad on his machine. You'll see him in this thread.




Last pic. A ride from my house to the Arizona Strip above Cedar Pocket in the Virgin River Gorge (I-15). I'll post this up shortly.




Offer up the ADV salute if you see me on the road. Ride safe.

[RedRockRider]

Photos from a solo ride from St. George to a viewpoint above the Virgin River Gorge (I-15). The ride was about 60 miles: 10 on pavement, 10 on smooth dirt/gravel, and the last 10 on rougher stuff.

Here's the start, all AZ dirt from here





The BLM road goes through a mining area -- got to take a look around.





Big equipment, seemingly abandoned in this area . . .





I've been on lots of roads on the AZ strip, but never on this one before. Got to check in out.





Nice warm temps now, about 90. The AZ strip is high elevation, about 5000-8000 ft, and get snow in winter.





Cattle grazing.





Smooth, easy dirt. My dad and father-in-law could both make it up here, no problem. Gaining elevation. Endless views in all directions.





Small desert wash. Steam crossing. Very unusual for this time of year. There was rain a day or two ago. Notice the chocolate brown color of the water.





Now getting a bit steeper and rockier. This might be challenging for Dad and wife's dad, visiting next week.




Climbing. Signs of forest fire in years past.





This is the BLM route. Notice the glove. Greetings, inmates





That's me -- RedRockRider. The turn-off to the Cedar Pockets Overlook. The "main" road works its way towards Mesquite, I think. Have to check that out another day.





The gate. You know the drill. Think we are now entering National Forest Service area, not just BLM land. No signs up here. It is pretty remote.





The TW appoaching the edge of the Virgin River Gorge.





Tower on the edge. Visible from I-15 below, if you know where to look.




At the tower.





At the edge looking north. The Virgin River cut this gorge, similar to Zion National Park. The other side is Utah. I often ride to these high points. Did so today, and will post up pics later. The AZ side, where we are now is 30 driving miles from St. George. The Utah side is about 15 miles. Great territory for motos!






With zoom on the point and shoot, you can see the trucks on I-15 below. This is at least a few thousand feet down.





And the TW near the edge, checkin' it out.




Had to motor back home in order to get the kid from karate. This makes the wife happy, which in turn makes me happy.

Lots of good dual sport ridin' on the AZ strip. Bring extra gas if you are going for long rides.

[RedRockRider]

Thursday I rode the AZ Strip to the South Side of the Virgin River Gorge. Today (Friday), I rode from St. George to the North Side of the Virgin River Overlook, just above the Cedar Pocket exit on I-15.

These dirt roads are where I ride most often. 3 miles of asphalt from my house to Bloomington, then dirt. There are lots a variations. It is about 15 miles to the easiest overlook points. Thanks for ridin' along.


On the dirt. Late afternoon light, flash takes shadow off the sign.





The TW200. Very cool bike. Bought this a year or two ago for my father-in-law to use when he comes to visit. Also share with my nephews. The bike is 100% stock. Will be adding the OEM rack shortly. Bike has been dropped three times. Once by father-in-law (on this ride one year ago). Once by me at the mailbox, and once my nephew flew over the handle bars. No on saw it, but he was fine. Lots of dirt on his helmet.




I'm 6' 1", about 185, and like to ride the TW. My WR is much more sophisticated, but the low seat height and light weight make the TW a good choice for off-road exploring, especially if solo. Plus my WR is at Brian Head right now. Will retrieve it this weekend. More on that later.




Gaining elevation. Late afternoon sky. Looking west.





The ADV salute! In the shadow . . .





The Olympus point & shoot, usually kept in the tank bag.





16 miles from my house on the West side of St. George. About 2K total on the TW, mostly driven by me.




At the top of the Virgin River Gorge - Utah side. Looking south to the AZ strip.





Food and drink, in the ADV tradition . . .





Checkin' out of few more overlook spots in low afternoon light.










The AZ strip is the flat shelf in the sunlight above the cliffs. The tower (from yesterday) is on this shelf. It is at least several miles across. I-15 and the Virgin River are several thousand feet below. If you have driven from Las Vegas north to Salt Lake, this was your route. Impressive road.



Ride safe fellow inmates. My dad and I will be riding bikes from Brian Head, via Zion, back to St. George this Sunday. Try to post up a few pics -- great scenery. Father-in-law visiting from PA next week. Got to get all the bikes in St. George so we can ride a bit.

[BullShatter]

RedRock,

Great photos and its a great area to ride. I've deer hunted on the strip before, but haven't had my bike up there.

[David13]

Nice photos, and a nice riding area.
I was in St George in May, and I'm going back to Torrey on Wednesday. But I'll be heading around to the east to go into Utah this time.
In May I did want to get into the Narrows in Zion, but it was closed due to high (and it was quite high) water.
dc

[Superhawk]

Great pics - awesome area to ride - looks nice and remote with lots to explore.
I spent some time on a TW - great bike and does especially well in the deep NJ sand with those big tires.

[RedRockRider]

Hey Inmates, thanks for the complements. It is hard to take bad photos in Utah.

Just to introduce all the bikes you'll be seeing here, the Zuma 125.




Zuma 125 is great around town. By the "Dixie" sign on the red cliffs above St. George.




Back home with the TW200.



Will post up pics of the other bikes soon. Thanks for checking in.

[Signal]

Cool- Red dirt

Makes me want to revisit getting a small bike

[TheAdmiral]

Really nice photo's of the "vastness of it all". Of course you live in the area, but most folks just whiz through the desert, and don't take in the beauty of it (except at the pay to view parks).

Pictures of the burnt Juniper reminds me of a wagon trip in NE Nevada last year. Kind of erie, but cool at the same time.

Thanks for sharing.

[RedRockRider]

Great day! At condo in Brian Head with wife, son, and Dad. Hiking and organizing the motos for a ride on Sunday from Brian Head back to St. George. Dad and I will ride from Navajo Lake down to the east entrance of Zion National Park, through the Zion tunnels, Springdale, then home to St. George.

Here are all the motos, pulled out of the garage for some fresh air and a short spin around Brian Head.




Some detail on the Kawasaki Versys. Is it true that the green ones are just a bit faster?




And the Vulcan 900. This bike is really my father-in-laws', but he leaves it with me in Utah. More on this later. A very cool bike. This is the one that the lovely wife likes to ride 2-up. She says the Versys makes her feel like her butt is up in the air too much. Huh?




My son wants his Kawasaki featured on ADV. We'll do a short ride around Brian Head tomorrow morning before he goes back to St. George in the car with mom. His KLX 110 - rock solid little bike.




Late afternoon. Getting gas at Brian Head's 24-hr self serve station. Convenient. And these bikes only hold ~2 gallons. My dad's Honda will go forever . . .




My WR at the Brian Head ski resort. For those inmates in driving distance, Brian Head is a great family friendly ski resort. Nothing steep, but great snow and no lines.




The road to Brian Head Peak. Just five minutes from Brian Head ski resort. Three miles of smooth dirt to the top, over 11,000 feet. This year the road was blocked with snow past the 4th of July. Easy drive in car or street bike if you're ever in the area. Great views.




Now the cool photos. Dad on his Honda, approaching the summit. Great sky! Carbeurated bike, but it runs great at 11,000 ft with no re-jetting. Just a slight loss of power, perhaps use the choke a bit more to start if cold.




My WR, with road below. Fuel injection. No problem with elevation. Very little loss of power.




Dad photographing his bike at the top.




And the photo of Dad. My dad did so many great things for me when I was a kid, it is nice to be able to introduce him to motorcycling in his 70s. He's into it, and a great riding companion. Lives on the same street in St. George, so he's always available for a quick get-a-way!




The summit. The high temp today was in the 60s, typically Brian Head is 30+ degrees cooler than St. George. Welcome reprieve in summer.




Summit house. Check it out if you ever get the chance. Thanks for riding along fellow inmates. Be safe.

[samthg]

I was just in your neck of the woods last week. I had the ability to get out of town for 3 days and did what i usually do in these instances-head for UT. Spent 2 nights at Bryce, and just roamed the area. Went thru Brian Head at one point to eventually end up at one of my favorite spots-Cedar Breaks. Lighting, thunder and plenty of rain. But i loved every moment!...till the darn ranger ran me off the lookout point due to lighting.

I have been a frequent visitor to So UT since the mid 80's. Mainly for bikes & golf. I know your golf courses quite well, with Green Springs still my favorite. Most of my biking has taken me east, usually using SG as base camp. Just about all of the 13,000 mi on my '86 honda is in the UT red dirt. I just start it and it assumes it heading to Kolob res.

BUT, i've never been in the hills above VR gorge. I'm sure happy about seeing how accessible that area can be.

Your doing a wonderful job of highlighting So UT. I'll be reviewing your post with my Benchmark map soon. So please make sure you throw a bone with trail #'s & other hints.

Thank you again. Sam

[RedRockRider]

Originally Posted by samthg

I was just in your neck of the woods last week. I had the ability to get out of town for 3 days and did what i usually do in these instances-head for UT. Spent 2 nights at Bryce, and just roamed the area. Went thru Brian Head at one point to eventually end up at one of my favorite spots-Cedar Breaks. Lighting, thunder and plenty of rain. But i loved every moment!...till the darn ranger ran me off the lookout point due to lighting.

I have been a frequent visitor to So UT since the mid 80's. Mainly for bikes & golf. I know your golf courses quite well, with Green Springs still my favorite. Most of my biking has taken me east, usually using SG as base camp. Just about all of the 13,000 mi on my '86 honda is in the UT red dirt. I just start it and it assumes it heading to Kolob res.

BUT, i've never been in the hills above VR gorge. I'm sure happy about seeing how accessible that area can be.

Your doing a wonderful job of highlighting So UT. I'll be reviewing your post with my Benchmark map soon. So please make sure you throw a bone with trail #'s & other hints.

Thank you again. Sam

Right on Sam! I use the Benchmark map also. Have found it to be most accurate. The area above the Virgin River Gorge on the north side (Utah) is called "Blakes Lambing Grounds." It is easiest to access from Bloomington, just south of St. George. The key street is Navajo Drive. It just turns to dirt, then keeps on going. There are lots of variations -- just keep gaining elevation.

From the high ground of Blake's Lambing Grounds you can see all the way back to St. George, the cliffs of Snow Canyon, with Pine Valley Mountain and Zion in the distance. In late afternoon light the views back are spectacular. This area is only 15 min from my house, and the area I ride most often. Happy to tour you around a bit when you're back in town.

There is lots of great riding/exploring from Gunlock/Veyo out to the Enterprise Reservoir, then back south to Motoqua (polygamist community), and over the Utah hill via "Hell Hole Pass" (West Peak).

Ride safe, my friend.

[Bob]

Nice area, great pics.

[RedRockRider]

Greetings, Inmates! This post covers a ride with Dad from Brian Head to Saint George via Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion National Park. From a riding standpoint, the highlight is the North Fork Road (good dirt) which runs from Navajo Lake to the east entrance of Zion National Park.

This is a great ride, doable on any dual sport, perhaps even a (smaller) street bike if conditions are dry and the road has been recently maintained. Today the weather was great. At higher elevations the aspens will be changing in 1-2 weeks. Try to see this area (or Kolob Reservoir Rd on the west flank of Zion) if at all possible.

On to the pics!

We left Brian Head on UT 143. The road passed under Brian Head peak and traverses high meadows to UT 148 and Cedar Breaks National Monument.




The entrance to Cedar Breaks. This is about 10,000 ft. Our day would finish in St. George, about 3,000 ft. Southern Utah has large elevation variations which makes for great motorcycling.




Lots of road bikes along the rim of Cedar Breaks. This bike was from San Diego, camping in Utah for a few days. Very ADV-like, especially for a Harley. Nice rider.




At Point Supreme -- RedRockRider with no helmet on.




And the Cedar Breaks money shot. Brian Head peak is the small wedge on the left horizon. Cedar Breaks is not quite as spectacular as Bryce, but very lightly visited. Cedar Breaks is also several thousand feet higher, hence cooler in summer and doesn't open after winter snow until much, much later. This year the road to Cedar Breaks didn't open until late June.




Worth a close up. Great colors!




Next, was Navajo Lake. Here's Dad at the overlook, on UT 14, just before Duck Creek. Navajo Lake is great for kayaking and canoeing.




There are also some nice hikes in this area, specifically Cascade Waterfall.




Dad on his Honda, skirting the shoreline of Navajo Lake. Very good dirt. Lots of camping.




My Yamaha WR, near the end of Navajo Lake, at the beginning of the North Fork Road.




Exploring a side-track off the North Fork Road. Lots of territory, all very scenic. There is only one stream crossing required. It is an easy ford, fairly soon after Navajo Lake. All the other stream crossing have culverts.




Taking break and enjoying the day together. Lots to see as you slowly lose elevation. Changing temps, plants, etc.




Time for a snack, call it lunch. Got to have a pic.




For a good distance, the North Fork Road runs parallel to the North Fork of the Virgin River. This river (stream) starts at Navajo Lake (Cascade Falls), and works its way down into Zion Canyon (the Narrows). The road leaves the river at Chamberlain's Ranch, the start of the top-down Narrows hike.




Always good to use your mirrors




After a few more miles you pop out on pavement at Zion Ponderosa Ranch (recent ADV location), and head down to Zion.




The bikes in Zion.




Even the mountain sheep think the WR is cool. Get close and check it out.




Through the tunnels and down the switchbacks below the great arch. Got to grab a shot with Zion cliffs in late afternoon sunlight. Ride this road if you ever get the chance!




There are lots of ways to get from Zion (Springdale) back to St. George. We called the family, bought gas, then started to haul ass, if you call going ~60 mph on smaller dual sport bikes on asphalt "hauling ass." The dirt variations are more fun, but obviously take more time. In particular, I recommend the Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway, south of Rockville if you're in the area with time to explore.

After a few miles, we stopped for a convenient fast food break -- call it dinner.




We still did a little loopin' around. Here is final shot taken from above Sand Hollow reservoir, just after sunset.




Finally, the WR back in St. George, next to the TW. My father-in-law is visiting from PA next week. I'll take him out riding with my dad. Me and the two old guys, (age 73 and 80). We won't set any speed records, but we'll see some interesting territory. I'll post up a few pics as the week unfolds.




Thanks for checkin' in. Hope you're enjoying the ride.

[RedRockRider]

Photo by Dad. What do ya' think? Ride safe.