I'm looking for some advice from those of you who may have already travelled along this route. My wife and I from Ireland will be on a 31/2 week trip to the states on the 17th July (Her 50th and our 25 yr wedding anniversary). We will be using a friends K100 in CS and plan to ride to the GC and back. We want to camp some if its safe enough? Our route I'm looking at goes to Salida, (R50) Gunnison, Montrose, Grand Junction, (R191) Moab, Montecello, (R163 Scenic) Monument Valley, Keyenta, (R160 Navajo Trail), right onto R98 to Page then R89 to Wahweep, then back to Page and south on R89 to Glen Canyon Natural History and north on to R89A cross the Navajo Bridge and right onto Honeymoon trail to Lees Ferry Camping ground. Returning to rejoin the R89A heading west to Jacob Lake Inn. Head south on the R67 (Grand Canyon Way) to the North Rim. Returning via Tuba City along the R160 to Teec Nos Poss head north (R160) joining R491 to Cortez, R160 to Durango and Pagosa Springs, Alamosa onto the R85 at Walsenburg. Then run north to Pueblo and back to Colorado Springs. Approximately 1600 miles. I am allowing 7 days. Ive travelled on my Africa Twin all over Europe and extensively in India on an XT500 and Aprilia Pegaso 600 so am used to long travel. Thanks in advance and look forward to hearing from you state side bikers. I'd add an image of my bikes if I could figure out how to on here lol!!!
Lots of great camping options along your route. The mountains will be great then, but the deserts along your route will be very hot, and very dry. I use one of those hydration vests when it get too hot, and drink plenty of water. Much of your route will travel through govt lands of some sort. There are basically three types of govt land that could effect you. So......There is BLM, basically unless posted otherwise you can camp anywhere. Lots of Desert in that category. Then there is National Forest lands, slightly more restrictive, but unless otherwise posted you can camp almost anywhere as well. Then there is National Parks, very restrictive, you can't camp unless it's in a designated camp ground, and there are many of them to choose from. There will be govt run camp grounds in all three with BLM "usually" being more primitive, and National Parks being the most developed.
I appreciate that info oldmanb777...when you say hot what temperatures are you referring to? I have two hydration day sacs which we use so we'll bring them along with us. Any areas along the route which are very isolated...I'm thinking in terms of puncture or breakdown?
The Africa twin would be the perfect ride here. Often you can cut out some highway, and hit dirt roads to go where you are headed. We call it "connecting the dots". So that would be hitting some highway to connect the dirt routes to your destination. Some of the area you are going through will not have cell phone coverage, sometimes for several hours riding, and then very spotty at best. If you broke down there, it could be all day or more before you got help. So being fairly self sufficient is good. A SPOT tracker is nice. I use the one that I can send an ok message, or a message that says, no emergency, but need help, or an emergency message. Summer temps could be 110 F or more during the day with 5% humidity. I think that's about 33 degrees C. The higher elevations in the mountains could be cool, especially at night. Temps will very wildly. Could be 80F during the day, and below 0 C at night. The desert temps could be 110 F during the day, and as low as maybe 40F at night. But mostly in the low 70's F at night. The hydration unit is not for drinking water. You will need that as well, but you get it wet and it wicks water for several hours keeping you cool. I think the one I have is made in Germany.
Last time I was in Belfast the wind and snow had taken down power lines and trees. Real mess it was. Great pix of Portugal. I have rented in Portugal for a day, great riding.
I don't have maps in front of me, but sounds very doable, but the heat would get to me. We usually head to the Moab area and deserts in the winter. Then stay more in the mountains in the summer. With 3 1/2 weeks you could easily do Yellowstone, and possibly even do Glacier national park. But S.E. Utah is great. Lots to see, and some great riding as well. If you make it to the Zion area, Cedar City is a neat town. The College there has some of the best small venue plays I have seen. The ride over the pass is really nice as well. There is a Ski area @ Brian Head that could be a nice place to stay for a night.
morn n, sounds like a great trip. and congratulations.. a few things for you folks to consider. just after Gunnison at the Blue Mesa Res. Dam, look at taking 92 north to the Black Canyon north rim camp ground, think you d love the ride and camp ground. then back out to 92 up to Hotchkiss. turn right to Paonia Colo. for lunch then back track 13 miles , stay on 92 to Delta. that would put you back on 50 to Grand Junction. on the return side. breakfast at in Durango. then at Walsenburg look at 69 to Westcliffe then 96 to Wetmore then 67 to Florence little jog on 120 to 115 back to the Springs. could go on an on. but just a few things to look at. have a most excellent time. gary
That would be good. Once in Paonia it would be too bad to miss McClure pass and Marble. You could spend a lifetime doing all these places, and still miss a lot. And second on congratulations.
Thanks Guys, maybe thinking about avoiding the Moab and dropping south at Montrose towards Durango, farmington and then route 66 and go to the south ridge of the the Canyon. My wife isn't the greatest company in the heat so probably best to avoid the Moab though it does seem really interesting. There will be some doubling up but thats not a bad thing at times as if you miss anything you can return.
As time gets closer, post some notes in the Rockies section. You will have riders willing to show you around. Some local "tour guides" can be nice at times. If she doesn't like the heat too much, try to stay in the higher elevations, and when you have to go down low, do it in the early mornings.
89 south of Page AZ to the intersection with 89A is closed due to a landslide a while back. The alternate right now is 89T. Or go around thru Tuba City adn Kayenta. The temps out in the desert around Kayenta and Page will probably be over 100F in the afternoon. But the north rim of GCNP and Jacob Lake is over 8000ft elevation so it's much cooler, maybe 80s for highs. The north rim has 10 times less tourist traffic than the south rim, so if you want a little peace, go to the north rim. Check out Cape Royal while you are there. The Moab area probably won't be quite as hot. There are better ways to get to Moab from Grand Jct than I-70 to 191. Ride along the colorado river on 128 at least. Or from grand jct, go south on 141 and then head west into UT on 90/46. Or if you want to skip Moab altogether, ride 550 south all the way to Durango. That's a classic ride thru the San Juan mtns that everybody should see. Anytime you are up in wooded mountainous country you are probably in national forest. You can find USFS campgrounds just about everywhere. They are marked on road maps with a little tent symbol. Or if you don't need a table, toilet and neighbors, you can usually just pick a dirt road and get off the highway a few miles and find a spot that people have used before. When you asked if it's safe, what did you mean? There is no risk from 2-legged creatures, and a minimal risk from 4-legged as long as you keep a clean camp and keep food away from your tent. Most of NE Arizona is Navajo Reservation so don't plan on getting off the main road in that area, but the area around Jacob Lake is all national forest.
If you are here on a Wednesday night, there is a regular meetup in the south part of Denver metro area. Just a very loose group to ride with that gets together at some local restaurant for a burger and good conversation. Everyone is welcome, so bring some maps, show up and you will get all kinds of advice on your route. There is one in Colo Springs as well. I'm not sure if they meet every week or not.
