Riding Destinations

[V4]

I want to go out to Vancouver this year or early next year before summer comes again....

Any good roads beyond California like in the Oregon, Washington state, and Canada that's recommended but still able to travel on without encountering snow..?

I can deal with the rain but not snow.....

Where's everyone else planning to go in the future...?

Thanks....

 

[RydTher]

I WILL go to Bryce Canyon and other parts of south western Utah in the spring. Was going to try and make it late Oct, but didnt. I drove through there, have seen other's ride reports, and really want to check it.
Anyone is welcome when I do go. At least 3 days, probably 4. Some beautiful scenery and fom what I hear, good roads.

 

[donoman]

I want to visit the Grand Canyon. I've never been there.

 

[NoGall]

Death Valley in April, 2004. Then followed by Vancouver for the first week of May.

 

[pashnit]

Bill- Bryce Canyon haven't been too yet. Have been at Zion National Park and didn't do my homework- didn't even know it was there! :cry But Zion National Park & Koleb Canyons is a really amazing place. It's only about 700 miles away! more pics

Donoman, The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing things you will ever see in your life time. You stand on the rim, look down, and the bottom is a mile below you. It defies the senses. Just keep in mind the south rim is like up there in elevation!

 

[RydTher]

680 miles to Springfiled, UT (just outside of Zion) :teeth :thumbup
Have it all planned, just couldnt get out when I needed to go.
Zion Bryce, Kolob (part of Zion) all on my itinerary. Thanks in part to your site.
Cant wait til the spring.

 

[bsd43]

I'd love to do the norcal loop that the s-t.net dudes did last month (but I had to miss it). Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon would be great, too.

Who will plan the first official trip here, I wonder?:laughing

 

[DVB1]

I want to go out to Vancouver this year or early next year before summer comes again....

Any good roads beyond California like in the Oregon, Washington state, and Canada that's recommended but still able to travel on without encountering snow..?

I can deal with the rain but not snow.....

Where's everyone else planning to go in the future...?

Thanks....

John;

I did a loop with a friend in 1985 from Tacoma to Vancouver and back. We road to the Olympic Rain Forest, took the ferry to Vancouver. Over the mountains down to the Columbia river, down the river back into Washington state, and finaly back over Mount Rainer in Tacoma again. We left at 6:00 am and got home at 12:30 am and that's with doing 130's through the desert along the river. Yt was July and snow still lined the roads through th mountains in Canada. Temperatures ranged from 60 degrees and raining to 50 degreee and cool in the mountains to 100 + in the desert. I'll try to map out the route for you. At least what I remember of it. I hope those roads are still there.:teeth

 

[DVB1]

Here's what I can remember of the route. IT was long but the scenery was magnificent. We watched whales on the ferry and dear and elk in the mountains, there wasn't any wild life in the desert, and the usual suicide squirrels in the way home.

You can probably start on rt 101, although we took 16 to 3 to 104 to 101. Route 101 to Port Angeles. Take the ferry from Port Angeles to Vancouver. Vancouver route 11 to Route 3 (all twisties). Route 3 to 97( 97 is fast 2 lanes double yellow easy curves hot as hell in the desert 100 + hear). 97 to 971 to 28 to I90/I82( all highway hear) to 12 (back to twisties) to 410 to I5

I hope this helps.:teeth

 

[NoGall]

Do you need a passport to cross into CN? Mine just expired...

 

[DVB1]

Do you need a passport to cross into CN? Mine just expired...

We didn't in 1985. :teeth We just got off the ferry. Came back down into US and didn't see a check point gaurd shack , mounted police, or anything.

 

[yoda]

Do you need a passport to cross into CN? Mine just expired...

Back in '98, we just cross the check point. They just ask you the standard stuff like...if you're a US citizen...why are you going to Vancouver...any fruits/vegetable and off we go.

I imagine they're a lot more strict now a days cuz' of 9/11.

 

[Focker]

I did a ride to Laughlin then South Rim of Grand Canyon then Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion a few years ago and it was one of the most memorable trips I have taken on a bike. It was a mid April trip for me. They do get snow in all those areas so it would have to be a window of opportunity thing this time of year. I did get snowed on during the return to Lake Tahoe. If you are going to do it I would say you should go in the next two weeks. I took 7 days so I could hike and see all the points of interest. I never once saw a Highway Patrol or local PD on the entire Utah route which made for some quick travels.

 

[deaconblues]

Now that I'm riding I want to do the Colorado Rockies. Drove all over them in a car... now I think I missed a lot by not getting a bike earlier.

The road from Durango to Ouray is one hell of a load of twisties, hairpins, elevation changes, and scenery to take your breath away. So's the loop route from Glenwood Springs to Aspen to Leadville then back up to Eagle, or the roads north to Laramie Wyoming or up through Dinosour into Utah.

And that's just one state. Wyoming, the Dakotas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah... you could spend YEARS astride a bike in those states and never get bored.

 

[pashnit]

posted by deaconblues
So's the loop route from Glenwood Springs to Aspen to Leadville then back up to Eagle,

Just be mindful of the time of year. This was shot on Hwy 82 between Leadville and Aspen in the middle of May. Sort of had to turn around and head back to Leadville.

 

[DMc]

I WILL go to Bryce Canyon and other parts of south western Utah in the spring. Was going to try and make it late Oct, but didnt. I drove through there, have seen other's ride reports, and really want to check it.
Anyone is welcome when I do go. At least 3 days, probably 4. Some beautiful scenery and fom what I hear, good roads.

Bill,
If your in that neighborhood you must go to Monument Valley. IMHO it is the most beautiful place on the planet. The grand canyon is a trip but nothing moved me like MV.

 

[MrCrash]

I've got an old issue of Sport Rider / Motorcyclist somewhere, their week-long sport tour around Utah. They went through Vegas, then headed to places like Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I need to dig that up and scan it somehow.

When I'm financially back on my feet, that's my first vacation...

 

[deaconblues]

Pashnit/Tim:

Yah, I spent an entire summer living out of the back of my dad's station wagon while working in Aspen (rent, in aspen? you must be joking!), and Independence Pass was my usual "parking spot" -- some years they open the pass in May, other years it's not cleared until July. All depends on the snowpack.

Cedar Breaks in Utah is similar - go from desert to extreme high altitude and find snow blocking the road in the summer. Oops.

By the way, Hwy 82 isn't just known for wacky weather. It's probably one of the most dangerous roads in the country in the winter because

There's 1 road out of Aspen (aka Rich Mans Playground) in the winter

It's narrow and twisty and gets icy in LOTS of places

And there's a lot of drunk, stoned, and otherwise "under the influence" drivers on it at any hour of the day or night.

So be sure and buy the T-shirt "Pray for me, I drive Hwy 82"

(I think it's 4-lane now, used to be two -- that just means more people can get tangled up on it at once).