Route to Vegas - Zion

[Ezekiel]

I'm playing with the idea of taking a ride to Zion National Park in Utah and also visiting the Grand Canyon, and maybe Hoover Dam, this weekend. As time is a factor as much as I hate I-5 & 99 I was thinking I'd take 25 to I-5 and freeway it from there, but I'm open to suggestions.

Any roads others would recommend that would be open and clear this time of year and aren't too far off the path? Is gas an issue past Vegas? Anything else I should take into account?

 

[little-al]

...can't recall the exact route we took when heading that way on a ride to Boulder, CO some years back... but we went up over Donner Pass, and then came across Hwy 50 initially to get across Nevada....

The high-desert throughout was awesome. Gas isn't a problem "per se" but the old addage "..never pass up gas in the desert" is a good one to live by.

I forget which park we went through, but there was one in Utah where I was on fumes and there wasn't gas for a long way in any direction. So plan accordingly, and fill up when the opportunity arises. It's nice to straighten your legs every so often anyway and take in the scenery, or a nice cup of coffee :teeth

I think our route coincidentally(well, OK, not soooo coincidentally as there really isn't much choice out there :laughing ) was very similar to the one Tim took here:

http://www.pashnit.com/fj1200.htm


al

 

[pashnit]

You can find info on the FJ1200 page, I went from Sacramento up and over Hwy 50. It's a straight shot to Zion this way, but the ride itself is here:
Highway 50 - America's Loneliest Highway to Zion National Park and then I did the return trip on Highway 375 . The north rim of the Grand Canyon is really near, (I missed that) also if you venture a little further east, more national parks abound. Check out a Utah state map and look at all the green in that area of the SW corner of the state. However, if you head into Vegas, and then over to the Hoover Dam, and the south rim of the Grand Canyon keep in mind it's a bit of a distance to circle around like that. First time through here, I headed down to Sedona, AZ afterwards and then swung around to San Diego and up the coast.

I will tell you I think out of all the riding I've done over the years, the ride across Nevada and back was one of the most unforgettable rides I've ever done. An intense moment of inner calm and solitude. Did the entire ride (2nd time there-back) in 2 1/2 days of non-stop riding- although I did have to drive a U-Haul back from Tonopah, NV with the bike in the back. :wow

Although the weather in South Lake Tahoe this time of year is a bit chilly. Doesn't look like snow though. Just remember, much of Nevada is the high desert. It's perfectly flat, but you're at 5000 feet in elevation. Dress acordingly. Elevations over the mountain ridges and be over 6000 feet.

 

[Ezekiel]

I was actually thinking of going the southern route, 58 - 15 into Vegas and beyond, but 50 is something to think about...I need more maps!

I'll defnitely be stretching the legs a lot, my bike only gets about 120 miles before the gas light appears...which is why I'm slightly scared of long desert routes!

 

[cprbusa]

Man

 

[Ezekiel]

I'm not looking to haul a gas can, and I hope I don't live to regret that.

I don't mind the stops, gives me a chance to stretch and get some nicotine!

 

[deaconblues]

Was told that if you go across US50, the ONLY gas stations open after around 8pm or so are in Fallon and Ely. So do that part of the trip in the daytime, cos Eureka and Austin are required gas stops for bikes.... unless you got two fuel cells in the saddlebags...

 

[bsd43]

I've done the southern route into Zion, in a car though. On I-15, it's only 120 miles from Las Vegas into St. George UT (a real city) with little towns in between (like Mesquite), then Zion is about 45 miles beyond that, so gas should not be an issue.

But yeah, US 50 to US 93 sounds like a fun route... Springtime trip?

 

[little-al]

I don't know about the hours of operation, but in general gas isn't a problem. You don't have to stop every hour, but taking advantage of the major stops is a good idea.

50 isn't as deserted as it sounds, I've seen worse, so even if you were to break down or run out of gas, someone would come along in probably no more than an hour or two.

But regarding riding at night and getting gas before it gets too late, it's a matter a personal preference, but I wouldn't recommend it. We rode into the early evening and saw lots of game, huge deer, just hanging out on the hwy.... scary. Plus it's the high desert, and it gets COLD even in Summer. So if you just start out early, and ride through the day for 10-12 hours or so.... you'll cover a ton of distance, and still have time to relax in some small restaurant with a hot cup of coffee.

One also doesn't really need a map for riding 50, as you really can't go anywhere else but straight :laughing


As pointed out, it's an amazing ride, and one of my most memorable simply because of the solitude.

 

[GAMBLER]

101s to 25 to 198 to 5 to 58 to 15 if you are in a hurry but want some fun on start of the trip. also could go 58 to 14 to 395 to 190 to N374 to N95 to 15. more scenic.(takes you thru DV)(58 sucks if its windy)(its also a truck route)

 

[Raghu]

I just returned from a road trip with my brother in my car - LA to Vegas to Zion to Bryce to Grand Canyon. Bloody cold all the way from Vegas till GC! In Bryce, I saw 7F with a lot of wind making it feel as if it is -10F! There is a lot of ice & snow on the way to Bryce. Motorcycles not recommended unless you have spikes...

 

[Ezekiel]

Well I wussed out and took I-5, 58, 15 all the way there and back...freeway's galore! 737 miles the first day (Friday) to St. George Utah, slept, woke up, hit Zion National park and Brice Canyon on Saturday. Sunday went back to Nevada and vistied the Valley of Fire real quick and also saw the Hoover Dam. Stayed the night in Vegas. Booked back home today, even with the freeway shots, I had a great time! Bought a throttle rocker before I left on Friday, best 8 bucks I've ever spent! 1939 miles round trip. My tires are square now, time for new ones anyway I guess.

A few pictures of the trip here

And nope, no spikes needed for Bryce Canyon, roads were clear, great weather all weekend actually!

 

[GAMBLER]

Well I wussed out and took I-5, 58, 15 all the way there and back...freeway's galore! 737 miles the first day (Friday) to St. George Utah, slept, woke up, hit Zion National park and Brice Canyon on Saturday. Sunday went back to Nevada and vistied the Valley of Fire real quick and also saw the Hoover Dam. Stayed the night in Vegas. Booked back home today, even with the freeway shots, I had a great time! Bought a throttle rocker before I left on Friday, best 8 bucks I've ever spent! 1939 miles round trip. My tires are square now, time for new ones anyway I guess.

A few pictures of the trip here

And nope, no spikes needed for Bryce Canyon, roads were clear, great weather all weekend actually!

dude, 1900 miles on a bike ain't being a wuss.

 

[Waterboy]

Hey Tim, what time of year did you do that Hwy 50 ride?

 

[pashnit]

Hey Tim, what time of year did you do that Hwy 50 ride?

Geez, you'd have to ask. Lemme see, it wasn't hot, so certainly not the dead of summer. I think it was September. Temps were perfect. Warm during the day, cool at night (remember it's high desert). But no snow yet anywhere or in Zion.