MUST SEE ROUTES

[FJRocket]

Ok, I'm a flatlander. I've never driven west of Kansas. I know nothing about granite and canyons. I (and perhaps others) need your help.

There's a few of us riding on a two week blast out to WFO5 from the corn belt. The idea is to take a southern route out, and a northern route back. We only have two weeks, so we want to pack in as much around WFO5 as possible.

I'm looking for recommended routes to take to get to and from Reno. I have no real itenerary yet, but looking for particularly appealing rides from say Denver or Albequerque to the west. That might even include a run up the California coast and come to Reno the back way. But we're going to have some monster days to catch all the sights.

When it gets closer to departure date, a tentative itenerary may be set. After that, it's probably a matter of following the sun and good weather.

BTW, consider this an invitation for riders to meet up along the way enroute, too!

You're recommendations on " MUST SEE " riding routes are greatly appreciated. Picks and pans are welcome!

THANKS!

 

[rdfrantz]

Matt, you'll have a great trip, see awesome things, and ride astounding roads - no matter which routes you take. Even I-70 after Denver can knock your socks off.

I like Colorado. Southwest out of the Denver area, get to CO-24 near Buena Vista.

South from there to US-50W, over Monarch Pass into Gunnison.

South from Gunnison, CO-149 leads through the beautiful Lake City region, over Slumgullion Pass and on down to the headwaters of the Rio Grande, past cute Creede to South Fork on US-160. This also could have been rached from CO-24, south on US-285 through Saquache, but that is flat and fast.

West on US-160 leads over Wolf Creek Pass to Durango.

North out of Durango is The Million Dollar (per mile) Highway, US-550, which rrosses at least three major Passes on to Montrose (Jnc. US-50) and Grand Junction and I-70 (Still being an AWESOME Interstate out there).

Part way up US-550 at Ridgway a turn West on CO-62 leads to awesome things.

A turn South at Placerville on CO-145 leads to Telluride and on to Cortez near Durango, which is a southern gateway.

North on CO-145 to Naturita allows further North on 145 across incredible country to Grand Junction. West on CO-90 leads to UT-60 and La Sal Junction on US-191, over mountainous cattle country country few ever see, and on e of the most awesome passes in the world. North on 191 leads to Moab, and its Canyonland and Arches National Monument. South goes down to Blanding.

Norht from here to Hanksville, and across to Torrey via Capitial Reef NP - North on CO-72, Sweeper Madness, to I-70).

Furhter South on US-191 is Mexican Water, and US-160, a desolate but moving ride, reachable from Durango, across to South Rim of the Grand Canyon, around to Page AZ, and Zion NP, or South to Flagstaff, and I-20.

West out of Gunnison is CO-92, Black Canyon of The Gunnison, and one of my 10 Favorite Roads. It leads to Crawford and Hotchkiss and CO-133. Have lunch North of there in Paonia (Home of the Top Of The Rockies Ralley).

North is McLure Pass, and Carbondale, gateway to Aspen to the East. Keep Going East and you're back at CO-24 which you could have used to get to Aspen. North on 24 leads to 10,000 ft. Leadville, and through gorgeous country to I-70. CO-24 takes you by the premier 14,000 peaks of CO.

North on CO-133 leads to Glenwood Springs and I-70.

From Durango, you can ride into Arizona's high country, and West to Phoenix. Other's can tell you about those wonders. July is too hot for me on the end of that route - and remember you and your passenger are NOT Desert Riders.

I keep leading you to I-70 because it's not just beautiful there and to get there, and it's also cooler. You can cross on "The Most Desolate Highway In The World", US-50 to get across Utah and Nevada to Reno.

Others can tell you the wonders of Oregon, Idaho, Montana and The Dakotas, also more cool rides. But do understand, you're going to encounter heat levels you may never have dealt with before. Take care.

Oh, you lucky guy.

Best wishes.

 

[FJRocket]

WOW!!!!!!!! Now THAT was a post! Thanks RDFrantz!

Any other recommendations, please? Bueller? Anyone?

 

[escapefjrtist]

Matt,

How far north are you planning to go??

If you want to take the time, hitting Glacier NP, then dropping south to Yellowstone and Jackson WY., and the surrounding area would be a real treat. Chooser and I did the north route to last year's WFO. Lots of great scenery and wide open spaces.

When you factor in the distance though, two weeks isn't a lot of time for sight seeing. You'll have to pound the miles a couple days to make up for side trips.

If I'm still back in this neck of the woods next summer, I might join ya.. h34r:

--G

 

[FJRocket]

We're comtemplating doing at least one saddle sore 1K along the way. Hopefully that might give us an extra day or so. But that will probably just be to get us from Illiana to the foothills. After that, hope to slow down and smell the cactus. Tumble weed. Mountain snow. Whatever we can take in. That's why I'm looking for tips from you veteran riders out there.

I would LOVE to go through the Badlands, then over to Yellowstone and GNP. That's where the two week thing is really going to be constraining. 16 days really. Lot of ground to cover.

Of course we could always stay all north of a direct line from here to Reno. Maybe that would keep us a little cooler?

 

[twowheelnut]

Matt,

For California, check out pashnit.com and click on California Roads. Might I add that on your Southern leg to Reno, you may want to hook-up with us SoCali guys as we ride north and pick-up the NorCali riders en route to the WFO. I can almost lay money down, that Highlander or MadMike are gonna put together a ride - and they do some killer rides. So keep tabs on the California forum, too.

 

[madmike2]

I was gonna follow TWN!?!?!?!?

Probably not going to be much of a ride for me. All 90 miles, though I can make that in one day .

Lessee, from Sacramento, up Hwy 16 to Hwy49 to Plymouth, East on Fiddletown Rd. (IMO one of THE bestest roads on Norcal--rivals and surpasses the infamous Salmon Falls Road.) , L. on Shake Ridge Road to Hwy 88, over Carson Pass, South on hwy 4--Markleeville for lunch--the Hwy 4 up and back down Ebbett's Pass, back to 89 and take Monitor pass to 395, North to Gardnerville, take Nev 206 to 207 over Kingsbury Grade (a great overlook of Lake Taho, turn Rt at Hwy 50, North on Nev 28 through Incline Village and take Mount Rose Hwy (Nev 431) to Reno.

That oughta take most of a day (dawn to dark-thirty).....its worth considering. That should turn 90 miles into about 250+ and ride some great roads, passes and scenery.

You know, we who ride the Sierra Nevada Mountains should really prepare some maps and guidelines to give out at WFO. Beyond what has already been posted on the "Official WFO Site", there are some great secondary roads, like Silver Fork Rd. between Kyburz (on Hwy 50) and Mormon Immigrant Trail @ Hwy 88. A slow, scenic road, but pristine scenery once you are above the campgrounds. Then Mormon Immigrant Trail downhill to Sly Park is "Yee-frickin'-haw" sweepers. Pretty much open'er up and let'er rip.

Everyone should mark their "dance card" to ride Bassett's Grade (Hwy 80 to Truckee, North on Hwy 89 to Hwy 49 West. Actually, that portion of Hwy 49 along the Yubas River thru Downieville and down to Grass Valley/Nevada City is really nice. But, up and down Bassett's wold be worth the adventure. Hey, if sportbike guys ride their bikes from the Sacto Valley just to ride the grade, that should tell you something.

But I digress. Plug into Pashnit. Really good stuff, and 99% right on his description.

 

[Longrider]

Heading North out of Reno, I'd go to Coeur d'Alene, then into Canada. Ride the Ice Fields Highway to Jasper or Valemount. From there back South on the Ice Fields if short on time or if not, then to Oliver, BC or Cranbrook, BC.

Next I'd drop into Waterton/Glacier NP via the Crowsnest Pass and on to Jackson. From there West Yellowstone is an easy shot and has a great KOA. The ride through Yellowstone is slow, but well worth it if you haven't been there. Beartooth Pass should be repaired and open next summer and this is like no other road I have seen. The Buffalo Bill center in Cody is also very worth while. It takes more than a full day to see it all.

From there it is your choice how to make it home.

Longrider

 

[twowheelnut]

Don't forget these:

Clicky

 

[wyowags]

Me and the SO are planning to go too. There may be a few from the Denver area forming a pack also. The northern route across Wyoming is great. If you make the Badlands from the east your in line to go throught the Black Hills and into Wyo. From there it's Devil's Tower, the Bighorns and on to the east entrance to Yellowstone through Cody. We haven't decided on a route yet. Still got time for that.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

FJRocket  Posted on Dec 6 2005, 03:23 PM  WOW!!!!!!!! Now THAT was a post! Thanks RDFrantz!

Any other recommendations, please? Bueller? Anyone?

Yes, it was. And he got you close to one of my favorite roads -- UT 12 over Boulder Mountain and across the ridge and thru Escalante. It's a beautiful sport-touring route. Again, don't forget to hydrate. He also mentioned US50 (the loneliest road in America) in NV. I concur, on a real good m/c (like the FJR) it's just great. It's a succession of small-ish mountain ranges separated by 10 mile long (or so) valleys so that, as you crest the mountains, you can see who, if anyone, is on the road in the valleys (usually no-one). Damn this bike goes good around 100!

 

[rdfrantz]

FJRocket   Posted on Dec 6 2005, 03:23 PM   WOW!!!!!!!! Now THAT was a post! Thanks RDFrantz!

Any other recommendations, please? Bueller? Anyone?

Yes, it was. And he got you close to one of my favorite roads -- UT 12 over Boulder Mountain and across the ridge and thru Escalante. It's a beautiful sport-touring route. Again, don't forget to hydrate. He also mentioned US50 (the loneliest road in America) in NV. I concur, on a real good m/c (like the FJR) it's just great. It's a succession of small-ish mountain ranges separated by 10 mile long (or so) valleys so that, as you crest the mountains, you can see who, if anyone, is on the road in the valleys (usually no-one). Damn this bike goes good around 100!

I love UT-12 too. It's road character is highly varied, crossing a mountain (not a pass) at its north end at about 10,000 feet, across The Hogs Back near Escallante, and coursing through Reef-sided valleys, each of distinct geologic character - and curves.

South, it passes by the fabled Bryce Canyon National Park before it T-bones, US-89, THE road to SLC before I-15 was constructed. The entire length of the highway is scenically interesting, particularly from I-70 (again) down to Page, AZ, which I mentioned.

South from UT-12, at Mt. Carmel Junction, is UT-14, which passes through Zion National Park. This awesome place, though with a 40 mph speed limit and tourist traffic (but NOT at SUNRISE), is crossed on one of the most "interesting" sport roads on the world!! However, the scenery is so awesome, Yosemite/Alps-class stuff, that ya just gotta slow down, at least some times, to take it in.

Aside from the incredible Sierra passes, and the Tahoe area WFO offers visits to, excepting Yosemite, I think Zion is the most notable Must See West of Denver. I consider it's worth a day to take the shuttle into the Zion Canyon you DON'T see during a ride-through.

West of Zion is I-15, and junctions with crossing of Nevada to US-395 and Reno.

Best wishes.

 

[luvtoride]

Again, I find my envy for the people who ride that side of the country, rearing it's ugly head once again. I hope to one day, have the pleasure of riding some of the roads suggested here. Good luck & safe trip riding out to WFO fellow pilots. I find it just this side of impossible to ride out that far from me (I'm in Norfolk, VA) in the amount of time that I'd have. Be safe & the de' rubber side down folks.

Signed, Envious Heidi

 

[FJRocket]

Recommendations for routes in the Sturgis area and Yellowstone area would be greatly appreciated.

Looks like 3 of us are planning a Saddle Sore 1000 to get from Danville, IL to Sturgis (Spearfish or Deadwood). That tentatively begins on Sat July 22, 2006. Then ride that area (easy) for a day, then move on to Cody, then ride through Yellowstone and Teton, then head for Salt Lake area and then down to US-50 and on into Reno. That's the ballpark plan anyway...

Ideas, anyone? Anyone want to join in on a Saddle Sore? Take your own route and use our guy to vouch for you at the endpoint?

 

[FJRocket]

EDIT: Deleted questions about Cali coast routes.

We decided to use the WFO5 routes into California during the rally and not make any plans to go to the coast. We may need a day off to rest after hanging with all of you in Reno, so we can't plan TOO much...

 

[wheatonFJR]

Rocket,

Sounds like you have a good route set up. I was through the badlands, mt rushmore, cody, yellowstone and tetons a few years back with the family and family truckster.

I am still deciding if I will be attending the wfo this year. If I do, I will probably take a similar route as you are (without the bunburner). I will probably travel solo if I do end out that way.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

FJRocket: The Black Hills are almost always good riding (except for the first week or two in August, ) Similar, sad to say, for Yellowstone/Tetons -- too many tourists. I was there last summer on my dual-sport bike (doing the Divide Ride and the route goes thru there) and, yep, one big slow-moving parking lot of mostly motorhomes. I like to go there before school's out and, especially, after school starts in the Fall.

If you spend some time in the Black Hills: I like the Nemo Rd; the road from Hill City to Keystone; and , of course, the pig-tail turns on Iron Mt. Rd.; and the Needles Hwy to Sylvan Lake. Taking US18 out to Mule Creek Jct, WY and back roads to Guernsey is fun and (if you can find them?) more back roads to Bosler Canyon (34); Laramie; the Snowy Range; Battle Pass -- all really good riding, imo.

If you do end up trying to get from Y/S -Tetons area to Utah (US50)? the little road over the pass from Bear Lake to Logan is a nice little ride.

Good luck & enjoy the planning......

 

[PapaUtah]

Any Wyoming riders here? I am considering the route along the Great Divide Basin on the way out to Reno. Is the scenery in southern WY worth the trip?