West TX to Grand Canyon NP

[EricT]

Hi folks, I'm new to touring but not new to motorcycling.  I'd like to get up to the Grand Canyon this year.  I'm planning to avoid Interstate travel, and want to experience some nice roads and sights along the way.

This is the route I've worked out so far.  If anyone has a suggestion for better roads let me know:
1. El Paso to Hatch along 28 and 152
2. Hatch to Caballo Lake, then west on 152 over Emory Pass to Silver City
3. From Silver City take US 180 all the way up to Eagar/Springerville, AZ. This would be the farthest I plan to go in one day, it's over 300 miles and I'm a little bit new to touring.
4. West on 260 to Show Low and on to Payson.
5a. North to Flagstaff on 87 and Lake Mary Road (NF-3, is this road paved?)
5b. Alternate route would be to take 89 up through Sedona.

Total route is 636 miles, and 15 hours according to Google. I plan to split the trip over 2 days each way, since I am new to long-distance touring and don't want to push myself too hard. Of course if I'm out there and I feel good, I'll keep going.

I'd appreciate any advice about the route, and the best places to stop for fuel (man and bike) and to spend a night. Any other tips for a first-timer are much appreciated.

[DangerMoney]

If you like riding twisties/sweepers, I suggest a change to part 3.

Take US180 to just north of Buckhorn, NM to pick up route 78 west.

Take 78 to Route 191. North on 191 to Eager/Springerville. Between Morenci and Eager is 430 turns in 100 miles. That's not a mis-print, four hundred thirty turns. No traffic on weekdays and very little on weekends. The last time I did it on a bike was on a Friday and we saw 7 cars in 100 miles. It's a federal route so it's well maintained.

Get gas and something to eat in Clifton or Morenci. The next place to get food is Hannagan Meadow, AZ. The next gas is in Alpine, AZ.  I can recommend the Best Western Sunrise Inn in Eager. Clean, relatively new, right next to a supermarket and gas station is about 50 yards down the street.

Best Western Sunrise Inn
128 N. Main Street
Eager, AZ 85925
(928) 333 2540


Lake Mary Road is paved.

Make reservations at the south rim of the Grand Canyon well in advance. There's a little burg called Tusayan just outside the south entrance of the Canyon. Reservations should be made well in advance there too. An option is to stay in Flagstaff which is one hour away and hotel rooms are cheaper/plentiful.

[EricT]

Great info, thanks!  I was wondering about 191, it looks pretty twisty on the map.  Thanks for the hotel recommendation as well.

[Orson]

Total route is 636 miles, and 15 hours according to Google. I plan to split the trip over 2 days each way, since I am new to long-distance touring and don't want to push myself too hard. Of course if I'm out there and I feel good, I'll keep going.

Don't confuse touring with those mega-mileage nuts  

My longest day was about 675 miles, and I was dead tired afterwards. Why kill yourself when you're just out for enjoyment? 400 miles is a long day for me. I usually ride somewhere around 300 miles a day.

[WBill]

Everybody loves AZ 191.  

It used to be numbered "666," a number which, if you watch horror films or are literal in your interpretation of Revelations, means "The Mark of the Beast (Satan)."  Not too long ago, religious factions lobbied to have it re-numbered, and now it's 191.  Old Timers still like to call it "The Devil's Highway," but it's so beautiful, it ought to be called "Heaven's Highway."  

You got's to ride it.  

I'll add a recommendation to stay at Hannagan Meadow lodge if you can get a room. No TV, No Phone, No Internet, No Cell.  Just you, the people around you and the mountains.  Be still.  WBill

[EricT]

No TV, No Phone, No Internet, No Cell.  Just you, the people around you and the mountains.

Sounds great, as long as there's a beer store nearby  

[GilaMonster]

......Make reservations at the south rim of the Grand Canyon well in advance. There's a little burg called Tusayan just outside the south entrance of the Canyon. Reservations should be made well in advance there too. An option is to stay in Flagstaff which is one hour away and hotel rooms are cheaper/plentiful.

+1 on Coronado Highway (191/666/Devil's Highway.

Alternative to the south rim.  Take 89 north out of Flagstaff to 180 west at Cameron to the south rim (108 miles).  There's much less traffic, plus the road view is better than Flagstaff/Williams/South Rim.

Best alternative to the south rim.  Go to the north rim.  Take 89 north out of Flagstaff to 89A to Marble Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, to Jacob Lake.  Then SR-67 south to the north rim (196 miles).  Longer, but the ride from Jacob Lake to the north rim is fantastic, plus less crowds and better view at the north rim.

[Piston_Slap]

"1. El Paso to Hatch along 28 and 152" - sure
"2. Hatch to Caballo Lake, then west on 152 over Emory Pass to Silver City" - Hwy 152, Emory Pass will blow your mind.
"3. From Silver City take US 180 all the way up to Eagar/Springerville, AZ." - You should check out the "Catwalk"
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=&daddr=33.372184,-108.842314&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=33.371968,-108.841842&sspn=0.002083,0.004828&ie=UTF8&z=18 it's an easy walk and it's an old walkway built above a river in a canyon. very cool.
You should also stop and see Mogollon. Plan on wasting an hour or two. There's no fuel back there and probably no food. The road is a little bit gravelly in spots but it is paved. Mogollon, pronounced locally as Mugeeyone, is basically a mining town that dried up before WW2 and is now ghost town that still has a dozen or so year-round residents. You'll have to leave on the same road that you came in on. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=&daddr=33.397425,-108.796577&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=33.388883,-108.807735&sspn=0.033324,0.077248&ie=UTF8&z=14

I'm not very familiar with Northern AZ. I have ridden Monument Valley - Hwy 163, Mexican Hat, UT. You should do that if you have time. SE Utah is amazing.

The places you stop are what make the ride enjoyable. Hauling ass is fun but it's not that memorable.

- Nate

[EricT]

Gila, Nate, thanks.  I've been to the Mogollon area before when I went camping at Snow Lake.  We took the eastern route in, fortunately I had a 4x4 because the "road" was pretty darn rough for the last 30 miles.  Something the adventure riders might enjoy.

I might have to pass on the Catwalk, since I'm pretty convinced now to take 191 instead of 180.

Eric

[swimmer]

another vote for taking the 191.

[yotes65]

I loved the 191... rode it for the first time last weekend, August 16 & 17... beware of the weather...

A Rain Storm was passing thru...


Maybe 15 to 20 minutes later, this what I came upon...
At first when I came around the bend, I though "Holy Crap, there's still Snow on the ground". So I pulled over for a picture.
Big mistake... it was Hail, Sleet and Ice... pretty damn slippery. It took me 15 minutes to get my bike back on the road.
I though for sure someone would be helping pick my bike up. A couple of the guy's I was riding with stopped as they went by to give me a hand.
Just as they were getting off of their bikes I was able to get back on the road...






However, DO NOT let this detour you from going on the 191. It was a Beautiful Road and Area.
I will be going back many times. Hopefully with better weather and New Exhaust.

[EricT]

Yikes!  Glad you made it through OK.  I was planning a short trip up into NM last weekend, but cancelled when I saw the weather advisories.  Looks like it was just as bad as they were saying  

[Orson]

Snow in August?!  

whut da heck is going on??  

[yotes65]

Snow in August?!  

whut da heck is going on??  

Hell Froze Over...  

[jjbluemech]

What's that status of this trip planning?? and the repairs??  This sounds like somenthing I would be interested in tagging along on.  After the TX to FL trip I can see how ride in a group can be helpful...

[EricT]

The bike is now fully operational again.  I got my forks back and the clutch is fixed.

I haven't done much more in terms of this trip, because on my last couple of long-ish rides I was getting sore in the back and I haven't determined if I'll be able to make a 2-day trip yet.  Up until the last two months, I hadn't ridden a street bike since Y2K.  I think I'll be able to make a decision on that in the next week or so, and then pick a date.  My riding buddies are probably going to Emory Pass on Sunday, so it will be a good opportunity to see how I well I can handle a day-long ride (shoot me an email and let me know if you want to go).  I'm sure the trip will happen, it's just a matter of when.  Soon it's going to start getting pretty cold up there, so we'll see.

[Orson]

I haven't done much more in terms of this trip, because on my last couple of long-ish rides I was getting sore in the back and I haven't determined if I'll be able to make a 2-day trip yet.

Now that the weather will be cooling off, you may want to consider an El Paso to Big Bend N.P.

A bit closer than the Grand Canyon and Big Bend is spectacular if you've never been.

[mike goodwin]

666(191) is a great road but it will take several hours to get from Morenci to Springerville.
But coming or going take it for the experience.
Although i think it's easier to go up it than down from Springerville to Morenci
Instead of taking 152 to Silver city which was under massive road construction this past April when i blew through there keep heading to Socorro and go 60 to 12 and then 180.
Very,very nice.
And you can see the Very Large Array.

[Jetboy]

Eric,

All good suggestions.  191 can be iffy any time of the year weatherwise but after October it is definately going to be cool on that route.

Yotes, next tiem your planning a run up 191 let me know, I live in your part of town.

Mike Goodwin, No more Bandit?  Hope all is going well for you.  

[miles]

Snow in August?!  

whut da heck is going on??  

Almost 10,000 feet of elevation is what's going on.  191 gets mighty high.


So, my suggestions are in line with some of the others.  Absolutely hit 191, if the weather's good.  At 9,500 bad weather can be very, very bad.  Definitely ride up the old main street in Clifton.  Also, stop at the Mine overlook and view the Morenci Pit.  Keep an eye out for the old cemetery on the hillside to the right as you climb up and out of Clifton.  If you get to the mine overlook you passed it.

Take 89A North of Flag, cross the Navajo bridge and pass the Vermillion Cliffs.  Absolutely stunning.

On your way back skip 191 and head east out of Springerville and into NM for the Very Large Array.  Watch for tickets, though.

[yotes65]

Yotes, next tiem your planning a run up 191 let me know, I live in your part of town.

Jetboy, I've asked for a day off during this next week... I'm hoping for either Wed. or Thurs. I'll know for sure on Mon. when I return to the office. I'll keep you posted.

[Jetboy]

Jetboy, I've asked for a day off during this next week... I'm hoping for either Wed. or Thurs. I'll know for sure on Mon. when I return to the office. I'll keep you posted.

I feel a mental health day coming on  

[yotes65]

Jetboy... check your PM.... left you my cell... I'm riding on Thursday... The Devil's looking good....

[Wes]

I took the same route you proposed in May and it was great.  You won't be disapointed.  But you need to add a stop on Sedona coming south from Flagstaff.  It's got some great camping down there.

If your in El Paso let me know, my wife and I both ride and love to tour and motorcycle camp.

[DangerMoney]

Take 89A North of Flag, cross the Navajo bridge and pass the Vermillion Cliffs.  Absolutely stunning.

Absolutely!

[sagerat]

Another vote on 191 and 89A.  I rode them in Sept. a few years ago.