Trip suggestions: ID, UT, CO, WY

[fishhuntride]

I'll be leaving next month from the Seattle area to meet up with 2 other riders somewhere in NE OR or W ID.  We'd like to avoid interestate and high temp areas when possible and head into the mountains of UT, WY and CO.  I've never ridden in UT or CO or the southern half of ID & WY.  I'll have about 6 days to ride in this area plus 2 days to get back to Seattle.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

The short answer is "yes"  

Those are all good states and you can't go wrong. I took a similar trip but had two weeks to do it in. Here's my trip report if you'd like to at least get a taste of what's out there and what direction(s) to go in.

If you have specific questions I'll be happy to help, but quite honestly, you've asked a very open-ended question  

[Orson]

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Utah Highway 12 is a great motorcycle ride.

So is Colorado Highway 141 thru the Unaweep Canyon...a red rock fantasy

I remember Northern Utah as resembling the surface of the moon

[fishhuntride]

That looks like a great trip!  Nice write up too.  Alas, I don't have 2+ weeks and we'll be sticking to pavement (should have mentioned that in OP).  We'll be looking for curves, scenery, curves, light traffic, curves, clean inexpensive hotel/motel, curves, good watering holes at night, curves, maybe a little fly fishing (if we can stop riding long enough) and curves.

I don't know the best way to get across central or southern ID or if it is better roads to come into CO from UT or WY?  I've ridden WA of course, north central and north east OR, ID north of Boise, western MT and over to the Tetons.  Just looking to go to new areas this year.  Thanks again!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I don't know the best way to get across central or southern ID or if it is better roads to come into CO from UT or WY?  I've ridden WA of course, north central and north east OR, ID north of Boise, western MT and over to the Tetons.  Just looking to go to new areas this year.  Thanks again!

This is the route that I took on the trip mentioned and I really enjoyed it

View Larger Map


I liked it because it took me through SE Washington, which I hadn't been through before, as well as Hell's Canyon, through the Sawtooths, through Craters of the Moon and into the Tetons from the back door.

And they sell glow-in-the-dark toilet seats in the gas station in Arco, ID!  

[1KPerDay]

Utah Highway 12 is a great motorcycle ride.

So is Colorado Highway 141 thru the Unaweep Canyon...a red rock fantasy

I remember Northern Utah as resembling the surface of the moon

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,64918.msg1494307.html#msg1494307

That's what Northern Utah looks like, as long as you stay in the Eastern/populated portion of the state. Go west toward the great salt lake and bonneville and you get wasteland.

To the OP, Utah highways 12, 24, 191, 31, 35, 39, and 150 are all worth the trip. Lots of great roads in southeastern Idaho and wy near jackson. Beartooth pass is a must ride. 14 and 14A are both great, Chief Joseph Hwy is great. Anything in the high bits of CO will be great.

[Orson]

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,64918.msg1494307.html#msg1494307

That's what Northern Utah looks like, as long as you stay in the Eastern/populated portion of the state.

wow  

consider me enlightened  

[UHOH]

I'll be leaving next month from the Seattle area ...
 to avoid ... high temp areas when possible and head into the mountains of UT, WY and CO...
  I'll have about 6 days to ride in this area plus 2 days to get back to Seattle.  

unclear, so how many days for the trip Seattle - Seattle?

can't avoid the hot during August in the mtn west.  
wear mesh gear with water absorbing cooling vests, tolerate it in good humor, or tough it out.

[Eric308]

Utah Highway 12 is a great motorcycle ride.

So is Colorado Highway 141 thru the Unaweep Canyon...a red rock fantasy

I remember Northern Utah as resembling the surface of the moon

Totally agree with 141 through Unaweep! Make a stop in Telluride for lunch or even stay over. The New Sheridan Hotel is awesome!  Here's a pic of Unaweep.

[Eric308]

This is the route that I took on the trip mentioned and I really enjoyed it

View Larger Map


I liked it because it took me through SE Washington, which I hadn't been through before, as well as Hell's Canyon, through the Sawtooths, through Craters of the Moon and into the Tetons from the back door.

And they sell glow-in-the-dark toilet seats in the gas station in Arco, ID!  

Great route! Make a stop in Stanley and also Galena Summit. Ketchum is a cool little ski town in the summer. Lived there for two years. Tetons from the back door over Teton Pass is great....Jackson is very commercialized, but worth a stop I suppose. Gotta sit on one of those saddles. I would also head north out of there into GTNP and into Yellowstone.

[fishhuntride]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I know most of the ways to get out of WA now.  I will likely either drop into OR at Biggs to ride through NE OR or go the route shown above (have done both, many times) depending on where my buddy from MT wants to meet up.  He is only going to have about 6 days to ride so will accommodate him to a point.  My schedule is flexible since I can be gone 10 -12 days.  There is another rider too from SEA area that is still working out his schedule but is should be close to mine.

I really appreciate the help, especially the suggestions for UT and CO where I haven't ridden.  If anyone has additional suggestions please pass them on.