Grand Canyon 2-up trip...need some planning help

[Kootenanny]

So, I'm thinking about a trip to the Grand Canyon with my wife.  I'd like to do it on a bike, but not mine (passenger seating on my sportbike is a bit too tight..."size of a postage stamp," according to my wife).  So, plan is to rent a bike, possibly a big-ass Harley (both because hey, it's the American experience, plus it seems Harleys are more readily available for rent).

We were thinking of flying down to Las Vegas (cheap flights!) and renting a bike there, then heading over to see the Grand Canyon, as well as maybe Bryce and Zion national parks.  Does this sound reasonable, and could it be done comfortably in a week?  (We'd only want to be on the bike for short days--maybe 250 miles or so--and maybe not even every day).

How would May or June be as a time to do it?  I'd like to make this trip enjoyable for my wife, so I'd like to avoid rain if possible, as well as extreme heat...but getting time off between September and April is difficult for her.

Is Vegas a good place to rent, and does anyone have any recommendations or cautions?  Another option would be Albuquerque, NM, where we have friends...but I fear it would be tough to get to the GC from Albuquerque and back within the given time (I won't be able to pull 12-hour stints like I might when on my own).

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas for us, I'm keen to hear them.  This trip is just an idea just now, I have zero set plans so far...just that it should be in May or June, and somewhere in the Southwest, and involve relatively slow riding on a rental bike.

[Orson]

The elevation of the high desert can fool people.

Parts of the north rim of the Grand Canyon are as much as 9000 ft above sea level, so mornings can be crisp even as late as early June.

St. George, Utah may have a Harley rental place.

Speaking of Albuquerque...New Mexico is one of my favorite states. There are so few people there that the feeling of remote isolation is easy to come by. Besides, the scenery is beautiful  

[Kootenanny]

Speaking of Albuquerque...New Mexico is one of my favorite states. There are so few people there that the feeling of remote isolation is easy to come by. Besides, the scenery is beautiful  

Yeah, we drove through the Jemez Mtns from Albuquerque to Los Alamos when we visited there, and I was really wanting a bike (in truth, that's kinda where this idea of a Southwest 2-up bike trip came from).   My wife loves Santa Fe and Taos, so that'd be another possible destination for this trip.

[Justin]

Las Vegas would be a good starting point for the Grand Canyon or south Utah. I know there is an Eagle Rider rental place there as well.  I believe they do BMW's and Honda's as well - so you don't have to be stuck with a Harley.

[expatbrit]

AThe local Triumph dealer here in town has an Eagle Rider franchise; they have, at least, a rental Tiger 1050 in their fleet. From here to the south rim of the grand canyon isn't too bad; the north rim takes considerably longer and has some serious chunks of I40 as your 'most direct' route. I definitely preferred the north rim last year, though I was in a car and not on the bike, hiking with my father.

[Justin]

From here to the south rim of the grand canyon isn't too bad; the north rim takes considerably longer and has some serious chunks of I40 as your 'most direct' route. I definitely preferred the north rim last year, though I was in a car and not on the bike, hiking with my father.

North rim is better IMO, and really easy to get to from LV.

[Kootenanny]

Thanks, guys.

So, north rim is better?  I know nothing of the area, but I thought the south rim was the place to go...hmmm...north rim would make for an easier trip, if I want to include Zion and Bryce...

And yeah, I've been researching motorcycle rental companies, there seem to be a few in Las Vegas, and yes, BMWs and Hondas are available...but, they tend to be less common and more expensive to rent, and really, with my wife on the back I won't be looking to scrape the pegs...she'll be wanting comfort first and foremost (although I'm sure both a big Beemer or touring Honda would offer that, so would the Harley, and it might be a bit lower, which would help her get on and off).  I did see that at least one place has a Triumph Bonneville for rent, and that'd be my first choice if I felt we could carry sufficient luggage for both of us for a week...I've ridden a Bonnie before, and I quite enjoyed it.

[DangerMoney]

How would May or June be as a time to do it?  

I lived in Phoenix for years and the heat of the desert is not to be taken lightly. Vegas will be running in the low 90s in early June and low 100s at the end of the month. Coming from Canada be sure to drink lots of water, even if you're not thirsty. The GC  south rim is at 7,000' so it will be in the mid 30s at night and mid 70s during the day at that time. Dress in layers.

The north rim is much less developed and rather remote. Very few people/accomodations.

[UHOH]

Las Vegas would be a good starting point for the Grand Canyon or south Utah.

^^^ Yes, and your trip sounds comfy in a week.


Really you're describing a SW nat'l parks tour, right?   leisurely for a week?  Change of scene, special trip perhaps.   Riding is secondary...
 OK, which of the area parks have you visited?  Without knowing, I'd focus on the southern Utah parks and include the GC as part of the visit, but not as the destination.
LV, Zion, no. rim GC, Bryce, Escalantee (~70 miles from Bryce) would be on my short version itinerary.   Italics = my suggestion of good easy or moderate long walks/hikes as break from riding only.


GC: I'm not a crowd type so I agree with north rim (web site: to see when the north rim opens for the season), but, but I do think the south rim offers the best views that you see on postcards
If you do the so. rim GC, look hard at a tour of Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ (photos).
The so. Utah parks are my favorites  vs. the GC so I'd still do north and focus on the rest of the parks 'cuz of saved travel time.  


month: I'd do May for two reasons: temperatures at Zion and Escalantee are great and that's were I might consider hikes / walks.
I'd also do 1st 3 weeks of May to avoid the start of US summer holiday season (Memorial Day wknd, last one in May).
Bryce and GC are high and cooler, but not problem in May or early June.   Actually I've never been down there in the three summer months.

I have been to this area of so. Utah several times in spring, you can PM me if you want more.  Have fun.

[Kootenanny]

Really you're describing a SW nat'l parks tour, right?   leisurely for a week?  Change of scene, special trip perhaps.   Riding is secondary...

That's it exactly!  Thanks for the advice...maybe the south rim could wait a few years (we could maybe drag our friends from Albuquerque up for it...they've been there for going on 6 years, but I don't think they've ever been...).

[Justin]

That's it exactly!  Thanks for the advice...maybe the south rim could wait a few years (we could maybe drag our friends from Albuquerque up for it...they've been there for going on 6 years, but I don't think they've ever been...).

The ride to the North rim is better IMO, but like UHOH said, the views are better from the south. It's still magnificent by any means though.

[Kootenanny]

The ride to the North rim is better IMO, but like UHOH said, the views are better from the south. It's still magnificent by any means though.

My wife has been to the south rim before, so the north rim would be a new experience for her, too.  On that trip, she also saw Monument Valley (?), which she really liked...

[chas]

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Arizona/Canyon_de_Chelly_National_Monument-749321/TravelGuide-Canyon_de_Chelly_National_Monument.html


Having just returned from the area, (arrived at Albuquerque),  I would say that the distances are big out there.  I liked to offer two suggestions, The Jemez Scenic Highway was quite spectacular, route 4.  Also the Canyon De Chelly was quite amazing.  Not as big as the G.C. but it was amazing in it's own right.  September weather was perfect.  I think their rainy season is somewhere around June.  With only a week Worth's of time, you would be better off renting a car.  There was a beautiful orange Camaro convertible rental that I spotted in Jemez.  I would have had no problems giving up a bike for that.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Arizona/Canyon_de_Chelly_National_Monument-749321/TravelGuide-Canyon_de_Chelly_National_Monument.html

[AZFZDude]

I've ridden from Phx to SLC over Memorial Day a few times, hitting parks along the way. It's pretty warm in the desert at that time of year. The roads in southern Utah are second to none. As chas mentioned, Canyon de Chelly is terrific.

[travlr]

New Mexico is great, but if you want to hit all the great National Parks, stick to your plan to fly into Vegas and rent.

Day #1: Fly into Vegas.  If you fly in on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday you'll get some great hotel deals.  Pick up the bike and see a show.

Day #2: Head south out of Vegas on Hwy 93 to Kingman, Az.  Stop at Hoover Dam for the tour.  At Kingman take old Hwy 66 east.  Stop at the Hackberry General Store and the Snow Cap Drive Inn in Seligman.  At Williams, Az. take Hwy 180 to The South Rim.  Have dinner at El Tovar.  Take the tram to Hermits Rest.  Best view of the river at the final 2-3 stops.

Dayh #3: Take Hwy 64 east out of the park.  Stop at Desert View for Mary Coulters Watchtower.  Have  Navajo Taco at the trading post in Cameron.  Turn north on Hwy 89 to Page.  Spend the night in Page and visit Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Res.  The Powell Museum in great as is Horseshoe Bend.  You can also rent a boat and tour Lake Powell.

[travlr]

Day #4: Drop south to Hwy 89A and cross Navajo Bridge, Lee's Ferry (where rafters put in for the canyon) and go past the Vermillion Cliffs to Jacobs Lake.  Turn south and spend the night at the North Rim.  More primitive than the south rim.

Day #5: Take 89A then 89 west thru Zion National Park to St George and then back to Vegas.

T

[Kootenanny]

Thanks, travlr.  Lee's Ferry...hmmm...dunno how I could take my kayak on this trip  (actually, I think I'd need a permit to run the Colorado, and private permits can take years...)