Round Trip Suggestions? SF Bay Area - Cloudcroft, NM, in coming few weeks.

[ferenc]

Greetings.

I am planning a round trip between the San Francisco Bay Area and Cloudcroft, New Mexico in the coming few weeks, likely on my F800R, with 2500 miles.

Suggested scenic, well paved, twisty routes, along with any other tips welcome!

I had comfortably put in a full days (not nights) of riding on my now backup VX800, but have not put on more than half of that on the new ride, yet.  Oh, I like hot showers in the morning.

Thanks,
Ferenc

[Orson]

Utah Highway 12
Colorado Highway 144 & 149
NM-64 across Northern New Mexico.

[yotes65]

Drop down & go through Yosemite NP
Cross thru Death Valley
Back up through St George, UT
From here two different options
1) Cross over Hwy 12 in Utah & drop down into Monument Valley at Sunset if you can arrange it.
2) Take 89 South & visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and then make your way to Monument Valley.

From Monument Valley go South down HWY 191, not worth much until you get to Alpine, AZ. Ride South to AZ78 and the head East to Cloudcroft, New Mexico.

[cruisin]

Some of my personal favorites; if you can work in part or all of them:

Arizona
US60 Salt River Canyon
87
191 Morenci to Alpine; ~534 curves in 86 miles & the Bear Wallow is a great little cafe in Alpine
260

Colorado
12 Trinidad to Laveta (by Monument Lake
24
82
92 North Rim Road of the Black Canyon
133
149
285
550 the Million Dollar Hiway (spend some time in Ouray)

New Mexico
Enchanted Circle -- Questa, Taos, Angel Fire, Red River
12
152 the Gila Monster
180
434 Mora to Angel Fire

[ferenc]

Drop down & go through Yosemite NP
Cross thru Death Valley
Back up through St George, UT
From here two different options
1) Cross over Hwy 12 in Utah & drop down into Monument Valley at Sunset if you can arrange it.
2) Take 89 South & visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and then make your way to Monument Valley.

From Monument Valley go South down HWY 191, not worth much until you get to Alpine, AZ. Ride South to AZ78 and the head East to Cloudcroft, New Mexico.

death valley to Utah - via?
tx,
ferenc

[yotes65]

death valley to Utah - via?
tx,
ferenc

After exiting Death Valley on the East side, cruise over to Vegas and then up I-15 to St George. There is a fun little Mountian Pass on I-15 that was a blast to pass through.

What happens in Vegas... Stays in Vegas...  

[ferenc]

Some of my personal favorites; if you can work in part or all of them:

Arizona
...
Colorado
...
New Mexico
...

hey, i'm getting my maps out!  i still like paper maps for planning :-)
there is also a conference in san antonio around 6/10 - weatherwise, when should i go?  before june?
tx,
ferenc

[cruisin]

South Tx is VERY hot from June through September.  The best riding in the SA area is usually early to mid April.  That also coincides with the wild-flower bloom.  This year was a bumper crop of bluebonnets according my older brother who lives near Austin.

However; should you make it to SA, try to at least ride the twisted sisters (FMs 335, 336, and 337).

[ferenc]

South Tx is VERY hot from June through September.  The best riding in the SA area is usually early to mid April.  That also coincides with the wild-flower bloom.  This year was a bumper crop of bluebonnets according my older brother who lives near Austin.

However; should you make it to SA, try to at least ride the twisted sisters (FMs 335, 336, and 337).

thanks for the heads up.  i've always wanted to ride through the desert in spring, but it may have to be next year.  i imagine i'd hit some heat once i cross over the sierra, no matter which state, unless i manage to stay up in altitude somehow.  of course a couple of hours through the valley is probably manageable.

my previous long ride was through a snowstorm, up in oregon, where they enjoy putting red gravel on the road - i think snow is less slippery!

thanks for the SA tips and FMs,
ferenc

[stealth1]

I don't know which way you are leaving the Bay Area, but some other roads not mentioned are State 318 from Ely, NV down to Ash Springs. They actually hold road races on parts of this twice a year. From there you can continue on south to Vegas or head east to Utah. Hwy 14 from Cedar City to US89 is a treat, but right now is only open on weekends and from 7pm to 7am during the week.