Under-rated!!! That's what So. Utah is........

[Chronic]

From reading thru various threads and seeing many great pics, I knew this would be a really nice ride, but, DANG!!.  I didn't expect THIS much fabulousness!!!  

So many WOW moments.  Seemed every section had some sort of wow going for it.  The only thing that bummed me out was the thought that it took me 50 years to visit this area again (just a little kid back then)

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WOW #1......... Zion Nat'l.   Our first sighting of massive rock formations........ which I've always loved!!





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WOW #2......... Bryce Nt'l.   Magnificent vista views from the look out areas





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WOW #3......... E Hwy 12 Escalante Grand Staircase  So, cool riding on that road cut in all that rock....... and the canyon before and after Boulder was sweet.



Looking back in the canyon past Boulder



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WOW #4......... Capital Reef!!  Actually, I'm gonna upgrade that to an OMG!!  I LOVED this area......LOVED it!!!!  I felt like John Carter of Mars!!  Seriously, I think this is what Mars must look like.  Thes pics don't do justice to the red color of these mangnificent Mesa/bluffs.





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WOW #5........... Luna Mesa.   This is a wow, because, one moment it seemed we were on Mars, the next.........on the Moon!!



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WOW # 6............. Moki Dugway!!!  I just had to go up and then back down............probably what everyone does, eh?

The view looking towards the Cedar Mesa........ in which the road is built into.


The obligatory shot from Muley pt........ fabulous views from up on MD



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WOW #7........... Monument Valley Park.  Talk about making one feel like your in  movie riding in a covered wagon, eh?




After this rolled into Arizona for a couple days...........

[Sport-Touring]

[Daniel Kalal]

I'm not sure I'd call it under-rated.  That loop you just took is perhaps the greatest long-route in the country.  Of course, there are other great rides, too, but nothing gives you the "oh man, look at that!" feeling all day long like highway 12+ does.

[stromgal]

Every trip there, I feel like a kid and it's the first time all over again.  

[Yankee Dog]

Agreed.  It is hard to beat Southern Utah.  

[Daniel Kalal]

I wish I could convince more Europeans to forget doing Route-66 (why do they care so much about that highway?) and focus instead on the route you took.

[Blue is Best]

I ride that area every year. Sometimes a couple of times per year! Add Colorado to it and you have a 1000 batting average.

[Chronic]

I ride that area every year. Sometimes a couple of times per year! Add Colorado to it and you have a 1000 batting average.

Yeah, the original plan was to roll to Durango and up 550, but, possible weather pushed us south into Arizona.  Sedona, Jerome, Grand Canyon were a pretty good "plan B'.  Jerome was VERY cool........and the 12-14 mile road past it was stupendous!!!  Would have liked to have my Tuono for that.......... although the 1190 is quite capable.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I wish I could convince more Europeans to forget doing Route-66 (why do they care so much about that highway?) and focus instead on the route you took.

I'll work on that from this end, as well  


I'm just sorry that I only got to experience that area of the country once  

[R Doug]

I loved it so much last year that Sheri and I are in SW Utah now hiking slot canyons, Bryce, and Zion.  Tomorrow we attempt to take on Angle's Landing in Zion!

Like you, I LOVE it here.  It's so special.  Thanks for sharing your report.  

[Chronic]

I loved it so much last year that Sheri and I are in SW Utah now hiking slot canyons, Bryce, and Zion.  Tomorrow we attempt to take on Angle's Landing in Zion!

Like you, I LOVE it here.  It's so special.  Thanks for sharing your report.  

Oh, man!!  I REALLy want to do those slot canyon hikes.  I'm quite sure we'll ride back next year and spend a couple days off the bikes and do some hiking.

BTW,  St. George just got put on our list for possible retirement spot in a couple years.  So close to all that fabulousness and has a slew of great golf courses

[bucktownbilly]

BTW,  St. George just got put on our list for possible retirement spot in a couple years.  So close to all that fabulousness and has a slew of great golf courses

Make sure you tee it up at Entrada and Sand Hollow....good stuff.  Did Memorial day weekend there and had a blast going back and forth between golf and hiking.  Left the bike at home but have done Zion a couple of times.  Best in early spring when you have the place to yourself.  Take the long way to it out of Vegas.  Hit up Hoover Damn first and than take the road that parallels lake mead through Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

[ndivita]

Amen to all of this. I've never been disappointed riding Utah roads. It always makes the long rides worth the distance and the time. Ride safe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nodaclu]

Just have to pile on here. I've been to 28 states, and southern Utah is still, to me, totally unsurpassed for natural beauty and incredible sights/views.

It's the single biggest thing I miss about living in Vegas - I was only about 3 hours away from all of that goodness.  

[johnbryer]

Does anyone have this one plotted out in google maps?