2008 Utah Motorcycle Trip

DRAFT ITINERARY

SAT 9/20: AFTERNOON DEPART/GREEN RIVER, UT

Distance: 185 miles / approx. 3.5 hours

We can get a late start (2pm – 3pm) for the brief ride to Green River, UT. This means we can get the bikes, get packed, etc. without any hurry. The route through Heber, Duschesne, and Price is scenic (we pass the Strawberry Reservoir). This puts us within easy striking distance of the fantastic ride down Rout 128 into Moab.

Overnight: Green River, UT

SUN 9/21: GREEN RIVER-MOAB

Distance: 90 miles / approx 2 hours

Excellent ride down I-70 to Rt. 128, a gorgeous ride along the Colorado River. Get into Moab with plenty of time to ride through the Canyonlands, check into our hotel, and ride the bikes in Arches NP around sunset.

http://www.nps.gov/cany/
http://www.nps.gov/arch/

Overnight: Moab, UT (Arches NP)

MON 9/22: MOAB-BOULDER

Distance: 285 miles / approx 6.5 hours

A travel day, but on two of the most gorgeous 2-lanes in the world: Bicentennial Hwy and Route 12. This ride alone is worth the entire trip. Our destination will be the Boulder Mountain Lodge and the fantastic restaurant Hell's Backbone Grill. This ride/destination might be the centerpiece of the trip.

http://www.scenicbyway12.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_Route_95

I’ve reserved 2 rooms at the Boulder Mountain Lodge; I’ve also made reservations for 5 (we can change this) at Hell’s Backbone (late dinner—8:30 pm).

http://www.boulder-utah.com/lodge.html
http://hellsbackbonegrill.com/

Overnight: Boulder, UT (Escalante)

TUE 9/23: BOULDER-RUBY'S INN

Distance: 75 miles / approx. 2 hours

From Boulder, it's a short trip along the Escalante down Hwy 12 to Bryce Canyon. The drive is gorgeous. We can drive around and explore Bryce Canyon NP.

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html
http://www.nps.gov/brca/

Overnight: Ruby's Inn, UT (Bryce Canyon NP)

WED 9/24: RUBY'S INN-SPRINGDALE

Distance: 115 miles / approx. 4 hours

This is a new leg from last year. We ride from Ruby’s Inn along Hwy 12 to Panquitch, and then through the Dixie National Forest to the Cedar Breaks National Monument. From there we head down Rt. 14 to Rt. 89 to Scenic Route 9 into Zion NP. I figured a low average mph for this leg, as the route is very curving and scenic. We stay overnight in Springdale, which is right at Zion NP.

http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/dixie.htm
http://www.nps.gov/cebr/
http://www.nps.gov/zion/

Overnight: Springdate, UT (Zion NP)

THU 9/25: SPRINGDALE-BEAVER

Distance: 126 miles / approx 2.5 hours

Today we can explore Zion NP and give ourselves about 3 hours to get I-15 to Beaver for an overnight.

Overnight: Beaver, UT (off I-15)

FRI 9/26: BEAVER-PARK CITY

Distance: 200 miles / approx 3.5 hours

Short travel day on the interstate highway (I-15) North to Park City in time for dinner and relaxation/wind down at the house.

SAT 9/27: RETURN BIKES/FLY HOME