Favorite Day Trips

[The Druid II]

With the warmer weather starting to show itself, I was wondering if the motorcyclists out there were interested in sharing their favorite day trips on their bikes.

Personally, I really enjoy the trip over Utah Hill down to Beaver Dam with the side trip to Gunlock. Maybe even a return thru Snow Canyon.

Anyone else?

[goodbird]

We do that one too, Druid. Also, we like Hwy 14 over to US 89, down to Kanab, and back. Or maybe out to the North Rim, Page, and back. And don't forget Pioche and Panaca. I like to visit the Petroglyphs at the Gap west of Parowan. Up to Panguitch via Cedar Breaks and Panguitch Lake.
March 29th is this year's Thunder in the Tunnel Run, so we'll do that loop too.

Love to ride up to the Wagon Wheel for breakfast or lunch in Leeds, Then return via Toquerville and Hurricane, maybe detouring out around Sand Hollow. We very often ride down the Eureka Casino's coffee shop for $3.99 steak and eggs, then maybe ride out through Bunkerville and Riverside before heading back to St George. Another one we've done more than once is the Warm Springs Ranch out west of Moapa, and the Lost City Museum in Overton/Logandale.

If you're up for a long day, try riding south to Glendale, west to US 93 North, then up past Alamo and Caliente, NV, take the turn at Panaca east to Modena, Beryl Junction, and then south to Enterprise and SR 18 back to St George (about 300 miles). Another fave is the Market Grill at the stockyards in Cedar City. Ride up the 15 and get off at 56 west, go about six blocks. After that, continue west on 56 to SR 18 and home.

And of course, there is Overton, Lake Mead, and Las Vegas. Lots to do for a motorcyclist.

[The Druid II]

Some good ideas that I hadn't considered, Goodbird.

Another favorite of course is Zion. In my opinion, on a bike is the best way to see that park. Bryce is a excellent all day trip also.

[goodbird]

Zion NP is very good, especially when you can ride up to Shivawava Temple when the shuttles aren't running. Love the ride past the tunnel to the gate. Lots of good twisties if you don't caught behind a motorhome. We do that one a lot.

I want to ride the length of US 89 up to Provo sometime.

[goodbird]

Here it is 4 months since my last post, and I am reassessing the day rides we used to do. We did the Cedar City/ Enterprise loop a couple of Saturdays ago, and that was to help a new rider get used to his Harley. But taken in the greater view, we aren't doing as many of the day rides we used to do. Part of the reason is gas prices. Even on a motorcycle, it can cost $25-30 to do a day trip now. The result is we do fewer of them.

My riding partner and I tend to ride fewer miles than we did even six months ago. A tank of gas a week is doable, but not a tank every other day or so.
Being on a fixed income makes you rethink every trip you take. My wife and I are eating out less, so we can afford gas for the car.

Tomorrow, I have to go to Mesquite and get a blood test for my doctor appointment in Las Vegas on Monday (VA doctor). I used to just ride down to Vegas one day and go back a couple of days later for the appointment. Having the blood drawn in Mesquite saves a bunch of miles/gas.

[Fred V]

My day trip consist of driving to work and hoping to earn enough to be able to drive back home.

[oldtrader]

Our day trips are runs to Wal-Mart, etc., which is a 100 mile+ round trip. We went Monday. Tomorrow we take another day trip of 120 miles, to take our daughter to have a medical procedure. Things like this take all of the gas, so we don't do much for fun any more.

[The Druid II]

Recently I have taken the drive to Pine Valley. Beautiful ride. I usually go a little farther than the lake and the first campground. I have hear that you can follow that road to New Harmony. Anyone know if this is true and if so, how is the road?

[Mr Ed]

Originally Posted by oldtrader

Our day trips are runs to Wal-Mart, etc., which is a 100 mile+ round trip. We went Monday. Tomorrow we take another day trip of 120 miles, to take our daughter to have a medical procedure. Things like this take all of the gas, so we don't do much for fun any more.

That sounds extremely boring.

"Let's go to Wallyworld! Wowee!"

Anyone who has to constantly listen to your pompous drivel probably needs medical attention in the way of professional counselling.

[Mr Ed]

Originally Posted by The Druid II

Recently I have taken the drive to Pine Valley. Beautiful ride. I usually go a little farther than the lake and the first campground. I have hear that you can follow that road to New Harmony. Anyone know if this is true and if so, how is the road?

Are you talking about the road to Pinto? I've gone east from Pinto and then south to a campground area with some good hiking trails.

Pine Valley is decent for getting away for long day hikes in cooler temps. Oak Grove just west of Leeds has a nice campground, and there are a few hiking trails.

I like the lake for swimming, diving and all my lady friends in bikinis.

[The Druid II]

Originally Posted by Mr Ed

Are you talking about the road to Pinto? I've gone east from Pinto and then south to a campground area with some good hiking trails.

Pine Valley is decent for getting away for long day hikes in cooler temps. Oak Grove just west of Leeds has a nice campground, and there are a few hiking trails.

I really do not know if this is the road that I was told about. It is possible but does not really sound like what I was told about. Of course, any escape into the mountains is a good thing.

[goodbird]

One of my favorite day trips has as its destination Pioche, NV. We ride our motorcycles up SR 18 to SR 56 West toward Modena. We usually stop there by the old general store for a break and some water. I love the railroad presence there, the old steam locomotive water tank and stuff. Leaving Modena, back onto the SR56 which becomes NV389 (?) west to Pananca. When you reach the summit and start down into Panaca, there are some beautiful vistas mixed in with awesome curvy roads. Again, we rest stop at Panaca's gas station on US93/NV389 before heading up the trail to Pioche.

Pioche is a former silver mining town. They have a superb museum there that also has a courtroom, complete with 11 person jury ( you can have your picture taken as the 12th juror). Behind the courtroom on the second floor is the jail. If you're hungry, they have a good cafe on the main street.

Heading back south on US93, we stop off at Cathedral Canyons to comtemplate the works of nature. We have also ventured east out of Pioche to a state park 40 miles from there where there is a campground, lake, and day use picnic area. Just down the US93 past the Panana junction is Caliente, a true railroad town. Here, at the City Hall, which is located in the former railroad station, is another museum telling of the mining and railroad heydays. Outside, they have a radiation monitoring station, which harks back to the downwinder days of atom bomb testing in Nevada.

Reversing course to St George, we stop at Enterprise for a refreshment, maybe some gas too. Then we enjoy the ride back past Mountain Meadows, Pine Valley, Veyo, and into town. It is about time to do that one again, at least when it cools down some.

[goodbird]

My riding buddy took his visiting family up to Kolob Reservoir. He reports he saw about 12 California Condors at the slot canyon near the cabins there. Now would be good time to run up there and see them.

For those who don't know, take SR9 toward Zion NP to the town of Virgin. Go past the Frontier Town and take the second left. There is a sign that says "Kolob Reservoir". It takes about 30 minutes from that point up to the Condor roost. You'll come to a place just past Blue Lake where a slot canyon tops out. That's where you'll find those magnificent birds.

[astounding]

Originally Posted by goodbird

...we stop off at Cathedral Canyons to contemplate the works of nature...

Growing up in southwestern Utah, it amazes me that I'd never heard of Cathedral Gorge State Park just barely outside of Panaca, Nevada. A few years back on a whim, a friend and I decided that since we'd never been to Panaca or Pioche, it was time for a road trip.

We spent several hours hiking around the state park there. It's amazing how far back into those narrow, twisting, carved-out slots one can explore, the unusual formations of erosion and deposition sculpting amazing alien shapes all over. I loved it!

From your post, goodbird, I now wish I'd had more time to really enjoy Pioche. We just drove around a bit (and that was quite interesting alone), never stopping. Maybe if gas prices come back down, I'll have to head out that way again sometime.

Aaron out.

[*casper*]

Originally Posted by goodbird

My riding buddy took his visiting family up to Kolob Reservoir. He reports he saw about 12 California Condors at the slot canyon near the cabins there. Now would be good time to run up there and see them.

For those who don't know, take SR9 toward Zion NP to the town of Virgin. Go past the Frontier Town and take the second left. There is a sign that says "Kolob Reservoir". It takes about 30 minutes from that point up to the Condor roost. You'll come to a place just past Blue Lake where a slot canyon tops out. That's where you'll find those magnificent birds.

Now that would be a sight.. try to post some pix on here if you make it back and see them...