Vegas Az & Utah

[machinist]

I have 5 days to rent a bike out of vegas. I would like to go down by the grand canyon and get up into Utah's national parks. Whats reasonable? I dont mind miles and dont figure on advance reservations anywhere.

[8850]

The Rand McNally Harley Davidson maps are great with suggested routes and mileages specific to motorcycles. Also, the HD website has a trip planner function that includes most of the more scenic routes as well and allows you to print your route/map. Great places to ride in that area, have fun!

[BigHarleyDog]

My suggestion

Leave Vegas and head to Boulder City, ride over Hoover Dam while you still can, then south on Hwy 93 to Kingman, then you can roll out Route 66 through Seligman, see some old sights, then on to Williams, AZ, which is about 1 hour south of Grand Canyon entrance. Stay there, Rod's Steakhouse is very good there, a little pricey but a Route 66 survivor from the 40's. Head up to Grand Canyon, check it out then ride out the east entrance and roll to Hwy, follow 163, I think, to Kanab, which is a good place to stay, so you can hit Bryce Canyon one day, then roll through Zion the next on the way back to Vegas. Check the maps, you should be able to make it in 5 days.

[atexnvegas]

I don't much care for Grand Canyon just a big hole to look down in. As for Utah Bryce Canyon and Zion are awesome. Thats as much in Utah I have seen ,but I know there is more. In Arizona I think the route 66 from seligman to Topock gorge thru Oatman is nice. I am actually going to Sedona, AZ next week very nice thru to Jerome and Prescott, Skull Valley.

[hdwoman48]

And if you don't mind getting a bit dirty, Moab has some great back roads. It's a rental, after all.

[wrld2r]

Don't know if you have left yet, but if not, here's my two cents worth.

Over the last two years I have left my bike parked at the Manadaly and have flown out to Vegas 10 or more times to ride and play poker. BTW, motorcycle parking is FREE, covered and next to security at the Mandalay.

My best advice is to buy a National Parks Eagle Pass for $80.00 at any NP entrance. Leave LV and head East out to the Dam, then enter the Park at Lake Mead and head north along the lake through Overton to 15 north, or cut back through the Valley of Fire State Park (recommended) to 15. This is a nice long traffic free desert run.

Head North into Utah on 15 and turn off at St. George/ Washington on 9 east and follow it to Zion. Plan on spending some time in Zion. I recomend taking the shuttle to the river end, and with a second pair of old tennis shoes, hiking up the Virgin River through the narrows for as long as you have time. Book a room at the Zion Lodge through Xanterra in advance at (888) 297-7277.

In the morning head out through the park and onto Bryce before doubling back to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Book a cabin at the North Rim with Forever Resorts (877) 386-4383 . There are 4 cabins out of 50 that actually sit on the very edge of the canyon wall, and I have two of them already booked for the 4th of july weekend 2010. The North rim is isolated, so you don't get the Las Vegas/ Asian tourist like you do with the South Rim.

You could also go further north into the Canyons of Utah like Escalante and Capitol Reef, but you might want to head back to Las Vegas and head out to Red Rock Canyon to the West. From there you can make it over to Death Valley and back in a day. If you do, take Belle Vista road to the west, which is about 5 mile north of Pahrump. This takes you directly to Death Valley. I have made it from
Las Vegas to the Yosemite Valley via Death Valley in a days ride, which could be worth your time. You can get a room in Mamouth or Lee Vinning just outside the park.

Doing the Vegas strip on a bike is convienent and fun although the combination of helmet laws and summer heat are hard on a man's soul.

Have Fun!