Motorcycle Rider News Road Trips

Scooting through national parks is a sure way to get some scenic ride time.
Colorado has a long list of national parks just waiting for you and your ride:

          Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
          Colorado National Monument
          Dinosaur National Monument
          Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
          Great Sand Dunes NP & Preserve National Park
          Hovenweep National Monument
          Mesa Verde National Park
          Rocky Mountain National Park
Find out more or plan your trip to Colorado's national parks by logging on to: http://www.nps.gov/state/CO/index.htm

Death Valley National Park (Nevada). Death Valley is a favorite location for car-makers testing new models. The incredibly hot weather in the summer is perfect for extreme testing. The long, flat roads make the park a good choice for bikers. I've seen many when stopped at Scotty's Castle, located 55 miles from the Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort (www.furnacecreekresort.com), and while I stayed at the resort, many bikers selected this as their overnight stop - or at the least for a meal before continuing on their way. In my opinion, the drive from Las Vegas to Furnace Creek is one of the most surreal 2 ½ hour drives you can take.

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona). Getting there is half the fun and once you're there, you can park your bike and forget about it. A perfect place to stay is the biker friendly Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn. Free shuttles and motorcoach tours are a better way to get around the park itself. The Highway 17 north from Phoenix is curvy and mountainous with great scenery. It takes you through the Prescott Valley and up to Flagstaff. You then take I 40 to Williams and 180 north to the Grand Canyon. I'd suggest returning to Phoenix through Sedona, just 2 ½ hours from the Grand Canyon. Park your bike and stay at the biker friendly Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel, and then start out fresh the next day.

Yellowstone Country

This includes the eastern part of Yellowstone, Cody, Wyoming and a couple of smaller towns. There's a great all-day road trip that takes you on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Described here: http://www.yellowstonecountry.org/things-to-do/scenic-byways.php.
And for your upcoming Sturgis road trip, don't forget to check out: South Dakota's
Badlands National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument, or scoot to nearby Wyoming's Devils Tower National Monument.

WHERE TO STAY?
If you're looking for a place to stay or hang out, Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. and Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C.) operates lodges, restaurants and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra operates concessions in the following locations: Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and at the Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.; and eight Ohio State Parks. Its affiliate Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. operates concessions at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Xanterra also operates the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz.

Originally Printed in the March 2010 Issue

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