Utah’s national parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion — are known as Mighty 5. All feature red rock formations, dramatic landscapes, and vistas, yet each one The parks are all unique. In late September, after the worst of the summer heat and crowds, my wife and I went on a motorbike tour of three Utah National Parks.
We are from California. Young riders or those with a muscular build can choose to endure the entire journey on two wheels, but we want to burn hundreds of interstate miles to get there and back in comfort. roof, and we wanted to bring more than we could for a two-week trip on the bike. We rented an RV and a trailer, loaded my BMW R 1200 GS, loaded with tools, food, beer and wine and hit the road from our home in Oxnard.
Scan the QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER
Advertisement
We “snag” in the RV parks, all of which have spacious parking spots with plenty of parking for trailers and bicycles. After parking, we get ready for day trips to the sights. Riding a motorbike makes it easier to navigate through national parks and into smaller parking spaces. At the end of each day, we returned to our campsite to sunbathe by the fire. For this ride, we purchased a Federal Recreational Lands and National Parks Pass for $80, which paid for on our third park entry and allowed us to enter. other parks throughout the year.
See all horseman‘Great Roads West’ touring story here.
Utah National Park on a Motorcycle: Capitol Reef
On a clear 70-degree day, we boarded the GS, left Thousand Lakes RV Park in Torrey, Utah, and drove into Capitol Reef National Park, known for its 100-mile-long crease in its left crust. The soil is called the Water Pocket Fold. It was formed when rocks were pushed upward and erosion sliced and diced through layers, creating deep, narrow canyons and towering monoliths.
We passed through Panoramic Point on a short dirt boardwalk to the Goosenecks Overlook. I changed the GS’s suspension settings to Comfort mode and promptly received a “Thank you, honey” from Nicole via our helmet communication. The view from Gooseneck Overlooking the river below and the slender S-curve it cuts into the gorge is stunning.
Continuing into the park, we turned right at the visitor center onto Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, a paved path that turns to dirt after 8 miles at the Capitol Gorge Road picnic area. There was so much to see in every direction that we went at about 20 mph. Returning, we turned onto a bumpy 2-mile dirt road and passed a few dry washes to the Cassidy Arch and Grand Wash trailheads. I check the horizon for storms, as even distant rains can quickly render those washes impassable. The scenery as we approached the trailhead changed dramatically, making detours a must.
Utah National Park on a Motorcycle: Canyonlands
Due to a late departure from our campsite at the Sun Outdoors Arches Gate in Moab, we were turned away by the Arches as it was at full capacity. Even during “shoulder” season, high-traffic parks like Arches fill up early, so depending on when you go, plan ahead and book your admission in time. Although Canyonlands is only a few miles from Arches, the traffic is much less here, so we go there instead.
We also had to wait to get into the Canyonlands, but Nicole and I passed the time chatting and rummaging through our bags of snacks. After taking the necessary snapshots at the park entrance sign, we walked along the Flat-topped Giant Island in Sky Mesa and the 34-mile paved road connecting the panoramic viewpoints. These views are 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, so the views are breathtaking.
Utah National Park on Motorcycle: Arches
Starting much earlier the next day paid off. We begin our tour of the Arches at The Windows Section, home to the Double Arch, the Elephant’s Parade lineup, the Northern Window, and the Turret Dome. We bring shorts and tennis shoes for comfortable commuting between sites, as well as picnic lunches. My favorite is the Double Arch, a pothole arch that spans 144 feet wide and 112 feet high formed by water erosion from above rather than more typical erosion from the side.
A brisk 10-minute walk brought us to the North Window, 93 feet wide and 51 feet high, where we came across a group of local high school students with drawings and brushes in hand, touching their inner artist. “Don’t focus too much on the sky, or you’ll end up with too much blue in your picture,” advises their teacher. We continued walking and then enjoyed the solitude and scenery of the Windows Primitive Loop trail.
Back to cycling, other highlights include the Garden of Eden, Balanced Rock, and Wolfe Ranch, located at the top of the trail leading to the famous Delicate Arch printed on Utah license plates.
See all horseman‘s Utah motorcycle ride here.
A bonus ride: La Sal . detour
On a cloudy 62-degree morning, we followed U.S. Route 191 south out of Moab and onto the La Sal Loop, a winding paved road that climbs the La Sal Mountains. The temperature dropped and it started to rain, but luckily the road was dodged by the storm.
“Are you warm enough?” I asked Nicole, and when she said yes, we continued. Just outside the Mill Creek parking area, we turned right onto Forest Road 076 towards Lake Oowah. This bumpy, rutted dirt road tested me with sharp turns, steep climbs and roaming cows, but we were rewarded with the autumn colors of the poplars.
We continue to go counter-clockwise on La Sal Loop Road. We stopped at La Sal Lookout Point, which offers sweeping views of Castle Valley and red rock formations that serve as inspiration for old cartoons about Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. A steep descent with many twists and turns took us down to the warmer air of the valley floor. At State Route 128, we turned left (west) and followed the Colorado River on our way back to Moab.
With so much riding and great scenery, we didn’t want to leave, but our allotted vacation time was running out, so we packed up and headed home. Southern Utah is a beautiful part of the country that should be on everyone’s must-see, must-go list.
