Grand Canyon Options

[davik3541]

I'm planning a ride around the Grand Canyon in June...planning on basing out of Flagstaff and making day trips from there...anybody done this and could help a noob out? sights to see, avoid, etc?

[CorreCaminos]

That's a great plan; there's so much to see around Flagstaff. Here's just a few ideas:

1. Ride to Sedona on SR-89A. Sedona itself is touristy and uninteresting but the ride and area are gorgeous.
2. Sunset Crate national Monument is a very nice ride too.
3. The roads through the Tonto and Coconino National Forests are very nice too.
4. If you get anywhere near Tucson, visit the Saguaro National Park (I prefer the east section for pavement, the west for off-road) and the Pima County Air Museum.

[davik3541]

That's a great plan; there's so much to see around Flagstaff. Here's just a few ideas:

1. Ride to Sedona on SR-89A. Sedona itself is touristy and uninteresting but the ride and area are gorgeous.
2. Sunset Crate national Monument is a very nice ride too.
3. The roads through the Tonto and Coconino National Forests are very nice too.
4. If you get anywhere near Tucson, visit the Saguaro National Park (I prefer the east section for pavement, the west for off-road) and the Pima County Air Museum.

Thanks...I'll give a couple of these a try...and thanks for the response...we leave Monday and can hardly wait! Pics to follow.

[wmhendryx]

Thanks...I'll give a couple of these a try...and thanks for the response...we leave Monday and can hardly wait! Pics to follow.

The ride you're talking about is on our "Bucket List", so we'll be anxious to hear a report when you get back.

Safe travels!!

-Bill

[davik3541]

Okay...I'm rested enough to write this report...

We trailered the bike( a 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic) out to Flagstaff and based out of Flagstaff, we took day trips north and south.

Day One...The Canyon. We started out from the hotel on the bike and planned to run the canyon from West to East. We went north on 180 out of Flagstaff, and the scenery was beautiful...big Ponderosa pines, a two lane with good grip and great mountain scenery, and it was a wonderful ride.

I would recommend topping the tank off at the junction of 180 and 64, because the gas stations right outside the park were charging 4 bucks a gallon for regular gas (welcome, Tourists)

The park cost us 12 bucks each to get in, and they provided a map and literature to make the stay more pleasant. What they did not provide was the information about the breathtaking view I was about to have...you can take as many pictures as you can, but every picture will only remind you of the reality you saw with your own two eyes...it's indescribable...to stand on the edge of the canyon and realize that it's several miles down to that spot you can see, is incredible.

We walked (bring shorts and walking shoes) as much as I could stand...which was about the only way to see most of the West end, and then motored on east.

The Prairie View Road is more of the canyon road system, and wanders away from the canyon in spots and comes back to the edge frequently...by the time we did this, I was pretty much "Canyoned" out, and was more of a driver for Miss Daisy (my wife) so she could look at yet, another view of this big hole in the ground.

We continued East to the Tower (well worth seeing) and then we made our blunder of the day...we went back to Flagstaff on 89A...don't! It is a flat, prairie road, running through the edge of a reservation...scenery is bland, compared to the forest, and wind was a huge pain in the butt...you'd be better served by going back on 64 to Williams and then back to Flag.

Here are some pics of our trip to the canyon...if I can get them to load.


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2204...mp;l=3435a9a2b1 Better yet, here's our link to the album we took.

[davik3541]

Day Two...Sedona...the adventure heats up

Day Two found us heading south on 89A to Sedona...a trip worth taking...for about a day

Just out of Flagstaff, there's a pull out at Oak Creek Canyon...just before you go into the switchbacks heading down into the canyon...a spectacular view of another canyon, and you get a chance to look over the switchbaks you'll soon be riding through.

While at the lookout, we happened on to three bikers coming north, and struck up a conversation with them...they were headed to Page, and were, just like us, stopping to enjoy the view, look over the Indian jewelry (which is everywhere) and rest their butts for a moment...as we talked, hoping to gain some insight into local places to see, eat, etc, we discovered that they were from Texas! AND all three were from no more than 30 miles from where WE lived! Small world, isn't it?
Going into Sedona, there are several things you'll want to see...Slide Rock State Park(if we were to camp, it would be a great place to do so, as it's right on a stone lined river with a natural waterslid and cool, clear water...it's a very popular spot with the locals, and today was no exception, as there were about a million people there, enjoying the water!

The next place ids the DQ just outside Sedona...more Indian jewelry and a tourist booth (be careful...the lady there will offer you the moon if you just listen to a short presentation about the timeshare in Sedona) We escaped that and motored into Sedona with no clue on what to expect...It was beautiful...a small city built up around the rock formations...with access to all of them (dirt roads) and a whole bunch of traffic circles...no intersections, traffic circles.

It was a pretty place, full of touristy things to do, and places to eat...(we ate at a restaurant in the upscale mall, a veggie kind of place, but they actually DO serve meat in Sedona as well) and while there, I had a little fun with the server over a cell phone. ( I have always had a problem with authority, and it "slipped" out)

We were interested in golfing Sedona Golf Resort, so that was our next stop...tee time made, all set for tomorrow, it was about 4:15 PM as we headed north, back to Flagstaff, and then fate struck.

The words were "is this road this wavy?" was about all the wife got out as the rear tire blew and I wrestled the bike to the side of the road...we were only going about 40mph...10 more minutes, we'd have been cranking the bike up for the ride back through the canyon and would have been way worse off.

A call to Triple A (buy a membership and keep it up), a tow truck hauled us to Cottonwood Motor Sports at about 5:15 pm...they close at 6...sound familiar?

They, with big smiles on their faces took my bike in, pilled the back wheel, changed the tire, tube and balanced the wheel...after hours...and charged me LESS than my Texas bike shop did for the same tire less than one week earlier! I was very concerned that this tire was going to really cost me, but was trapped a thousand miles away from home with no way to get back to Flagstaff. All I can say, is that they were good people, serviced me quickly,and in the words of the owner, assured me that they would NEVER leave someone stranded. I highly recommend them.

Tire on, bike running well, we motored back to Flagstaff and got ready for tomorrow's golf adventure.

Would I do this again? Sure! in a heartbeat...Flagstaff has some great places to eat, Old Route 66, and alot of great scenery...a bikers dream...Sedona had too many hippies for me, but it was, nonetheless, a pretty place to see.

The Indian jewelry places are abundant, and every one of the stands has "handmade jewelry" by famous Native artists, etc, etc, etc...If that's your thing, bring lots of money, some of it is very nice.

Here's a link to our Sedona pics...enjoy http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2206...mp;l=9f857f73a4

[wmhendryx]

Wow, that is some excellent reporting on a ride that my wife and I have been wanting to take. Thanks to you, we now want to do it sooner than later.

Tell us a bit about the climate changes you rode through and the temperature ranges.

[davik3541]

Wow, that is some excellent reporting on a ride that my wife and I have been wanting to take. Thanks to you, we now want to do it sooner than later.

Tell us a bit about the climate changes you rode through and the temperature ranges.

Think HOT and dry...also windy...I will never complain about the wind in Texas again! Evenings were cool (my wife says cold) but down in the 50's...mornings were nice...about 45-55 degrees to start with, then you start peeling off layers until the temps got up in the hot range...I started out the canyon run in jeans boots, and a jacket, changed to shorts and a T shirt there, and stayed that way the rest of the ride. We found that we didn't need our leathers, but jeans, shirt, jacket were a necessity.

[UncleTerry]

I made this ride a couple of years ago and will do it again the last two weeks of October. Do you have a google map link or gps of the roads you took? I've been on a couple of those, but would be interested in seeing the Chapel as well as riding the canyon. -Thanks!

[davik3541]

I made this ride a couple of years ago and will do it again the last two weeks of October. Do you have a google map link or gps of the roads you took? I've been on a couple of those, but would be interested in seeing the Chapel as well as riding the canyon. -Thanks!

No, I don't have any maps...we went north out of Flag on 180, rode it till it connected to 64, then on to the Canyon...64 weaves through the park and connects with 89A at Cameron, and then south to Flag.
Sedona is approachable two ways 89A (the recommended route) and 17 Get a tourist map when you get to Sedona (Dairy Queen) and folow it to the various sites...the Chapel is on 179 south of Sedona.
Good luck, and smooth ridin...Oh yeah...avoid the "Meteor Crater" like the plague...it's just a big hole in the ground and it costs 15 bucks to climb up and look into it!

This post has been edited by davik3541: Jul 2 2010, 09:15 AM

[UncleTerry]

Thanks for the hints, I appreciate them.

[wmhendryx]

Thanks for the hints, I appreciate them.

Anyone been on the north side of Grand Canyon? If so, any recommendations on where to stay? We're trying to work-in a side trip there during our summer ride and would be approaching from the north thru Page, Jacob Lake and North Rim. Any and all input appreciated!!

[davik3541]

Anyone been on the north side of Grand Canyon? If so, any recommendations on where to stay? We're trying to work-in a side trip there during our summer ride and would be approaching from the north thru Page, Jacob Lake and North Rim. Any and all input appreciated!!

We decided against the north side because of all the travel to get there (no easy way from the south) Now from the north, you might make an easier ride of it, although, you need to pay close attention to your gas and stuff...I know there's only one gas station on the north side once you get on the Park road, and they told us out there that it's spotty at times. My tank will get me about 150 miles before I'm pushing an 800 pound paperweight, so we opted out of the northside. About that time, I had see all the GC I needed to see, and was hankering for something dofferent...the wind was very oppressive by then, and riding was a chore...you might want to consider Canyonlands or one of the parks a bit farther north into Utah. Good luck.

[wmhendryx]

We decided against the north side because of all the travel to get there (no easy way from the south) Now from the north, you might make an easier ride of it, although, you need to pay close attention to your gas and stuff......you might want to consider Canyonlands or one of the parks a bit farther north into Utah. Good luck.

Thanks for that input, but after further study, we decided that turning south to make a special visit to the north rim was just too "out of the way" for this particular trip, which will eventually take us to Yellowstone, Bear Tooth Pass and back. As you suggested, we're going to the Bryce Canyon area -- but no farther south -- before turning north. The Grand Canyon will just have to wait 'til next time.

We're in the beginning stages of planning a trip to the west coast and Hwy. 1, so hopefully we'll visit the Canyon on that one.

[CorreCaminos]

Thanks for that input, but after further study, we decided that turning south to make a special visit to the north rim was just too "out of the way" for this particular trip, which will eventually take us to Yellowstone, Bear Tooth Pass and back. As you suggested, we're going to the Bryce Canyon area -- but no farther south -- before turning north. The Grand Canyon will just have to wait 'til next time.

Bryce is alright but if you're going to be out there, you should save sometime for Zion Natnl Park, an unbelievably beautiful place.

[wmhendryx]

Bryce is alright but if you're going to be out there, you should save sometime for Zion Natnl Park, an unbelievably beautiful place.

Actually, if all goes as planned, we will do Zion, along with Bryce and Arches NP at Moab.

[CorreCaminos]

Actually, if all goes as planned, we will do Zion, along with Bryce and Arches NP at Moab.

Arches is great too. If they still have the ranger-led night hike make sure to take that; it's a very short hike but you get to experience the desert at night.