Fantastic Roads

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Have a great road that want you want to share?   Write it up and send it to  and I'll post your write up for everyone to enjoy.  Check out what we have collected thus far.  Plus the Fantastic Roads are not only terrific rides but also qualify as RAT Sites.  But help!  We need more roads!  And now to help you even more check out this link of Fantastic Roads.  If you travel one of these roads and send in a description you get a RAT point.  Go to Link

 

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AL  AK AR AZ  CA CO CT DC DE FL
GA HI ID IL IN KS KY LA MA ME
MD MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NV
NH NJ NM NY OH OK OR PA RI SC
SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WI WV WY

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AL

Twisty as all get out, but not very east to ride, is the road that parallels the
Little River Canyon in NE Alabama. If you want to push, you'll stay in
first gear for virtually the whole thing, loaf along in second. But the
pavement is in poor condition, broken at the edges, narrow, frequently the
corners have sand and gravel in them.


Not very long, but challenging, is AL Hwy 49 leading down from Cheaha Scenic
Byway towards Lineville, AL. It will be real nice if they ever get around
to replacing the chip seal with real pavement.

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AK

 

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AR

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AZ

 

Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff, AZ. - 7 ish miles of awesome twisties through groves of Aspen's terminating at the Arizona Snowbowl ski area where on a clear day you can see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon 80 miles away. Food and beverages available at the top, summertime offers scenic skyride on the skilift to the summit which at 12,500 feet is the tallest in Arizona. An excellent side trip on your Grand Canyon Rides, about 7 or 8 miles north of Flagstaff. Snowbowl Road to be avoided in winter due to snowfall. Starting altitude around 6900 ft.finishing around 9200feet.

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Oak Creek Canyon 89A - uphill from Sedona to Flagstaff, or downhill the reverse. A significant number of automobile commercials are filmed on this road because of its' dramatic sweeping turns and awesome scenery. Best riding times are very very early in the am as the Winnebago set tends to putter through at other times. Weather can vary dramatically from one end of the road to the other, and winter riders should be warned that it can be snowing at the top of Oak Creek Canyon and not at the bottom. Distance about 26 miles.


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Mount Lemmon Road, Tucson Arizona. 28 ish miles of twisties and sweepers starting in northeast Tucson and terminating at the Mt. Lemmon ski area approx. 6000 feet of vertical climb later. The town of Summerhaven boasts 2-3 fair restaurants, guest cottages etc. Temps can vary 40 degrees F from base to summit so dress accordingly.

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Kitt Peak Observatory Road - about 1 hour west of Tucson,a 7-8 mile hill climb with all the attendant excellent views. Practically no LEO presence in this area except the Tribal Police on the Rez. Kitt Peak itself belongs to the Federal Government so they don't bother with annoying speed traps and whatnot.

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US 191 from Alpine, AZ to Morenci, AZ, 78 miles of almost
nothing but twisties, separated by a few sweepers, little
or traffic. Recently repaved from Alpine to Hannigan's
Meadow. What's strange however, is that MapsOnUs indicates
that there's only 2 turns in the whole distance. I guess they
must mean that there's only two places you can turn OFF of
191 and take a different road. Just a month ago, when I rode
it, I discovered that it IS possible to get tired of
twisties (Nah, you just gotta take a break about every 30
miles).


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AZ, eastern border of state, US route 666 [a.k.a Route 192] from Clifton to Alpine, 99 miles: "The Devil's Highway." This is a killer road through spectacular mountain country. we drove it in a rainstorm even though a local biker warned us not to: "1800 turns in 100 miles. watch out for elk on the road." pushing hard it was difficult to get above 45 mph. several hairpin turns are ~10mph. passes one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world. we also saw elk.

 

 

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AZ, south-central, AZ83 from US10 south of Tucson to AZ82 in Sonoita 25 miles Well maintained wide two-lane highway with armco in key spots. 5 miles straight and flat across the desert, 15 miles of 4000' elevation rise, and then 5 more miles straight and flat across range grass land to Sonoita. Fast sweepers with plenty of opportunity to probe top speed on the long straights. IMHO, some of the most beautiful scenery in Arizona. Watch for locals trying to pass on short straights with double yellow lines. There weren't any double yellow lines until tourists started splattering themselves a few years back. Not too many DPS's (Arizona's Highway Patrol). Occasionally there are pre-production GM and Nissan cars getting flogged on this road. To continue on to Nogales, go West on AZ82. To continue on to Tombstone, go East on AZ82.

 

 

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CA

Yochol Valley road is located 2 miles east of the intersection of hwy 198
and hwy 65 near the town of Exeter Calif.
The road is a combination of fast & twisty and scenic and slippery.
The road ends north of Springville CA and runs aprox 20 miles.
Springville allows for easy return to The town of Porterville where lodging
and easy freeway access can be had.

wurty

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CA, Southern, Angeles Crest Highway. Take the 134 East/North to the 210 West (San Fernando) to the Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) exit. It is highly recommended that you turn left and gas up at the Shell station because there are no gas stations on the crest. After gassing up,Turn right and continue up the mountain. Newcombs Ranch (restaurant/bike hangout) will be on your left (about 27 miles up the mountain from the freeway off ramp).

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CA, Southern, Mulholland Dr. Take the 101 Exit at Topanga Canyon South and follow the road to Mulholland Drive, turn right then left at the first stoplight onto Mulholland Highway. Follow Mulholland Highway until you come to the Rock Store. After stopping at the Rock Store for some bike-watching, continue up Mullholland. Turn right at Encinal Canyon Rd. and take it all the way to the PCH.

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CA, Bay Area - Morgan Territory Road, Vasco Road loop from Livermore. Take the North Livermore Road exit from I580 and go North. Road makes a sharp left bend at mile 3.8 (all miles measured from I580). At mile 4.3 make a right turn onto Morgan Territory Road. The roaddrops to 1 lane and begins to climb the Eastern shoulder of Mt. Diablo at mile 5.1. As you climb,look behind for a view of what California must have looked like 50 years ago. At mile 10.2 theroad drops into the woods and gets narrower and twistier. Lots of tight turns and hairpin bends asyou descend and almost no traffic. Back to 2 lanes and scattered houses at mile 16.5. MorganTerritory tee's into Marsh Creek Road at mile 20.1. Turn left to go to Concord (restaurants, gas stations, freeways), or turn right for more open country. The road forks at mile 30.9, continue straight onto Camino Diablo to Walnut Blvd. at mile 32.4. Turn left on Walnut Blvd. for Brentwood to pick your own cherries/apricots/etc. or turn right to return to Livermore. The valley you are traveling through will be flooded in a few years as the site of the Los Vaqueros resevoir. You return to I580 at the Vasco Road interchange at mile 47.

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CA, Bay Area, Route 9 from Saratoga to Santa Cruz. About 35 miles. This is a great road to take to or from Santa Cruz instead of the regular, crowded 17. There are a few small towns on the way. An attraction just off the road worth visiting is the Henry Caldwell(sp?) Redwoods State Park. It has good trees and good trekking and biking routes. It's a few miles out of Santa Cruz. The road has great curves! Be mindful of the posted speed limits on turns since on some turns they really mean it, especially if you don't know the road. It goes right up into the hills and down on the other side to the sea. There are a number of vista points. You get good views of sceneries and a good view of Silicon Valley at night from the Saratoga side of the hills.

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CA, Bay Area, Skyline Drive/Hwy 1 (from San Francisco): Take Highway 1 south through Pacifica, past Devil's Slide, down to Half Moon Bay, and turn inland onto Hwy 92. Continue on 92 until Skyline Drive, where you turn south and head down through the trees. Watch out for cops and bicyclists on this road. You have several options on Skyline: (1) turn left onto King's Mountain Road (lots of twisties, but be very careful about bicycles) and go down to Woodside Rd., where you have the option of going left to Hwy 280 and back to SF or going right and continuing back up Woodside to La Honda Rd. to Skyline; (2) Take Skyline to La Honda Rd., stop at Alice's Restaurant for lunch with all the other motorcyclists, then take La Honda Rd. right, back down to the coast and come back up Hwy 1; (3) Go left on La Honda Rd. from Alice's and head back down to Woodside Rd. and the 280; (4) continue on Skyline south from Alice's all the way to Highway 9 and down to Santa Cruz; or any combination of the above.

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CA, north-central, CA25 from US101 in Gilroy to CA198 near Coalinga. About 100 miles? Well maintained two-lane highway. Once you're south of Hollister, which is ~15 miles south of Gilroy, the traffic disappears and the fun begins. Lots of fast sweepers intermixed with occasional straights and sections of tight curves. Great scenery makes it worthwhile even if you aren't into high speeds and curvey roads. Provides the only access to the east side of Pinnacles National Monument. If you're coming from the south via CA198, be warned that the turn-off is barely marked. From the East look for a sign that refers to Pinnacles, from the West I don't know if there is a sign at all.

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CA, central, CA198 from US5 past CA25 to US101. 50 miles? Amazing two- lane highway connects US5 to US101, and provides access to CA33 (a low-traffic alternative to US5) and the southern end of CA25. Light traffic, great road conditions, and almost non-stop curves make it a blast on a motorcycle, especially the section between Coalinga (from CA33) to the turn-off to CA25, which is approximately 30 miles.

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CA, central, Indian Valley Road from CA25 @ CA 198 to San Miguel @ US101, ~35miles. The CA25 route can be extended on the southern end by taking Indian Valley Road. The roaditself is of fair quality, and has no lines for most of the length. Access from the S at San Miguel is tricky. The great scenery and low level of traffic is similar to CA25.

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CA, North Coast, Stewarts Point to Geyserville, Skaggs Spring. Rd, 50mi. No cars. Perfect new pavement. Rolling hills. Lots of Armco. Will leave you speechless. (pt) An update: the section from Stewart's Pt. to about 20 miles inland is very narrow and has very poor pavement (as of 12 Feb 96), running to gravel in spots. It's quite slow, and runs through a dark redwood forest. The section from Geyserville (actually, the Lake Sonoma dam about 10 miles from Geyserville) to the redwood forest is far nicer, with fast swoops and lots of elevation changes. Beware of streams running across the road if it's been raining recently (like in the last few days).   For an up date see the next write up

 

 

Stewart's Point Skaggs Spring Road
County(s): Sonoma
Mileage: 70 miles (one-way)
Type of Ride: Quick fix to fit into your itinerary
When to Ride: Almost any time of year; fall and winter are likely to be cold and foggy
Terrain: Golden hills, deep valleys, rocky cliffs, pounding surf
Road Conditions: A not-quite-secret two-lane road leading from Cloverdale to the Pacific Ocean
Warnings: Parts of the road may be washed away after punishing weather. The area can be prone to rock and mudslides, and the road occasionally narrows to a single lane. Mountain roads, of course, are like that- take it easy and keep your eyes ahead, as tempting as the views can be.

 

DIRECTIONS:
Roads Traveled: Hwy 101, Dutcher Creek Road, Dry Creek Road, Stewarts Point Skaggs Spring Road
Note: Be sure to incorporate this road into your route if you're planning on riding Hwy 101 going north of San Francisco. If you're on Hwy 101 heading north from San Francisco follow the route directions from the bottom up- you'll end up in Cloverdale (there's lots to do from there).
Starting Point: Hwy 101, North of San Francisco
Exit

Cloverdale, located just off Hwy 101, and fill your tank, because you won't see another gas station for some 70 miles until you reach Jenner-by-the-Sea (if heading south at Hwy 1) or Gualala (if heading north on Hwy 1). Grab a burger at Marge and Raymond's before you head out. Leave town on the main drag which turns into Dutcher Creek Road; you'll take a right onto Dry Creek Road.

Continue

Past the dam and follow this two-lane road until you turn left onto Stewarts Point Skaggs Spring Road. From here, you'll ride all the way to the ocean on the road the locals call "the race track".

Stop

There are plenty of chances to admire the views- and you'll want to when you see the knobby, golden hills across the valleys and lakes off to the south. You'll think you're in paradise for the first 30 miles or so, as the forests get thicker- but be advised, the road gets rougher in the last 15 miles to the ocean.

South/ North

When you finally reach the ocean. You'll need to ride 25 miles south to Jenner or 13 miles north to Gualala to find a filling station and then head home on Hwy 101. Great stops in either direction are listed below. These sections are just as worthwhile all by themselves- the high cliffs over the water are as spectacular as any on the California coast, or anywhere for that matter.

Note

If you take the ride in reverse, you'll go from colder weather to warmer weather as you head inland, so dress accordingly.

 

Biker Friendly Establishments:
  • Marge and Raymond Pesce's Hamburger Ranch and Pasta Farm
    31195 N Redwood Hwy, Cloverdale
    (707) 894-5616
    Great Burgers!
  • Gualala Hotel, Hwy 1, Gualala
    (707) 884-3441
  • The River's End, located 1/4 mile North of Jenner on Hwy 116, Guerneville
    (707) 865-2484
    Dining on a sheer cliff at the mouth of the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean!

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CA, North Coast, CA128 from Navarro Pt. to Cloverdale. Many parts of 128 are very nice, but this is the best part by far. Flat, with medium-speed turns. Runs along the Navarro River/Stream/Creek along here, ducking in and out of very dark redwood forests. Sometimes more traffic than one would like (and few places to pass), but the road itself is wonderful.

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CA, Central Coast, Cambria and Cayucos, Santa Rosa Creek Rd, 25 mi. This rural, relatively lightly-traveled road runs east out of Cambria through valleys and farms along California's central coast. Usually no centerline, some broken pavement, but usually clean. Lots of tight turns (<45 mph) near Cambria, but wide open sweepers nearer Cayucos (120+ mph) descending to the coast. Road is listed on local AAA maps.

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CA, CA49 from Sattley to Grass Valley. 77 mi. Widely varied road from tight sections running along a river (great scenery, if you go slow enough to see it) to medium sweepers. Pavement is good to excellent. Lightly traveled. A great diversion from I-80 between Reno and Sacramento. Intersects CA89 at Sattley, which will take you to I-80 at Truckee. (jam) Update: 49 continues south of 80 for quite a ways, and is pretty nice most of the way. Some towns, and traffic, but got for a long ride. The section from 80 to Grass Valley is pretty dull, but the part past Grass Valley is well worth it.

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CA, Norris Canyon Road, Alameda & Contra Costa Counties (near San Francisco). This is somewhat off the beaten track, but I like it because of the twisties. OK, how to get to it. Eastbound on RT 580 from Oakland, till just after the intersection with RT 238. Then take the Crow Canyon Road exit, and follow the signs to Crow Canyon Road: Left at the set of lights at the end of the offramp, cross the freeway, right at the next set, down the hill, and left at the set at the bottom: now you're on Crow Canyon. Stay on Crow Canyon till the speed limit jumps up to 50 (from 35) - that's about 2 to 3 miles. There's a long straight stretch, then a couple of curves, and then the next intersection to the right is Norris Canyon. Gently round the first two curves, then open it up and let it rip. It's about 5 miles all up. You can also get into the other end: get on RT 680 and aim for San Ramon (south from Walnut Creek, or north from San Jose). Take the Bollinger Canyon Exit, head west (turn left at the end of the offramp if you were going north on 680, turn right if you were going south. Go through all the lights, and then look for a four way stop, it's maybe half a mile after the last light - the lights are real close together. Turn left at the four way stop, and you're in at the other end. Don't sweat speed traps - this is so quiet I don't think the police know it exists. There are a couple of areas that have some houses, so I tend to take it easy through those, because if there were some kids playing in the road it could get really messy. (dg) Update: this road has been characterized as "uninteresting" recently (early 1997).

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CA, The Bay Area, I280 running between San Francisco and San Jose. About 45 miles, but ~5 miles at each end is not as beautiful. Four- lane highway with execellent maintanenace. It's a commuters' road so you don't want to be driving on it during the rush hours. Nevertheless, if you can get up early on weekends, it is a very nice road to drive on. You'll see a very different scenery than the (coastal) US Highway 1: picturesque hills by Stanford, $1M mansions, reservoirs, and may vista points. Be sure to drive in both directions, because you'll definitely get a different perspective.

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CA, North-Central, Mosquito Ridge Road Running from Foresthill Rd (itself quite nice for a bit) just east of Auburn, this road ends up at French Meadows Reservior, about 35 miles from the start. A very, very twisty road (600+ turns [yes, we counted them]) a good average speed is 40-45mph) tucked up against a ridge. It climbs from about 1500ft to 5500ft. The very top is closed by snow to all but 4x4s with brave owners from about October to May. Fabulous road, but very unforgiving of mistakes (lots of no-guardrail dropoffs several hundred feet high). Used for logging, this road has bad traffic during the week, but is nearly empty on the weekends.

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CA - For Southern California, which is known to be a mecca for motorcyclists, this may be "the" motorcycling road. An historic stage route through the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles Crest Highway reaches elevations of over 7,000 feet as it wends its way to Wrightwood, CA, a popular ski resort. Always challenging, never predictable, and sometimes downright sinister, this road will tax even an expert rider's skills right to the limit. Sixty-two miles, from La Canada to Wrightwood. Not to be missed if you are in the Los Angeles area.

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CO

 

Durango to Mesan Verde via Silverton, Million Dollar Highway, Ouray, Telluride.  About 200 miles.  While the ride won't last long it will last forever in your memory.  Waterfalls, switchbacks, sheer drop offs fronrier towns are just a few of the places you will pass through.  Leaving Durango go W on 160 then take 145 to Placerville and on to 62.  Get on 550 and head back to Durango.   

 

Denver to Estes Park, CO.

Estes Park over Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountain National Park. about 12,000 foot elevation.

Trail Ridge ends up in Grand Lake, CO. Wonderful road from there to Winter Park.

Winter Park, CO to Idaho Springs, CO and back to Denver.

Total ride time about 4 hours without stops. Usually takes about 8 since you want to stop and take in some of the most breath taking views you've ever seen.

Great twisties from Lyons into Estes parks and of course great twisties in sweepers in the National Forest.

Avoid the weekends if at all possible. To many cages and motor homes to enjoy the twisties very much.

David Duty
Devver, CO
99 R11RT

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Just about any of the back roads from Denver up into the mountains are
great but some of our favorites are:


From Sedalia to Deckers on Hwy 67. Great twisties and then the road
turns to dirt in the Pike National Forest. Even better if you ride a
pair of F650s like we do. From Deckers head up 126 to Bailey exploring
more dirt back roads along the way. From Bailey cut up 285 to Conifer
and then at Conifer take 73 to Evergreen and then cruise down the
twisties to Morrison on 74.

For a quick ride out of Denver the road up to Golden Gate State Park
from Golden is always fun. When you get to the park ride up to Panorama
Point for great views of the Indian Peaks and Long's Peak in Rocky
Mountain National Park

The ride you list already is also a great ride. We did it two weeks
ago. That should tell you how little snow we have had here. If I might
elaborate on what you have on your site already. The best way to get
from Denver to Estes Park is to go out to Golden and then cruise up 93
towards Boulder. This runs along the foot hills and has nice views.
Before you get to Boulder turn west on 72 and head up Coal Creek
Canyon. This is a great twisty mountain road alongside a beautiful
creek. When you get to Nederland stay on 72 and head north. This is
called the Peak to Peak Highway and runs along side the Indian Peaks and
Rocky Mountain National Park. At Raymond the Peak to Peak turns left on
Hwy 7 and continues up to Estes Park. I think the guy who gave you this
ride is talking about taking US 36 all the way from Denver to Estes
Park. This is a pretty trip too, but as he mentions is much more
crowded than the route I gave you.


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Actually I-70 out to Vail is pretty nice. One of my
favorite things about living in Colorado is doing "lunch in
Vail" whenever I feel like it. Note that in non rush hour
this route only takes 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

    That said, if you want some nice two lanes on the way out
take 285 out of Denver to Fairplay, then up 9 to I-70. If
you're tight on time at that point, straight to Vail. If not,
take the obvious loop through Leadville. Without the loop
this route should be doable in your 4-5 hours out.

    You could continue on 285 to 24 instead but 285 past
Fairplay and 24 to Leadville is nothing special by Colorado
standards.

    Leadville qualifies as both historic and off the beaten
path. Old mining town that has pretty much escaped the "let's
go live in the mountains" boom. See Breckinridge for the
opposite example. Vail is also a little plastic.

    While in Vail if you have done the Leadville loop I-70
(again) west through Glenwood Canyon is a nice example of how
to build an Interstate through a very scenic canyon. It would
be spectacular in a ragtop. Glenwood Springs has the historic
Hotel Colorado and the old hot springs fed public pools
(large).

    On the way back you say you have eight hours. If you have
never done Trail Ridge Road, now is your chance. I-70 east to
40 North to 34 (becomes Trail Ridge). This road made a list
of the 10 most scenic roads in the World. This is my
strongest recommendation. Be sure to call the highway patrol
or Rocky Mountain National Park to verify the road is open, as
it can close any time due to snow. Coming down in Estes Park
(home of the historic Stanley Hotel) you have some obvious
choices. The fastest is straight east on 34 to I-25, if
you're pressed for time. Otherwise do any of the more
westerly alternatives.

    Finally if you do (just?) take I-70 either to or from
Vail, do the obvious bypass of the Eisenhower tunnel over
Loveland Pass (Highway 6).

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CO145 from Dolores to Placerville with side trip to telluride, about 75 miles. Dolores is in SW CO just N of Cortez. A twisty ride along the Dolores River and over Lizard Head Pass. Not much traffic. I think everyone else is going to Telluride via the Million Dollar Highway. Can be taken very fast. Beautiful scenery with mountains and river views. It is one of those roads that will make you want to turn around and do it all over again. Be sure to go into Telluride and walk around and see the town.

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CO149 from just W of Gunnison to Baxterville (through imfamous Lake City), must be over 125 miles. The best part of this road is from Spring Creek Pass (el. 10901) to Baxterville. This part runs through a very (!) large and incredibly beautiful valley. Seems to be lightly traveled and can be taken fast. Stop in Creede, another Historic Mining District. The ride from Gunnison to Lake City is not too good. May be better to do this ride from Baxterville northward. Then you get to turn around and do it again. This road is also known as "The Silver Thread" and is only open "in the better parts of the summer...The scenery is absolutely amazing...Lots of great places to stop."]

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CO82 from Aspen to US 24 about 50 miles. Over Independence Pass (el. 12095). What else do you need for a recommendation!

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CO, US50 from Peoblo to Grand Junction.  226 mile
tight runs with long climbs and exhilarating runs up and down the Rockies. Lots of switchbacks and more than a few no-guardrail drop-offs (100's of ft). Be careful of fallen rocks and debris on the road.


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CT

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DE

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FL

 

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Main Map

GA

 

Route 180

In the Georgia mountains is Rt. 180.  Rt. 180 starts at the one intersection in Suches, GA.  180 has two sections.  The section that begins at Suches is a wonderful road.  Not particularly long, say 10 miles, it is also all turns.  Some turns are significant!  All are fun.  180 is a classic N GA mountain road running through the country side heavily tree lined.  A must ride.  The second section of 180 is far more sedate in nature but enjoyable.

 

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Route 60

You pick up Route 60 from Route 5 and it takes you to Suches about 25 miles away.  A classic N. GA mountain road with some open sections as well as many sweepers.  The two lanes are well paved and the scenery is excellent.   Occasionally the local police get tired of the squids and will put up a road check just to slow things down.  But Route 60 is a great road and gets you to Route 180.   Also at the intersection of 180 & 60 is T.W.O. which is a campground for bikes only and a perfect place to meet and hang out with other riders.

 

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Here's a great ride, easily can be a one-day affair from Charlotte, NC,
Atlanta, GA, or anywhere in between... Take SC Rt. 11 (Cherokee Foothills
Scenic Highway) from either end (better from the South end) where it meets I
85... it's a pleasant country ride up to where you can take 178 North
through some of the tightest twisties anywhere... the elevation varies by
about 1000 feet as you worm your way up one ridge, down the other side, then
up again until you hit Rosman, NC. Here you can stay on 178 to Asheville or
take 64 West through some of the biggest Virgin Timber east of the
Mississippi. NC 64 tends to be a little crowded (Buick's, minivans, and SUVs
with cell-phones- look out) and slow depending on the season, but it's worth
it when you get out to the area where you straddle the NC/GA/TN borders.
Pick up a guide book and take your camping stuff- it's easy to spend several
weekends of good riding, hiking & outdoorsy stuff and never run out of new
things to do.

Lance Whittemore

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GA 197

This 2 lane blacktop gently winds it's way north out of Clarkesville for about 37 miles to US 76. It works it's way through farmlands, heavily wooded areas and along Squee River, crossing it several times. This is a great entry into the mountains as it serves as a good warm up for the more twisting roads ahead. It also has very low traffic and beautiful scenery. About halfway you will pass Mark of the Potter, an old grist mill that has been turned into a store specializing in pottery. Everything is made on location and you can even watch their potters at work. Soft drinks are available as well. Further up the road you will skirt the edge of Lake Burton and pass Moccasin Creek State Park. Remember, when you see the sign "Dip In Road" slow down!. Sometimes it's dry and other times it can have a few inches inches of water running across the road. You can't tell until you get right on it.

197 Dead ends into US 76. Turning east (right) will take you to Clayton (about 17 miles). Turning west (left) takes you to Hiawassee (about 24 miles).

Clarkseville is located Southeast from Helen and directly east of Cleveland. It's about an hour and a half north of Atlanta. From Atlanta travel north on Interstate 85. Exit on 985 North. follow past Gainesville where 985 becomes 365. Follow signs to Clarkesville and 197.

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Wayah Bald Road (Ball Road) - A Hidden Jewel

 Wayah Bald Road map

 

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A great series of ridable switchbacks can be found on Hwy 28 as it runs from
Highlands, NC (NC 28) south across the NE corner of GA (GA 28) and on down
towards Walhalla, SC (SC 28)

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HI

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ID

Highway 21   Another great Idaho road, in the southwestern part of the state, is Highway 21. This road starts in Boise and makes a beautiful, twisty run through Idaho City ( a RAT site ! ), Lowman, and Stanley.
The Sawtooth Wilderness Area surrounds this pretty little town, throwing jagged Alp-like peaks up into the sky, and their appearance on your horizon during the last third of this leg will definitely strain your neck muscles !
From Stanley you can turn right onto Hwy.75 and go toward Sun Valley and on to Shoshone (another RAT site). Several miles out of Stanley is Redfish Lake, which is a must-see. If you choose to turn left, you will take Hwy.75 up to Hwy.93, proceeding through Salmon and on into Montana.
From a biker's perspective, this is heaven !! For the record, I ride a '92 R100GS/PD, and I have the good fortune to live near Idaho City. You have a GREAT site....I just found it and will use it frequently as an excuse to "just go for a little ride."

 

The Lo Lo Pass

Heading west begins just outside Missoula Montana and crosses Idaho.  If you can visualize huge ponderosa pines and a stream to kill for hundreds of miles and miles , then you have been on the Lo Lo Pass.  The Lo Lo Pass is not heavily developed so you get the distinct feeling of going back into time.   Keep a sharp eye for natural hot springs open to the public and NOT commercialized.   Heading from Missoula you will find your first hot springs about 12 miles on the pass and requiring a pleasant 1 mile walk back into a beautiful virgin forest.

And Voni adds

On highway 12 - LoLo Pass - at Lowell is the Three Rivers Resort. Don't
let the name fool you. Camping is $5 per person per night which include
the pool, hot tub and Jacuzzi as well as a restaurant overlooking the
river. Heaven!

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IL

 

Take the Great River Road, IL 100 up river out of Alton along the
Mississippi, through Grafton, past Pere Marquette State Park. When you
hit the IL 16 intersection, go left. Stay on IL 100. When you cross
the bridge across the Illinois River, go left into Hardin. Have lunch
or dinner at the River Dock, After your meal, go left as you leave the
restaurant and go to Brussels. Take the ferry (free) across the
Illinois River, go right and head back to Alton. Great ride, great
food.  Kenn Neher

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IN

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KS

 

If you're lucky enough to be near Alma, you'll enjoy taking 99 south out
of town. Curves. In Kansas. Eventually you'll run into 4 which you
can take east through the Flint Hills and back to Topeka. Some places
you can almost feel natives watching from horseback on the prairie
hills. Or continue west on 4 till you run into 177. Taking this road
south will run you through Council Grove - packed with history. And
further south you'll come to Cassiday, the Prairie Chicken Capital of
the World. If it's the first Sunday of the month and it's in the
morning you'll be surprised at the number of bikes that come together,
trade secrets of Kansas travel pleasures and head out by noon.

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KY

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LA

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ME

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MD

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MA

 

General Region: Bar Harbor
Title: Island Loop
County(s): Hancock
Mileage: 65 miles
Type of Ride: Quick fix; leisurely day ride
When to Ride: Best time of year is between April and October. Note: There is a swell of tourist activity in July and August (3-5 million); ride in Spring and Fall to avoid the masses.
Terrain: Mountainous
Road Conditions: Two-lane freshly repaved roads
Warnings: No Helmet Law; deer on the island

 

DIRECTIONS:
Roads Traveled: Route 3, Route 102, Route 102A, Route 198, Route 3
Starting Point: Thompson Island Information Center- Route 3 in Trenton
South

On Route 3; cross the bridge

South West

On Route 102 from the bridge through Pretty Marsh, Seal Cove, and Bass Harbor

Continue

On Route 102A around Seawall to Southwest Harbor

South East

On Route 198

Continue

On to Route 3 and follow the loop through Seal Harbor, Otter Creek, and around to Bar Harbor

 

 

Biker Friendly Establishments:
  • The Old Flame BBQ Pit and Tap House, 131 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor
    (207) 288-2800
    BBQ, Live Music Wednesday and Saturday evenings, Karaoke on Monday and Thursday, open mic on Fridays for all you riders who need a singing fix
  • The Hungry Bear Restaurant, US Route 1 @ Route 3 in Hancock
    (207) 422-2200
    Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner- BBQ and fried seafood- Great Eats!

 

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Quabbin reservoir - loop total 56 miles.
The Quabbin reservoir was built in the 20's and 30's by flooding a valley
which house 4 towns. everyone and everything in the towns were
moved. this included exhuming all the cemeteries. There are still remains
of some of the roads and foundations of houses that were on hills that were
covered with water, these hills are now islands in the Quabbin.

You can make this a nice loop by starting in North New Salem, Mass at the
intersection of Rt. 122 and rt 202. head south on rt 202, the reservoir
will be on your left, this road has a posted speed limit of 45 - 55 mph
and is heavily patrolled on weekends. take this about 25 miles south to
the intersection of rt 202 & rt 9. this segment has the area historical
society at the intersection of rt 116 and rt 202.

Take Route  9 east about 10 miles west to Ware, MA, along this segment is a
turnoff to Windsor Damn which damns up the southern section of the
Quabbin. This segment also has the Quabbin cemetery where all the bodies
were moved to.

At Ware, take Rt. 32 north about 12 miles to Gilbertville, Mass.
Take Rt. 32a north to the intersection of Rt. 122
Take Rt. 122 to the end/beginning intersection with Rt. 202


Rt 30 and rt 101 thru Vermont are also very nice, I'll send a road report
after I ride them again and noting where the interesting sites are. up
until now, I've only paid attention to the twisty parts.

Dave

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Another fantastic road in Mass.
This one has both great twisties and at least 5 RAT sites

Starting at rt 2 & I 91 in Greenfield Mass head west on rt 2.
Not more then 1 mile on left will be the Greenfield Village
Museum (picture in mail
Keep heading west to Charlmont Mass, on the eastern side is the Big
Indian Shop,
On the western side is the "Hail to the Sunrise" park. this is a really
neat site. I is a tribute to the Mohawk Indians (rt 2 in this area is
called the Mohawk trail) it has .... over 100 memorial plaques to whites
and Indians who made this tribute possible. (picture in mail)
Then on thru Florida, Mass on the right will be a tribute to members of
the Elks club who died in "The World War" (note it doesn't say 1st or
2nd), dedicated in 1923.
Just beyond this point is the hairpin turn,
just past the center of North Adams maybe 1 - 2 miles on the left is the
entrance to Mt Greylock, which is the highest point in Mass. (picture in mail)


Not on this route (about 15 miles east of Greenfield, Mass is the town of
Erving, on the western side of town is someone who always puts different
dressed scarecrows in the field in different motifs. it usually changes
with the seasons. today they were dressed in college sweats and held a
sign that said "thanks for Visiting" the letters on their sweatshirts
spelled out "E R V I N G". picture in mail


Dave

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MI

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MN

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MS

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MO

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MT

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NE

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NV

Las Vegas to Yosemite via Death Valley, Lone Pine, Bishop, Lee Vining.  Distance 450 miles.  This is an exciting, frightening, grueling , exhilarating , fascinating, inspiring and humbling ride.  Leaving Las Vegas you will take the following roads to Yosemite.  Route 160 to 190 to 136 to 395 to 158.   grab your camera and ride and enjoy one terrific ride

 

NV, US50 from Ely to Fallon. 294mi. Included only because of its oddity (and its usefulness in avoiding I-80). Marked as a "scenic road", the only scenery evident is scrub brush, salt flats and the occasional cattle guard. Long straight stretches broken by infrequent (but really nice) mountain sections. Called "The Loneliest Road in America" for good reason. You might see 15 other cars along the entire length. Once upon a time, you could go very fast along this road, but Neveda recently equipped their Highway Patrol with 5.0 Mustangs, and their once lenient attitude towards speed is history (Don't ask how I know this). Get gas at every opportunity, especially on a bike. Obey the ridiculous speed limits in the towns or you will get nailed.

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NV 266/CA 168 from Housetrailer of Ill Repute, NV, to Big Pine, CA. Two very different roads, cf. William Least Heat Moon's comment in Blue Highways about how state lines were so often drawn along physiographic boundaries. NV 266 offers lawless scoundrels an opportunity for classic "both feet on the floor" Western driving, to borrow Gordon Baxter's line, with just enough wide sweepers to keep things interesting. CA 168 is a completely different kind of Western classic: steep and twisty with few if any cops, other drivers, guardrails, or emergency medical services: just you and Goodyear against Newton and Darwin

Westbound -- the downhill direction -- is highly recommended; eastbound looks like a slow, brutal grind in first and second with the smells of Prestone and clutch lining competing for the annihilation of your mood. There seems to be some 4WD/dirt-bike activity near the bottom. I don't recall gas or services being available anywhere on either road, so tank up in Goldfield or Beatty, NV. Afterwards? In winter, be prepared to ponder how the Sierra Nevada got its name as you make a long run up or down US 395 after reaching Big Pine; in the summer there are more-direct options. As always when barnstorming the "American outback," be mindful of cattle or game in the road; neglected road surfaces; and the waddling war wagons of the Winnebago tribe.

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NH

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NJ

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NM

Roads to ride
• Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway (includes U.S. 70 from Ruidoso
Down to Hondo (22 miles), N.M. 48 from Ruidoso to Capitan (25 miles) and
U.S. 380 from Capitan to Hondo (12 miles). This ride includes historical
sites, farm and ranching valleys and high mountain communities.
• State Road 220 From Alto through Fort Stanton to U.S. 380 (20 miles).
This ride takes you past the awe-inspiring Spencer Theater, the Ruidoso
airport, the only Merchant Marine cemetery in the United States and
through Fort Stanton, the former home of Buffalo Soldiers, Kit Carson,
German prisoners of war and tuberculosis patients.
• N.M. 532 (Ski Run Road - 12 miles). Ski Run Road takes you through the
Lincoln National Forest and Mescalero Apache Reservation on 12 miles of
twists and turns. The road climbs to almost 12,000 feet, then drops
slightly before ending at Ski Apache. There are several pull outs and
scenic views of the valley below.
• N.M. 244 from U.S. Highway 70 to Cloudcroft (29 miles). One of the
most impressive rides in the area, N.M. 244 winds through the Mescalero
Apache Reservation in a series of sweeps and twisters, culminating just
east of Cloudcroft. Watch the sharp curve at Elk Silver, and keep an eye
out for animals, both wild and domestic.
• N.M. 246 (Pine Lodge Road) from Capitan to Roswell (82 miles). This
back way from the home of Smokey Bear to the home of alien visitors is a
narrow two lane that crosses the Capitan Mountains then travels west in
swoops and sweeps along the north side of the Capitan Wilderness, ending
in the plains west of Roswell.
• N.M. 37 from N.M. 48 to U.S. 380 (14 miles). N.M. 37 starts in the
mountains just north of Ruidoso then winds west to Angus, where you can
take the cutoff to Bonito lake. Continuing on N.M. 37 you’ll have views
of the northern end of the Tularosa Basin and the Malpais before
dropping down to Nogal and U.S. 380.

By Karen Boehler
Ruidoso news sports editor

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Motorcycle rentals
Ruidoso Motorsports
427 Mechem Drive
630-1212
www.ruidosonet/motorsports
Available: Yamaha V-Star Classic, Yamaha Road Star
Cost: $129 plus tax/day; $300 plus tax/3 days; $600 plus tax/week
Riders must be age 25 or over and have a valid motorcycle license.
Riders must have recent experience riding motorcycles 650cc or larger
and must have available credit to authorize $1,000 collision damage
deposit.
Scooters available at low rates: Honda Passport, Yahama Zuma

By Karen Boehler
Ruidoso news sports editor

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By Karen Boehler
Ruidoso news sports editor

The question is not whether to ride your motorcycle in south central New
Mexico, it’s where.
Whether you’re looking for a series of tight twisties that take you
through pine forests, or long sweepers through an agricultural and
artistic valley, or a stop-as-you-go historical tour, Lincoln, Otero and
Chavez counties offer roads for every rider.
Ride the back streets through the Village of Ruidoso — many offer just
as much scenic beauty and riding excitement as anything you’ll find
further off the beaten path.
For views, you can’t beat Ski Run Road. Highway 70 through the Hondo
Valley may be busier than other roads you’ll ride, but if you’re looking
to see the lifeblood of the area — or check out some artistic
masterpieces — it can’t be beaten.
U.S. 380 offers rides gentle sweeps and the chance to check out such
historical sites as the birthplace of Smokey Bear and Billy the Kid’s
home town of Lincoln. And no matter where you ride, there’s always good
food at the beginning. middle and end of your ride.
If you find yourself in Ruidoso without an iron mount and get the itch
to roam, you’re in luck.
Ruidoso Motorsports at 427 Mechem rents Yamaha V-Star 650s and Road Star
1600s. Owner Ronny Smith keeps a stock of six V-stars and one or two
Royal Stars in inventory, and said there’s usually a bike available for
rent.
This year, Smith will also have scooters available for anyone just
wanting to scoot around town.
All rental rates include insurance and a DOT approved helmet (not
required in New Mexico.) Rental requires a current motorcycle license
and a collision damage deposit by cash or credit card
Motorcycle rallies have been a part of Ruidoso for the past 50 years,
and a duo of rallies bookend when many think of as the “riding season.”
(Although weather conditions are fine enough that local riders can be
seen aboard their scoots 12 months a year.)
The Golden Aspen Rally has been around for 30 years, starting as the
Aspencade and later the Ruidoso Motorcycle Festival.
Starting the third Wednesday of every September, the rally attracts
thousands of motorcyclists and their families from across the country.
Last year, 4,858 riders registered for the rally. Another 21,000
participated in one or more of the activities and estimates were that
more than 25,000 bikers visited the area during the rally.
Riders came from 40 states and three foreign countries. A couple won the
long distance solo contest by riding their bikes from Idaho — 1,902
miles — and the oldest rider was 84 years old.
This year’s rally will begin Sept. 18 and run through 21. Events include
parades, seminars, test rides, poker runs, a trade show, bike judging,
field events and games, stunt shows, lots of food and drink and new this
year, vintage motorcycle dirt track races at Ruidoso Downs Race Track
and Casino
As a counterpoint to the September rally, the Aspencash Poker Run and
Rally is held the third weekend in May.
For information on either rally, contact the Golden Aspen Rally
Association, P.O. Box 1458, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88355-1458 or call
1-800-452-8045.
If a smaller organized event is more your style, professional
photographer and motorcyclist John Hershey offers guided motorcycle
tours designed to experience the rustic beauty of the scenic Southwest
and improve your photography skills.
The tours begin at Hershey’s adobe style home on 10 acres in Alto, then
take riders through southern or northern New Mexico, and, once a year,
to Copper Canyon in Mexico. Besides the great riding , Hershey creates
photographic opportunities provides photographic instruction and
coaching throughout the tour.
Participants must supply their own motorcycles, riding gear, gasoline,
35 mm camera and equipment and personal effects. Hershey supplies the
rest. (Ruidoso Motorsports does rent bikes for Hershey’s tours.)
Prices begin at $1,500 double occupancy. Each week-long tour is limited
to six riders.
For more information, contact John Hershey, P.O. Box 1015, Alto, New
Mexico 88312, phone (505) 336-1901 or e-mail at sales@photomoto.com

Info box:

Motorcycle rentals
Ruidoso Motorsports

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NM, US-64 between Tres Piedras and Taos.
From Santa Fe, you can approach this road one of two ways. For both routes, first take US -285 to Espanola. From there, you can take:

  1. US -84 towards Chama. Approximately ten miles before Chama, you will enter the village of Tierra Amarilla. In Tierra Amarilla, turn east onto 64. The road will start up through a series of great turns toward the top, which lies at about 10,000 ft. From the rest area at the top, you can look back at Jawbone Mountain and the valleys below. Continuing on toward Tres Piedras, you will pass Hopewell lake, a nice place for a picnic. Past Tres Piedras, 64 leads into the west side of Taos.
  2. State road 68 through the Rio Grande valley and Taos. Riding 68 north toward Taos, you can stop at numerous sites along the way and watch the white-water rafters go down the river. While in the canyon, keep an alert eye for rocks in the road, as the walls are very steep and this is a regular event. Passing through Taos, turn west on 64 toward Tres Piedras. West of Taos, stop and enjoy the view at the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. After the bridge, continue on to Tres Piedras and the reverse of route #1. A side trip on route #1 could include the ten miles to Chama, where you can see the Cumbres and Toltec railroad, with restored steam locomotives.

Be sure to note that if the weather permits, 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla is spectacular during the last part of September, when the aspens and oaks are in full color.

map

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NM, NM152 One of the favorite rides of Southern New Mexico riders is State Route 152 through the Black Range. On the Eastern side start off of Interstate 25 by Caballo. Ride from the Rio Grande valley up the desert and into a twisting road. First stop is Hillsboro, like all the other towns an old mining community. There is an interesting old museum and a great little bakery about two miles West. From Hillsboro continue West heading into the mountains on what becomes a very twisty and beautiful road. Keep you eyes out for falling rock and stray cows are a possibility. Emory Pass is at the top of the road and affords some great views of where you have been. From there continue West towards Silver City or if you want to head South Route 61 is another beautiful valley road that leads towards Interstate 10.

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As an alternate, if one doesn't want to stray to far off I25 go to Hillsboro and then head South on State Route 27. Big sweepers, no traffic, a few free ranging beasts, ghost towns, a great ride. To head back to I25 take Rte 26 to Hatch the Chile capital of the world.

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NM, Rt 4, Santa Fe to Jemez Pueblo. Mostly tight twisties, including a few reverse-camber launchpads, and a lot of elevation change. Watch for hikers and bicyclists, and be patient with flatlanders holding onto a rented steering wheel for dear life. Beware the microwave money harvest in Los Alamos, any pueblo, and Rt. 44 from the Rt. 4 junction to Albuquerque. Canyons, trees, forests, and (by local standards) a river. Well-maintained but don't count on it being open "over the top" in winter.

 

 

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A short trip through NM. Start in Las Cruces. Take state highway 70/82 across White Sands nissile range. Look out for the flashing lights that indicate the range is in use. They close the highway for up to an hour! Stop at the White Sands national monument, half way to Alamogordo. After passing through Alamogordo, take a right on highway 82 up to Cloudcroft. You'll pass through the only tunnel in the state of New Mexico. You'll also go from high desert (5000') to high mountain (9000+'). Break out the windbreakers in Cloudcroft, it gets cool in the evening. Take a right just before Cloudcroft and head towards the Sunspot National Observatory, where you can walk around the labs and see the researchers working with the telescopes. In Cloudcroft, you can spend the night in The Lodge. It's an old railroad lodge that has been converted into a hotel. Make sure you ask for the key to the tower room just before sunset. Bring a drink up to the tower room and enjoy the view over the valley below. The next day, follow highway 24 over to Ruiodoso. If it's summer, you should be able to catch the horse races at the track. If it's winter, there's skiing on a nearby mountain. The mountains are great, the curves are a blast.

 

 

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NM, AZ, US 180 fromDemin, NM to Holbroke,AZ.  A road you could drive fast, but which I drive for scenery and relaxation. It begins with about 30 miles of pencil-straight desert two-lane, then climbs into the Gila Mountains at Silver City. There you can indulge a classic Western touring experience mentioned elsewhere on this page -- gaping at a mining pit of stupendous size while your girlfriend wonders what she ever saw in you. Not to worry; you'll soon be in for 200 miles of beautiful mountain and high-grasslands scenery, including some of the surprising amount of tall timber in the desert Southwest.

 

 

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NY

 

Hawk's Nest is a short, snakelike section of road that runs along the
Delaware River as part of Route 97, with s-curves that may tax a car's
handling, but can be practically straight lined by any bike (if there
were no oncoming traffic). It is less than a mile but it's so stunning
it'll take your breath away - a million car commercials are filmed
there.

Go to and through Port Jervis, NY on 97 and you'll be at Hawk's Nest.

Regards,

Barry ('98 R1100RS)
Roslyn Heights, New York

Ride hard and ride well.


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NC

 

Here's a great ride, easily can be a one-day affair from Charlotte, NC,
Atlanta, GA, or anywhere in between... Take SC Rt 11 (Cherokee Foothills
Scenic Highway) from either end (better from the South end) where it meets I
85... it's a pleasant country ride up to where you can take 178 North
through some of the tightest twisties anywhere... the elevation varies by
about 1000 feet as you worm your way up one ridge, down the other side, then
up again until you hit Rosman, NC. Here you can stay on 178 to Asheville or
take 64 West through some of the biggest Virgin Timber east of the
Mississippi. NC 64 tends to be a little crowded (Buick's, minivans, and SUVs
with cell-phones- look out) and slow depending on the season, but it's worth
it when you get out to the area where you straddle the NC/GA/TN borders.
Pick up a guide book and take your camping stuff- it's easy to spend several
weekends of good riding, hiking & outdoorsy stuff and never run out of new
things to do.
Lance Whittemore

 

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What is Deal's Gap? It's the Dragon's lair of 318 turns in 11 miles. It's the curves, twists and turns of his tail, along with a fiery bite if you get too close! It's also one of the best places to test your skills and courage on a motorcycle and meet a lot of people with the same goal…Slay the Dragon! Nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Deals Gap tends to be a very popular spot among motorcycle riders of all sorts. Whether you're in for a nice slow stroll or a hot fast ride…beware!!! The Dragon sometimes wins!


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Crossroads of Time.

Motorcycles Only Campground. And
great food! Pete and Doris treat motorcyclists like Kings and Queens!
On US 129 north of Robbinsville, NC. At the south end of the famous
Deal's Gap.

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A great series of ridable switchbacks can be found on Hwy 28 as it runs from
Highlands, NC (NC 28) south across the NE corner of GA (GA 28) and on down
towards Walhalla, SC (SC 28).


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ND

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OH

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OK

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OR

Oregon's 38 Mile Historic Columbia River Highway, which hugs the mighty river as it passes through the scenic Columbia River Gorge.

 

Oregon's 140 mile Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, which connects Crater Lake, the nation's deepest lake, and other geological marvels

 

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PA


Don't forget the Delaware Canal. from Washington's Crossing north to Easton,
Pennsylvania. Route 32 running alongside the canal and river is a favorite
ride for motorcyclists from the Philadelphia area. The "Great American
Grill" at the junction of 32 and 611 is a biker's eatery.

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RI

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SC

 

Here's a great ride, easily can be a one-day affair from Charlotte, NC,
Atlanta, GA, or anywhere in between... Take SC Rt 11 (Cherokee Foothills
Scenic Highway) from either end (better from the South end) where it meets I
85... it's a pleasant country ride up to where you can take 178 North
through some of the tightest twisties anywhere... the elevation varies by
about 1000 feet as you worm your way up one ridge, down the other side, then
up again until you hit Rosman, NC. Here you can stay on 178 to Asheville or
take 64 West through some of the biggest Virgin Timber east of the
Mississippi. NC 64 tends to be a little crowded (Buick's, minivans, and SUVs
with cell-phones- look out) and slow depending on the season, but it's worth
it when you get out to the area where you straddle the NC/GA/TN borders.
Pick up a guide book and take your camping stuff- it's easy to spend several
weekends of good riding, hiking & outdoorsy stuff and never run out of new
things to do.

Lance Whittemore

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A great series of ridable switchbacks can be found on Hwy 28 as it runs from
Highlands, NC (NC 28) south across the NE corner of GA (GA 28) and on down
towards Walhalla, SC (SC 28).

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SD

Try a ride on South Dakota 16A. Go south from Mt Rushmore on it, nice curves(including a couple of 270 degree turns, figure that out), a couple of tunnels and a senic ride through Custer State Park. John Oldham

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Black Hills
Title: Early Riser!(Sturgis, Spearfish Canyon, Hill City, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Hwy, Mount Rushmore, Rapid City)
County(s): Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Custer
Mileage: Approx 175 miles (Ride time 6-8 hours)
Type of Ride: Day Ride
When to Ride: Best time of year is June, July, and August
Terrain: Hills and forests
Road Conditions: Well-travelled secondary roads
Warnings: No helmet or eye protection laws. Watch for deer, especially at night.

 

DIRECTIONS:
Roads Traveled: I-90, Hwy 14A/Spearfish Canyon, Hwy 85, Hwy 385/Black Hills Parkway, Hwy 16, Hwy 87/Needles Hwy, Hwy 244, Hwy 16A, Hwy 16, 190
Starting Point: Sturgis
North West

On I-90 for approximately 22 miles

South

On 14A through Spearfish Canyon to Cheyenne Crossing

South East

On Hwy 85 to Pluma

South

On Hwy 385 (Black Hills Parkway) for approx. 50 miles to Custer

East

On Hwy 16 past Bismarck Lake

North

On Hwy 87 (Needles Hwy) for 14 miles

East

On Hwy 244 to Mount Rushmore National Monument

North

On Hwy 16A which turns into Hwy 16

Continue

On to Rapid City

North West

On I90 for 30 miles back to Sturgis

 

 

Biker Friendly Establishments:
  • The Broken Spoke: Sturgis (605) 347-4313
    PARTY CENTRAL!
  • One Eyed Jack's: 1304 Main St., Sturgis (605) 423-4120
    Live Music, excellent menu, outdoor bars open during the summer months, and a huge patio deck!
  • The Old Style Saloon #10: 657 Main St., Deadwood (605) 578-3346
    Blackjack, hi-low split, stud and hold 'em poker, live music, full bar.
    The Deadwood social club is upstairs for fine Northern Italian cuisine, and don't miss the Wild Bill Hickok assassination reenactment 4 times daily at 1, 3, 5,and 7pm. If that doesn't rock your world, there's an entire museum to entertain you.
  • The Buffalo Bar: 658 Main St., Deadwood (605) 578-1300
    Family-style steakhouse with three full bars and live music, open 24 hours.
Things to See and Do:
  • Bridal Veils Falls- Spearfish Canyon
  • Homestead Gold Mine Tours- Lead
  • Black Hills Mining Museum- Lead
  • Gambling is legal!- Deadwood
  • Crazy Horse Memorial- Hwy 385
  • Custer State Park
  • Needles Hwy- Hwy 87
  • Mount Rushmore- Hwy 244
  • Keystone

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TN

 

Deals Gap

Deal's Gap. 318 curves in 11 miles. US 129 west of Great Smokey
Mountain National Park and north of Robbinsville, NC.

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TX

 

Willow City Loop Road
Approximately 50 miles due west of Austin, Texas or northeast of Fredricksburg. Take Hwy 16 NE from Fredricksburg. 12 to 15 miles to FM 1323. Go east to Willow City. Where the highway makes a sharp 90 degree turn in the middle? of town (this is a very small community) turn onto the Willow City Loop Road. The road is a one lane asphalt road in good condition. It winds through the Hill Countries few true mountains. This is a great ride through red granite hills and mountains. Great scenery. There are numerous cattle crossings and a few low water crossings; but, all are in good shape. Please stay on the road. Although the road is state maintained it crosses numerous private working ranches. Eventually, the road reconnects with Hwy. 16. The run can also be made from north to south but finding the northern intersection with highway 16 is difficult as it is not well marked. A note on low water crossings: under most conditions you will not have to ride through water, this is semi-arid country and crossings are normally dry. If a crossing is underwater as a result of an upstream rainstorm, get off and take a break! These things can be deeper than they look and dangerous when flooded! The water will drop below the road in a short time.

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Luckenbach, Texas
Five or six miles southeast of Fredricksburg. on US 290 (or US 290 west from Austin), turn south on FM 1376. Four or five miles south on FM 1376 arrive at the famous town of Luckenbach of Willy Nelson fame. Luckenbach in not directly on FM 1376 but is on a little loop side-road on the South side of the highway.

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Texas Hill Country (west of Austin and extending northward from San Antonio over 100 miles)
Hill Country in general is tremendous hill riding. Texas highways and Farm-to-Market (FM) roads are generally very well maintained. The region features extensive camping, lakes, wineries, German, Czech, and French communities, caves, parks, dining and recreation. At the height of summer the heat can be a problem although in general the nighttime temperatures are frequently comfortable for campers. The spring and fall however are incomparable and the region is comfortable touring during most winter months for those rider acclimated and equipped for northern riding.

Paul Smith

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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

UT

 


Hey all.... We had a thread around the end of June re: Utah started by
Flash Gordon. I believe that he is on that trip right now. My most
favorite and resilient riding lady & I went San Francisco- Tucson-South
Utah-Reno & return. It was a very lyrical trip but I'll spare you my prose
and well.... just the facts, ma'm.

* Hwy 12, Torrey/Escalante. YOW! Chuckwagon Lodge,Torrey. Bike friendly,
Hot Tub (bruised/cracked rib from a low speed tumble). Campground West end
of town near.....

*Cafe Diablo, Torrey.... Better than ever, world class food, a little
spendy but we stayed over a second night just to feed again. Say hello to
Gary Pankow, owner/chef. Try the Root Beer Ice Cream.

*Trail Head Cafe, Escalante. East end of town, blue & white, picket fence,
cool patio, cool kids from Park City, struggling at new business,
smoothies & sandwiches. I told them that there would be more BMW folks
following for snacks & local info.

*Calf Creek Canyon campground on hwy 12. 3mi hike to really neat falls.
Watch out for the roadway/spillway through the creek. Alge in the center
(crash #3)

*White Canyon, hwy 95 East of Lake Powell. Informal camping all along
canyon. Watch out for the powdered red Adobe clay dust if you go off the
pavement.. very heavy and evil (crash #2) BTW, Never, Ever fall onto a
beaver tail cactus... VERY EVIL.

*MUST DO...Hwy 261 between Natural Bridges NP & Mexican Hat UT. Gravel
switchback road up/down the butte. It may be one of the best visuals in
America.

*Canyon de Chelly, NE Arizona. Please do this one sometime in your life.
Just plain magic.

*Summer electric/rain storms in AZ also magic. HOWEVER, that darn red Adobe
dust & water turns into some of the slippyist grease. Evil & messy (crash
#1)

***** ARIZONA HIGHWAY PATROL. They're like beer cans & billboards...
they're all over the place. Hwy 77 from Tucson-Show Low. Seems as though
this lovely, deserted and twisty road is used as the training ground for
the AZ HP. It is also a 55mph road. Makes no sense but there you have it.
My enthusiasm got the best of me and I got nipped for 95mph in the 55
zone....still don't think I was going THAT fast but I sure was in the fun
zone. Radar, pacing .... well, it was a clean bust. BUT... I got the
senior discount. My lady took off her helmet and she has the most stunning
head of grey hair. My date of birth is well into AARP land. AZ HP took
mercy on the elders and wrote up 75mph, which kept me out of jail and
allowed me to take a California driving class and mail the certificate to
the Court. Judge Nolan & the AZ HP are dears. BTW, AZ enforces the
insurance requirement.... have your documents ready.

Dave Lezynski         R11RT Blue.
Oakland CA         K75C Black

 

When riding through Utah last year I thought they should
simply declare the whole State south of I-70 a National Park
and be done with it :-).

    That said, the classic Utah ride is 12 from appprox.
Panguitch to Torrey. That puts you next to Capitol Reef
National Park, which is _a good thing_. Along the way, a side
trip at Boulder, down the Burr Trail, is highly recommended;
at least until the pavement ends.

Bob Denver!

 

 

Folks-

If you end up staying in Torrey, UT (next to Capital Reef NP) you HAVE to go to a place called the Cafe Diablo. The chef is a guy who works in a big ski resort in the winter and runs this small restaurant during the summer months. The food is not cheap, but it is some of the best I have ever eaten.

Jim Moore

 

 

Wellll.... Southern Utah is the one of the most special places on the
planet. If I only have 5 days or so that's where I motor for a head
cleaning. It seems to be just a hop from the Bay Area. Was there in May
for a quickie and am going back in July with a special XOXOXO. Part of the
Utah fun is the run accross Nevada. Hwy 50 to Ely is uplifting and
VERY speedy. The only patrol I've ever seen in (20) Hwy 50 trips is near
Austin NV..... right smack in the middle of the state. Also, check out the
route thru Yosemite (weekdays only, $10 to pass thru), Tioga Pass, Mono
Lake, Hwy 6/375//93 to Panaca and there you are. Zion, Bryce are
excellent, but if you are into riding with enthusiasm you will not regret
UT #12 from Bryce-Escalante-Torrey.... YOW.... one of the BEST EVER. Get
your map out and go to Mexican Hat UT, head West to the North Rim of the
Grand Canyon. Now you may not be able to do all this in one day, my guess
the RT is about 2000 mi or so, camping and flea bags are excellent, the
drinking laws are a little strange in UT.. But the visuals are just too
much. Check your tire tread... rubber seems to go a bit more quickly...
If you get into a jam Sierra BMW 775-355-0655 in Reno is an excellent
resource. A First Rate Dealership.

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Utah's my specialty. If you'd like more detailed suggestions than those
offered below (no pun intended), let me know and I'll further ablige. Or,
try calling the Utah Travel Council for suggestions on visiting Temple Square
and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ;^)

It gets hot, upwards of over 100°F typically in S. Utah. Southwestern desert
country is generally like that. High desert may be 10° cooler. For the
commoners' exclaimed 'awesome' rides, check out the COG rally's website Utah
2000 rally page at

http://www.concours.org/y2knational/utah.roads.html

If you want breath-taking desert, you'll not be disappointed with these
rides, but take at least a gallon camel pack -- July's torture in many of
those places. The roads COG is suggesting are some of the most striking
landscape paths for the general-Utah-uninformed-first-time-tourist-riders
populus (i.e. you). If you have time or want to make time for the roads only
the "locals" know about (i.e. the *really* good stuff), let me know and I'll
happily provide info. to those with names ;^)

The north-eastern portion of the state is forest (e.g. Uintas), as is part of
the central regions (e.g. Fish Lake NF, Manti LaSalles). Cooler, much.

So what type of terrain do you prefer?
2 lane / 4 lane; avoid interstates unless going for distance / time.

Ride a GS? RT? LT? Truimph
Bonneville?
R11RSL.
1 day CA to UT. 5 days touring through UT. 1 day back to CA. Can definitely
see *some* of the state's highlights in 5 days. If you have a GS, Transalp,
etc. you're in for a real treat (absolutely jaw-dropping scenery, yet decent
dirt/unimproved roads requiring little o/r skill). RT etc., well, you're
limited somewhat (tarmac, effectively).

FYI - 2000 miles will get you to UT and back to SanFran (750 each way = 1500)
690 to st. george. 690 x 2 = 1380.
>with only 500 miles left to spread amongst the UT byways. You can't see a
tremendous amount of landscape in just 500 miles. 300-500 miles per *day*
with slab miles from SF to UT and back in a single day each way might broaden
your horizons, and allow you a real taste of the state. Think about
digesting 3-4,000 miles in that week. Food for thought.
I want to keep my passenger's butt happy. If hers is, mine will be, too.

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When riding through Utah last year I thought they should