Arches nat park

[duneseven]

I am planning a ride from eastern wa to Arches nat park in mid may. I would appreciate any tips as far as what to see when in the area etc. The route at this time is probably across idaho on 12 south on 93, by then Play it by ear from there.
Thanks
Randy

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by duneseven

I am planning a ride from eastern wa to Arches nat park in mid may. I would appreciate any tips as far as what to see when in the area etc. The route at this time is probably across idaho on 12 south on 93, by then Play it by ear from there.
Thanks
Randy

Arches is pretty spectacular. We rode there from Cortez last year during the rally. I don't think we saw everything, we were a little pressed for time. It's right outside Moab Utah, which is a very cool town. Some beautiful country down there. It shouldn't be as hot in May as it was in mid-June. The Moab Brewing Company is a decent place to eat, too.

[Netnorske]

That is one nice route. Once you hit Arco, ID, you may as well bomb over to I-15 then shoot south through Salt Lake City down to Spanish Fork. Stop and say hi to Jared (Utah Motorcyclist) as you will go (literally) right past his place in Orem, UT just before you hit Spanish Fork. From there take 6 through Spanish Fork Canyon to I-70....then east to 191 and ANP. Arches is a really cool place....like South Dakota's Badlands, it's as if you are on another planet.

The run down I-15 is nothing special....lots of traffic thru SLC....but you don't have much choice coming from 93 southbound. That is the route I took down to Cortez, CO. for the SW rally last June. I rode Idaho 93 on my way home. That is one absolutely awesome motorcycle road!

[cactusjack]

If you are in the Moab area, you aren't too awfully far from Monument Valley, another must-see place. Hopefully, it won't be windy! ::) ::)

[usranger74]

Be ready for hot weathre. Take and drink lots of water.

If you are camping, there is a very nice campground in Arches NP.

http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps...ational%20Park

While there you also need to see Canyonland NP wich is next door to Arch.

http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps...ational%20Park

[sodbuster]

The road up the east side of the park (128) from Moab to I-70 is very scenic and a much more interesting route than 191.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by sodbuster

The road up the east side of the park (128) from Moab to I-70 is very scenic and a much more interesting route than 191.

+10,000- This road is probably the best ride in the area! Love it!

Arches is incredible! There are LOTS of amazing places within 150 miles of arches. How much time do you have?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Awesome country.

Scott, did you have a liquid lunch at the brewery?

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

Awesome country.

Scott, did you have a liquid lunch at the brewery?

No, as a matter of fact I did not. I was riding with a group and don't usually imbibe under those circumstances, we still had probably 100 miles to go back to Cortez. I drank iced tea with my halibut (which was very good, by the way). If I'd been sitting around a pool, then I would have sampled their microbrew.

[tombstone]

From I-70 to Moab 191 is uninteresting, a better road is SR 128 along the Colorado River. Take the loop to Castle Valley, then take it again to make sure you didn't miss anything... Trust me it's worth it!

South of Moab is SR 211 into Canyonlands NP. It's a dead end and beautiful both ways.

SR 46 east to La Sal Junction is a super road, if you keep going a few miles you run into one of the best roads in the country, Delores Canyon SR 145 in Colorado.

Farther south of Moab is the town of Blanding. If you leave Blanding on SR 95 make sure you have a hankie to wipe off the drool...yes it's that gorgeous! Following 95 to Hanksville (where you can get a Ho made pie, and it's one of my favorite towns in Utah), then through Capital Reef NP to Torrey which will give you access to Ut SR 12 another jaw dropper! That road will take you to the town of Escalante, and then to Bryce Canyon NP. Keep on just a little farther south and you hit Zion NP...........sigh........I could go on.....

Have a great ride!

[duneseven]

A "ho made pie" is this something unique to this area??? I am just kidding ,thanks for the great routes tombstone,

[Netnorske]

+1 on the 128 route along the river to Moab....more out of the way but much more scenic. I rode it into and out of the area and what the others said is true!

[usranger74]

All good suggestions here. But, remember this - on some of those narrow State Roads there are rental RV being driven by folks who like to hog the middle.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by usranger74

All good suggestions here. But, remember this - on some of those narrow State Roads there are rental RV being driven by folks who like to hog the middle.

...and have never driven anything larger than an Audi or Subaru before. Great fun watching them try to park a rented RV.

[Netnorske]

Here are a few shots taken at Arches National Park during the 2010 SW Rally. It is an amazing place for sure.....