Ideas Please:

Yes Springdale is a nice little town. While you're right there in Zion be sure to hike up to the top of Angles Landing.

It looked far too scary to me :eek: I walked up to Observation Point instead and looked down on it from above :blush Followed by a well deserved beer or two at the micro brewery next to the entrance :beerjug:
 
There were a few places where I almost turned around but I forced myself through to the top. This is part way up, probably most of the way up, and that is the path.

 
Angels Landing ? Great fun....

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Which ever way you go, keep an eye on the weather as it can get cold at altitude. GC, Zion and Bryce are high and will have snow but the roads will probably be OK.

My route of choice given good weather would be get across Hoover Dam and then up through the Valley of Fire towards and through Zion.

Head North to Bryce then on Hwy 12 to Capitol Reef NP before heading south on 95 to Mexican Hat and Monument Valley. This is my single favourite days riding anywhere in the US as the scenery is simply jaw dropping and you are right up close and personal with it.

Through Monument Valley and smash it back to Vegas.

Hi Sgt Bilko. I am doing something similar in late April, leaving Vegas on a Thursday afternoon and then riding on a loop to get back to McCarron for about 2pm on Sunday. I am thinking of doing your suggested route but am not quite clear on directions yet. Do you mean over the Hoover Dam and then around the south side of Lake Mead or rather, nipping down to see the Hoover Dam then looping back North to pick up the Northshore Road? From there I can see the route through to Springdale and Zion then up to Capitol Reef.

Mexican Hat and Monument are easy to route too as well and then it looks like a Sunday schlep back to Vegas via Flagstaff.

Any further guidance would be fantastic.
 
I did a 3 day 800 mile loop Vegas to Vegas last week it was perfect......

Sgt Bilks post has a slight error.. from Vegas head north east up the valley of fire... you do the Hoover dam at the end assuming you go clockwise like me

When I get 5 tomorrow I’ll detail the route ... but basically it was Valley of Fire up to Sprindale through Zion - turn right back towards the Grand Canyon via Vermillion cliffs and Lees Ferry... South Rim of GC then down to Williams on R66 - Then through to Kingsman..looping back up to Vegas via the Hoover Dam

800 miles

I grabbed hotels in Springdale, Williams and Kingsman... plenty of choice, budgets and food....

The riding on all three days was exceptional...

I’ll write up a more detailed route tomorrow....

I had the time to head up to Bryce, but it was too cold.


Hi Sgt Bilko. I am doing something similar in late April, leaving Vegas on a Thursday afternoon and then riding on a loop to get back to McCarron for about 2pm on Sunday. I am thinking of doing your suggested route but am not quite clear on directions yet. Do you mean over the Hoover Dam and then around the south side of Lake Mead or rather, nipping down to see the Hoover Dam then looping back North to pick up the Northshore Road? From there I can see the route through to Springdale and Zion then up to Capitol Reef.

Mexican Hat and Monument are easy to route too as well and then it looks like a Sunday schlep back to Vegas via Flagstaff.

Any further guidance would be fantastic.
 
Here’s a brief Map..
 

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......
 

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Couple more...
 

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Actual Route i followed - which i found to have all the right credentials for a three day trip.....

Day 1 = Leaving LV Harley Davidson which is behind McCarran Airport on Las Vegas Boulevard i headed south east onto I215 direction of Henderson cross over the I93/515 onto the 564 heading east at Lake Las Vegas - Pick up Northshore Road heading north Follow this through the NP Valley of Fire ( NP Fee $20) its circa 80 miles to the I15 and i saw one other car.....at I15 turn right to Hurricane from here pick up the road to Springdale - this was my first night - around 220 miles and having left at 1030 i arrived around 1630 -

Day 2 = From Springdale i rode up the hidden canyon to the top and back ( Shuttle bus only in summer - cars bikes allowed in winter) ( NP Fee $20) followed the mountain road to Mount Carmel Junction on the 89 - the 1 mile tunnel carved in 1920 that has no lights was err interesting - ( you turn left on the 89 for Bryce or Right for the Grand Canyon - it was -3 at this time and pushing -12 in Bryce - so i headed south... ( Bike trip into the mountains in January!!! ) to Kanab - then Fredonia - at Fredonia you take the left fork onto the 89A to Marble Canyon - this takes you past the North Rim and over some stunning hills and forests - at Marble Canyon you cross the Colorado on the Navejo Bridge - quite a sight and worth stopping to walk over the pedestrian bridge - 600 foot to the river below.....

then follow the 89A south past Vermillion cliffs ( WoW) until you hit the 89 turn right to Cameron, here turn right onto the 64 and follow the Grand Canyon for a fair few miles - loads of stops and overlooks - but fill up in Cameron as no fuel stops in NP ( Entrance on a bike $30) follow the 64 to Williams and R66 ( Williams is a great town full of history and cowboy/R66/Wild West stuff) i stayed here the night - pushed over 350 miles today...

Day 3 Route 66 to Kingman follow the Historic R66 markers and you will weave to Kingman only going into I40 for a short distance - head for Peach Springs - i broke off and rode around the Indian Reservation for 40 miles or so - i would not repeat that,.....

I stayed in Kingman that night..

Day 4 - left Kingman on the 93 to Boulder City - over the Hoover dam and back into Henderson - then a short hop back to LV HD.

On Day 1 i left at 10:30 and on day 4 i returned at 10:30 - Three nights away - Sprindale/Williams/Kingman - 804 miles ridden highest point just over 7,000 feet, coldest part -3C, Warmest part 22C.........$70 in NP fees - Petrol around $18 to fill the Harley with a range of 275 miles - stayed in Motels paid around $50 a night all clean and fresh ( Arizona Inn in Kingman is a great location, cheap and very clean - handy for restaurants and Historic downtown )

Hate to be disparaging but when riding on Reservations watch out for erratic driving - it was the only time i saw it and on a bike etc etc.....

Best trip i've ever made.........
 
Very nice summary of your brief ride, in arguably the most scenic area of the US.
 


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