I've just registered for the Colorado HU Travellers Meeting 26-29 Aug, and have taken an extra 7 days on the front end to wander around.

I'll be starting my trip in Biloxi MS and figure I'll need 3 days to get there (I'm on a DRZ400... so would like to stick to back roads) so that leaves 4 to wander and take pictures.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any "you can't miss" or "you gotta stop here" 's.

I had been toying with running over to the Grand Canyon and maybe up to the salt flats... but I think those would eat a lot of time getting to and from... if there were places closer I could see more. after all I have seen the Grand Canyon and the Salt Flats just not on Two wheels and not in 20 years.

Ebbs
I know the area quite well, dirt and pave, but will focus on some pavement ideas, if dirt is what you are after, let me know.

Somehow you'll be coming in near or on 160, while Wolf creek pass is great, but I like 149 up to Lake City and near Gunnison and over to Montrose. Or a loop to Buena Vista, Aspen, Redstone, Montrose and to Silverton.

The Alpine loop: Siverton, Telluride, Dolores, Durango and back is fantastic.

A loop out of Cortez to Hovenweep N. Mon. to Bluff, Monument Vly, Kayenta and back via Durango.
or add Grand Canyon No. RIm from Mon Vly then up to Zion or Bryce NP on Rt 12 to Torrey down to Blanding and back.

You could do all of this in about 4 days moving along, and do the Alpine loop while at HU.
If I can help more let me know.
Allen.

sweet... yeah still deciding if i'm gonna pack a set of knobbies or not... I imagine by the time I get there the road tires are gonna be pretty shot as far as off road use

I'm actually planning on heading up to Moab (canyonlands and arches) and heading in from that direction... hwy 90 I believe...

I've got 7 days to wander before the meeting so here's my very soft plan as of today

Aug 19th Home to Lafayette, LA (leaving after work) 3hrs 189 miles
Aug 20th Lafayette, LA to Abilene,TX 9.5hrs 565 miles
Aug 21st Abilene, TX to Gallup, NM 10hrs 625miles
Aug 22nd Gallup, TX to Las Vegas, NV 12hrs 554 miles
Aug 23rd stay the night in Las Vegas
Aug 24th Las Vegas, NV to some place in UT to camp seeing Mt Zion and Bryce canyon. figure 8hrs 400 miles
Aug 25th Camp to Moab(or near there.. again camping)hitting up Glenn Canyon, Arches and canyon land, 8 hrs 2-300 miles
Aug 26th Moab to Silverton 8hrs 300 miles


all time is pure riding time... not including stops for anything.

I'll definitly hit this up while at the meeting.

Like I said above, would be hitting this up from west to east

how does that route sound? still toying with the idea of dropping Vegas off my trip (I have a friend who lives there) as it'd give me 2 days (staying two days there)

I would not attempt to tell someone to go or no to Vegas! Ha. But should you do that, you can go up Fwy to head into Zion and up on 12 and over to Moab. and then go thru Naturita and around to Silverton. That pulls in a lot of my one suggestion. If you have not been to Grand Cyn then hit the S rim from Gallup to Las Vegas?
Allen.
PS: there are tons of dirt of all catagories in and around Silverton, and the Canyonlands/Arches area too.

LOL I'll be staying in Vegas, free lodging and a place to change from 80/20's to DOT Knobbies... I'm planning on riding as much dirt as I can going from Vegas to Silverton... I know it won't be A LOT... but better than nothing.

thinking of doing the White Rim Trail and camping out there... what do you think?

Sorry for delay, yes the White RIm will be a great 150 mile loop and camping will be add to the experience. If you wish to add dirt near Bryce try the Cottonwood rd. and back up Smoky Mt. Rd to Escalante, or add Burr Trail out of Boulder and take the Notom rd. up towards Hanksville. There may be semi organized ride 'suggestions' when at Silverton so check on that.
We may see you there.
Allen.

Ok... cool... yeah I figured that there would probably be some rides going, so I was focusing my personal rides away from Silverton...

Hope to see ya there