Anybody familiar with Utah?

[macx]

Hi, been awhile since I've been on, but am finding so much gorgeous scenery in Utah, and so many neat BMW rallies, I just thought I'd drop a line.

There's one in Torrey, UT, just on the West side of Capitol Reef Nat'l Park on the weekend before Memorial Day and the weekend before Labor Day. Folks come from all over the country, some as far as from upper New York State!

And I stumbled on another one last weekend in Panguitch, UT, put on by the Utah BMW club, Beehive Beemers. I'm very sure there were several hundred bikes there. Saw what one guy thought was a late 60's R69 in pristine shape clear from Ohio!

I'm sure some of you have been into Utah, but just in case - I've had 3 day weekends at my disposal since early May (when I started work on a 3 year solar-steam power plant project south of Vegas) and have been taking advantage of them.

Have written up some info together with some pics I've taken in case anyone is interested.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wmpp3a7z7aknw

Several files in there, the Yellowstone PPT and the Sea Lion video clip is obviously not about Utah, and a couple video clips are from car trips a few years ago, but the scenery is still there! That one early Zion video was how I found out I'm starting a shiny spot on the back of my head! Talk about a SHOCK! OMG!

Lots of Nat'l Park Campgrounds, too, for very economical overnites.

Now let's all get out there and ride! :-) Cheers!

[angellr]

Hi, been awhile since I've been on, but am finding so much gorgeous scenery in Utah, and so many neat BMW rallies, I just thought I'd drop a line.

There's one in Torrey, UT, just on the West side of Capitol Reef Nat'l Park on the weekend before Memorial Day and the weekend before Labor Day. Folks come from all over the country, some as far as from upper New York State!

And I stumbled on another one last weekend in Panguitch, UT, put on by the Utah BMW club, Beehive Beemers. I'm very sure there were several hundred bikes there. Saw what one guy thought was a late 60's R69 in pristine shape clear from Ohio!

I'm sure some of you have been into Utah, but just in case - I've had 3 day weekends at my disposal since early May (when I started work on a 3 year solar-steam power plant project south of Vegas) and have been taking advantage of them.

Have written up some info together with some pics I've taken in case anyone is interested.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wmpp3a7z7aknw

Several files in there, the Yellowstone PPT and the Sea Lion video clip is obviously not about Utah, and a couple video clips are from car trips a few years ago, but the scenery is still there! That one early Zion video was how I found out I'm starting a shiny spot on the back of my head! Talk about a SHOCK! OMG!

Lots of Nat'l Park Campgrounds, too, for very economical overnites.

Now let's all get out there and ride! :-) Cheers!

Nobody lives here and the rides suck in Utah! Now, go away and lets keep this our little secret.

Actually, one of the best riding states with lots of versatility. Yesterday went up through Northern Utah, across Southern Idaho and then through SW Wyoming and back to Salt Lake City. The southern part through the parks or even Moab is a wonderful set of rides as well ... just depends on whether you stay on or off the roads.

[Dr. Strangelove]

you've stumbled onto some seriously fine riding and areas. Been to both the Panguitch and Torrey for sort of extended periods.
Do not miss the Burr Trail, but research it first.
12, 24 need study

there is a Torrey Rally twice a year in Sept and March? May?
You can get more info at BMWST.com

I stayed in motels in both places and could dig up the info if you like.
The Panguitch area is around Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome Basin and you could see pix in my rr "Out West"

I did not do a rr for the Torrey ride, but it is the same (extended) area. That's when I did the Burr Trail. Arguably the prettiest place on Earth; obviously ymmv.
You will not go wrong.

Any particular questions, please ask

John

[sweatmark]

Torrey was the site of our one and only western R1150R Fest some years ago, back when this message board had a lively cast of characters:

<edit - added link>

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1246

Beautiful area, in that wide-open desolate kind of way, just like eastern Oregon and many other parts of the west. Good roads too.

My first iron butt 1000 miler was from Torrey back home, slow and steady (due to nightime storm) 19 hours in the saddle.

[macx]

I understand there's a BMW rally (not really "organized") at Torrey the weekend before
Memorial Day, and again the weekend before Labor Day.

I also stumbled across one by the Utah BMW organization I think it's called Bumblebee Beemers
at the Panguitch park on the north end of town.

I have yet to ride the Burr trail but it is definitely on my short list.

I'm about ready to get a small tent, or even just a sleeping bag/bedroll and a small air mattress
or something and camp out in one of the many Nat'l park campgrounds in that area. The one on
the scenic drive in Capitol Reef is beautiful and peaceful.

Trouble is, I have to ride ~150 miles from south Vegas to get up into SW Utah where it's a little
cooler and where the scenery starts. I HATE that always hot windy trip home on I-15, it's even
hot at 10:00pm but not quite as bad. That truckstop and Indian casino at around MM 75 (?) at the
outlet from Nev Fire or something state park is a godsend stop, wetting the whistle and getting
off the bike for 15 minutes sure makes the rest of the trip more endurable!

Stayed once in Torrey, once in Panguitch. I usually take 2 day trips at the most cuz I'm working
4 days a week south of Vegas, where I'm staying for the duration of the project - not "home" though.
But I've still managed one trip of 1025 miles and one of 850.

For a longer trip into Utah, I like to take off at daybreak Fri AM and get out of NV and thru the Virgin River
Gorge and up beyond St George UT by mid morning. It's always lots cooler past there. Then make that
trip back Sat after dark (St George to Vegas), then rest up Sunday for the 4:30 am Monday start at work
:-/

[awagnon]

As noted by previous posters, Utah has many great rides. The northern part of the state has high mountain passes (many still closed due to >200% snow pack) and the southern part of the state has beautiful red rock canyons. ( Try Highway 12 from Torrey to Panguitch. ) I've heard Utah has more national parks than any other state, but can't confirm that. Anyway, welcome to Utah.

[angellr]

This last weekend, rode in some very nice scenery through the northern part of Utah, the southern part of Idaho and the western part of Wyoming. Rode through a 40 degree differential (50-90) and in some areas of the canyon the water in streams was SO high, it was almost splashing over the road. Was planning on returning through some of the back country but in a couple of spots the roads are still closed - one, they have 4+ feet of snow still covering the road (Mirror Lake/High Uintahs); other one has a huge area where the road was swept away from way too much snow. Normally by now, all of these areas are accessible.

[macx]

I haven't made it North of I-70 - yet.

At least on the bike.

I've been quite a bit in Idaho, Wyoming (except the Western part), and Oregon,
among the other Western states.

When I retire we hope to move to Casper WY to be near our best friends from
back home in MN. I hung onto my 1150R when I got my 1200RT which I have in
Vegas and on which I've been making all my trips, plus driving to work. My friend
doesn't have a bike so with the 1150R we'll be able to traipse all over Wy -
Western part (I've been in Jackson hole, the pass into the Hole from the West is
pretty neat all by itself), and the area North of Casper around Douglas is pretty neat, too.

I haven't seen anyone mention MT but having driven thru lots of the state, mostly the
Western part, I can't wait to get thru there on the bike, too. Flathead Lake area,
of course Glacier, Missoula and the Lolo Pass into Idaho, the central part North of
Butte - lots of gorgeous scenery. Maybe not quite as rugged as much of it in Utah,
but beautiful nontheless.

Last summer our family took a trip that incl the Beartooth Highway into the NE corner
of Yellowstone. Wow!

I've also been around Oregon quite a bit, incl the central part from East to West, also nice.
I love the high country with the huge trees that are largely open underneath.

So much to see, probly never get around to it all.

But I'm workin on it!

[Dr. Strangelove]

and regarding Montana---The Little Big Horn is a must see

[macx]

Absolutely!

I'm fairly familiar with Montana, having owned a small OTR trucking co
with a couple cousins back in the late 70's - traveled over a big % of the
back roads esp in the NW and north cental parts.

My wife's from Miles City, I met her in Missoula where our little outfit was
leased to a small firm.

[Rrider]

Thanks Macx. Utah is our favorite place to ride. I can't stop often enough to take photos. One of these days we'll try to get to one of those beemer rallies.