The Majestic Colorado River in Southeast Utah

A true vacation destination is Moab, Utah, and the surrounding canyons of the Colorado River, which runs through this area. From I-70, you'll go south on Highway 128, traveling along the river and through some of the most majestic scenery to Moab. Canyon walls reach to the sky on both sides, giving you somewhat of a tunnel experience. This area is known for its Arches National Monument (right), providing beautiful photos for keepsakes. Moab has all of the amenities you might require, so we recommend a few days, an overnight stay and taking time to really enjoy what God has given us in Southern Utah.

Moab is rich in history and culture, but its greatest attraction is its beauty. Some specific sites to see while in the area include Devils' Garden (right), the Delicate Arch and Needles Overlook.

There is simply no way to take this all in in one day, but if you can spend a few romantic days and nights in the desert of Southeast Utah, you will not only rekindle your relationship, but you will experience all that this area has to offer.

Fall is upon us - if you go this year, prepare for cool nights and evenings, as the desert cools after dark. Dress in layers, and bring cold-weather or heated gear to keep yourself comfortable. Bring your camera, bring your ATVs for some off-road fun, and spend some time with us.

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Motorcycle Destinations in Southern Utah

From east to west across Southern Utah is a motorcyclist's dream - the flat, open roads, rather light traffic, and beauty as far as the eye can see! This area plays host to a variety of different vistas, sure to satisfy the mountain lover as well as the cactus fan as well as the lake lover. Zion National Park is one such destination we recommend, and we recommend Kolob Reservoir Road - the road less traveled. This road keeps you out of the crowds who come to Zion, and at the same time, it gives you quick access to wonderful views of the cliffs, valleys, canyons and mountains that make up Zion National Park. Drive to the highest point in the Park, Lava Point. And from there you can see the meadowlands and the woodlands of this beautiful National Park. This is a ride providing great solitude and quiet away from the crowds - a romantic destination indeed!

To access Kolob Reservoir Road, go east on Highway 9 from I-15 at Washington, UT, just north of St. George. Travel east to Virgin, and then head north on Kolob Reservoir Road. There are not a lot of amenities after leaving Virgin, so pank your lunch, fill your tank, and make this a day trip you will remember forever.

Continue east of Virgin, UT, through Rockville and Springdale to the intersection with Highway 89, which runs along the southern edge of Zion National Park, taking you through Zion Canyon (right.) The spires in this park stretch heavenward all along the river, providing beautiful photo opportunities, great hiking, and romantic spots to enjoy creation together. The apple orchards of the valley provide a very pleasant aroma in season. This is truly one of the most picturesque destinations in all of Southern Utah - the limestone canyon walls as colorful as the rainbow.

The crowds will be lighter during the week than on the weekend, and the amenities are plentiful with places to eat, places to shop, gas sations, and overnight accommodations to fit any budget.

Come prepared by shopping with us first. We offer 15-20% off retail pricing on all motorcycle and ATV accessories and gear. Shop online, shop secure at www.MotorcycleAccessoriesUnlimited.com.

Exploring Southern Utah on a Motorcycle

Fall is upon us - the trees are turning in the high country, the nights are getting longer, the days a little shorter, the temperature more moderate all across the desert in Southern Utah. This land is magnificent in its canyons, its lakes, and its national parks covering both mountains and deserts filled with cacti. And one of its most stunning locations is Natural Bridges National Monument (above right), deep in southeast Utah. From I-70, you go south on Highway 191, through beautiful Moab, to Blanding, UT. Highway 191 intersects with Highway 95 at Blanding. Take Highway 95 west about 30 miles to Natural Bridges. And be sure to take your camera! All along the route you will pass spectacular rock formations and views that you will want to memorialize on film. This area is also home to Arches National Park (left), just north of Moab, and Canyonlands National Park, as well as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell. Clearly a day trip is not going to suffice - this is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts! High desert scenery, red rock formations and natural bridges formed by God Himself in this exquisite desert in Southern Utah.

From Mexican Hat, UT, to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (right, Calf Creek Fallls) is another beautiful destination, continuing on to Bryce Canyon. South of Blanding on Highway 163, almost to the Arizona border, is Mexican Hat. From there, take Highway 261 north about 10 miles to the road to the Valley of the Gods. This is a quick detour that's well worth your time. Climbing on your motorcycle into the cliffs gives you a better view than anyone in a vehicle. When you reach Highway 95, go west through White Canyon, past Natural Bridges, past Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to Hanksville, UT. From Hanksville, take Highway 24 west, and you will travel by the Capitol Reef National Park to Torrey, UT.

Plan to spend several days in this area, as the overnight accommodations are plentiful and reasonable. Route 12 to the south out of Torrey is called the Scenic Byway, and "scenic" hardly does it justice! Don't leave your camera in your saddlebags - there is a picture to be taken around almost every corner! And Route 12 takes you back through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where you might want to hike to Yellow Rock. Fabulous waterfalls flow from the canyon heights into pristine pools below, and rock formations stretch to the sky, providing splendid photo opportunities.

With the approach of fall, you will want to be sure to take your cold weather gear in order to stay warm. Bring the leathers, bring even heated gloves and other accessories to be comfortable in the cool fall weather. Bring your ATVs and do some off-road exploration, or just ride the roads and experience this area from your cruiser. Come and ride Southern Utah - a state with so much to offer to those who love the outdoors. www.MotorcycleAccessoriesUnlimited.com

The Desert Southwest on a Motorcycle

Ah, the Land of Enchantment - New Mexico! Most people think first of Santa Fe, but if you like to ride, there are some "do not miss" tours and rides to tell you about. Deserts, cacti, mountains, alpine scenery, rocky canyons and Indian ruins - New Mexico has it all. This is a land rich in history and heritage. And the weather is almost always good for riding - year-round.

Let's start with Santa Fe - a community known for the arts and culture. This is an easy day trip from Albuquerque, and reachable also in a day from Denver. Walk the streets, shop the galleries, dine at one of many fine restaurants under a brilliantly blue sky. You will easily discover why this city ranks #5 on the Most Popular Travel Destinations list.

But Santa Fe isn't the only destination that's popular with motorcyclists. The expansive Cibalo National Forest, covering over a million acres, provides desert elevations of 5000 feet to mountain elevations upwards of 11,000 feet. Just 20 miles east of Albuquerque at Cedar Crest begins one such ride. From Cedar Crest you take Highway 14 south, which turns into Route 337. Follow Route 337 to Highway 55, and go west to Tajique and Torreon. The route ends at Mountainair on Highway 55. This route is about a 50-mile ride complete with deserts, mountains and canyons.

Along the way, stop at the Goat Farm for some goat milk fudge. Visit the towering adobe walls of the ancient church at the Quarai Ruins. And when you are done visiting this area, you can make the 65-mile run back to Albuquerque or head south to El Paso and Old Mexico.

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New Mexico's Anasazi Indian Tour

The rich history and tradition of New Mexico is evidenced easily in the ancient dwellings of the Anasazi Indians. This destination is just north of Albuquerque, and from Bernalillo, you take Highway 550 north and west to San Ysidro. In San Ysidro, you take Highway 4 through Totavi to Route 30. Route 30 takes you to Espanola, and there Route 30 turns into Highway 84. Take Highway 84 north towards Abiquiu. And the tour ends at the Echo Amphitheater north of Abiquiu.

You will experience the beauty of the desert southwest in the rock canyons, so rich in color, and the mountains which reveal lush alpine scenery. Red and orange hills, rock bluffs and formations and beautiful, magnificent mountains all provide wonderful opportunities for photography.

This tour takes you by historical sites and National Parks - take time to enjoy them all. At Bandelier National Monument you will discover the ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians. There is also a museum along this route detailing the development of the Atom bomb in World War II. Additional Indian ruins can be seen at Puye Cliff Dwellings.

This Land of Enchantment has much to offer with breathtaking landscapes and a rich heritage of Indian, Anglo and Hispanic cultures. The beauty of the southwest is simply wonderful!

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Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway - Silver City, New Mexico

Silver City, NM, houses the start of the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway. This photographic destination goes past the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, and these ancient cliff dwellings of the Mogollon people are a must see. You will also go through an ancient mining town of Pinos Altos. Round-trip, the journey is about 100 miles. From Silver City, you take Highway 152 east to San Lorenzo. At San Lorenzo, turn north on Highway 35 to where it dead ends at Highway 15. Go north again on Highway 15 to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. After visiting the National Monument, take Highway 15 to Pinos Altos.

This spectacular ride takes you through lowlands covered with cactus as well as high mountain scenery of Aspen and Pine trees. You can view an open-pit copper mine or detour to Wall Lake for fishing and other outdoor recreation. Mexico claims to be the Land of Enchantment, and destinations like this one prove that claim to be true!

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Highway 60 - Socorro, NM to Springerville, AZ

Along I-25, south of Albuquerque, you will find Socorro, New Mexico. Socorro sits at the junction of Route 60 and I-25, and Route 60 runs straight west to Arizona, providing a nice ride through a rather rugged and remote landscape. Wildlife is readily visible along this trip, both in the mountains and in the desert. Route 60 will take you through the Gallinas Mountains and the Datil Mountains, and closer to Arizona you will skirt the Gallo mountains. The distance of this trip is about 150 miles, making it an easy day trip, but due to a lack of amenities along the way, be sure to fill your gas tank before leaving Socorro.

After having lunch in Datil, I recommend dessert in Pie Town - famous for their pies! The average temperature hovers around 70 degrees in this area of the Land of Enchantment, so wear plenty of layers, and take your leathers and your cold gear to stay warm. A camera is a must for every one of these destinations, for the animals, the plants, the rock formations, the sunsets - just about anything you see is worthy of a photo.

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The Road to Timberon - New Mexico

New Mexico - the Land of Enchantment - boasts some of the most beautiful scenery ever ridden through on a motorcycle. The Rocky Mountains' southern end flows down into the deserts in western New Mexico along the Arizona border. The deserts' cacti contrast beautifully with the alpine scenery and trees in the mountains. Bright, warm sunshine abounds under a brilliantly blue sky. The Road to Timberon traverses the Lincoln National Forest and goes through a valley of farms and ranches. This road passes through spectacular canyons with indescribable scenery. Located just east of Alamogordo, this route is highly ranked by motorcyclists as a favorite destination. Amenities in Cloudcroft include shopping, restaurants and overnight accommodations, though camping is readily available as well at National Forest campsites. Outdoor activities include golf, fishing, horseback riding and the Sunspot Observatory. Timberon promises nothing fancy, but lots of beauty and solitude.

Don't forget your camera - photo opportunities are around every turn in the Land of Enchantment. And don't forget your cold gear as the air is chilly in the mountains and the deserts of New Mexico in the early spring and late fall. If you need any accessories or gear, please visit us at www.MotorcycleAccessoriesUnlimited.com for a huge selection at very competitive prices. New Mexico is waiting ... come and see us!

Fall Foliage Abounds

The nights are getting longer, the days shorter. The nights are getting cooler as well, and the trees across Colorado's high country are beginning to turn their fabulous shades of orange, yellow, gold and bronze. Fall is upon us, the dog days of summer are gone. And this weekend is not too early to begin seeing the beauty of fall foliage in Colorado. Oak brush along Yellow Jacket Pass, south of Steamboat Springs, is known far and wide for its spectacular beauty. The aspen trees in Routt, Summit and Grand Counties turn as brilliantly yellow as the sun. Maple trees and oak glisten orange in the fall, and all of these mixed in with the deep, dark green of pine trees makes for fabulous viewing and award-winning photography.






Tour the sites mentioned below in this blog, as well as other Colorado high country destinations, and be sure to take your camera! But remember always that the weather in Colorado in the fall can change dramatically from one moment to the next. Canyons will feel chilly, as will all locations in the early morning and late afternoon. Dress in layers, and take plenty of warm weather gear to keep comfortable during your ride. If you need any accessories or gear for your trip, check out www.MotorcycleAccessoriesUnlimited.com for a complete supply of everything you need or want. And not only is it a complete supply, but our prices are below retail by as much as 20%! Shop online, shop secure.