Our departure from Albuquerque points us north on the Turquoise Trail. A stop in Santa Fe shows us one of the oldest city centers in the US, including the San Miguel Mission Chapel, the oldest church still in use in the United States. Going further north, we take a run around the "Enchanted Circle" before a stop in Taos for the night.

The next day, we ride north and west into Colorado. The desert gives way to mountain forest in as we climb over 10,000' near the Colorado border, through Pagosa Springs and into Durango.

The next day we will ride another one of America's famous and beautiful roads - the San Juan Skyway, which includes the "Million Dollar Highway," aptly named because there are actually flecks of low grade gold ore the road bed. We will visit Telluride and Ouray, the "little Switzerland" of Colorado along the way, and maybe even take a relaxing soak in a natural hot spring.

Our route takes us north and over the next few days we'll visit areas that are famous for both their natural beauty and Native American heritage. Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges and other points of interest lend plenty of opportunities for hiking and photography. Monument Valley, with its unique sandstone features rising from the desert floor, is home to the Navajo People. Roadside traders offer a vast assortment of truly unique Native American jewelry and other artful items. The local Navajo give backroad jeep tours of the region - their perspective on the history and culture of the region is an interesting complement to our view from two wheels.

Capitol Reef National Park is larger than Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks combined. The park was set aside to protect the Water Pocket Fold, a great hump on the earth’s surface stretching from Thousand Lake Mountain to Lake Powell. The “reef” is an up thrust ridge with a cliff face that rises above its surroundings and stands as a forbidding barrier to travel. On top of Capitol Reef are white domes of Navajo sandstone that early pioneers thought resembled the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The Hamlet of Tropic is located on the east side of Bryce Canyon National Park and was the home of Ebenezer Bryce, the namesake of the park. Local settlers would remark that the area was “a hell of a place to lose a cow.” You will know why when you see it! The road from Tropic to Torrey is an incredibly unique desert ridge top road with memorable views of all sides. It’s one of those safe-but-scary experiences that makes traveling on two wheels such a thrill.

We will take the scenic route - spending a night along way - exploring ghost towns and doing what we love best, riding motorcycles. Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and Jerome provide some of the best riding to be found in Arizona. We leave Saturday morning for the town of Springdale, located at the south gate of Zion National Park (established in 1919). Zion meant “resting place” to the Mormon settlers in the area. Sheer cliffs of Navajo Sandstone rising 2,000 feet above the green valley floor, narrow canyons cut by the Virgin River, and hiking trails with steep vertical drops offer unlimited photo opportunities.

Then there is the hole in the ground - the Grand Canyon! This trip is unique in that we visit BOTH the north and the south rims. The north rim receives about 10% of the visitors as does the south, and the road to simply there is a tasty ride all on its own. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is truly spectacular and we'll have plenty of time to see it under the changing light of the Arizona sky. Stops at the best overlook spots and lunch at the edge of the abyss will show us many different perspectives of this wonder of the world.

We stay two nights in a classic Route 66 Motor Hotel, and options for our "day off" include hiking, a trek into the canyon on the back of a sure-footed mule, whitewater rafting, a helicopter ride, and more. Some of these excursions will require additional fees or advance reservations - we will be glad to help you make arrangements if you like.

The return to Albuquerque takes us through some of the best riding to be found in Northwest Arizona. We'll explore a ghost town that has found new life as a center for the arts, and marvel at the red rocks of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.

We arrive back in Albuquerque on May 16, and you can make travel plans for your return home on the 17th, or extend your stay in the Southwest if you like.