Planning a 2-3 day trip in South Eastern Arizona. What are your thoughts?

MrGoldfish · Nov 1, 2012

Hey everyone! After having lived in Arizona my entire life, I have never spent very much time in this part of the state. With that said, I was thinking it was about time that I planned a trip to tour through this part of the state and see the highlights. After panning around Google maps for a bit, I have come up with the itinerary below. Anyone think I'm missing anything? By the way, I plan on bringing the wife along so the vineyards are there for her as she would really enjoy that.

Anyone who wants to jump in and give their 2 cents would be much appreciated.

Southeast Arizona Motorcycle Ride Idea:



 Head east out of Phoenix on the 60 towards Globe.

Head south on dirt roads up to Pinal Peak.

Take the 70 east until you get to Peridot and then take Coolidge Dam Road around San Carlos Lake before hooking up with 70 again towards Safford.

Take dirt roads up to the top of Mount Graham. Option to go see Riggs Lake on the west side of the mountain.

Take the 191 south to Wilcox finding the Coronado Vineyards just before entering Wilcox.

Take the 186 south out of Wilcox towards the Chiricahuas with the option of bouncing out east to Fort Bowie.

Take Dirt roads up to Flys Peak, Chiricahua Peak and Silver Peak. Option of going down the east side of the mountain into Paradise to see the cemetery and the town. Look for the George Walker House (www.thegeorgewalkerhouse.com).

Head west back to 186/181 and take that west to 191 and go south through Bisbee and over towards Miller Peak on the 92.

Take Garden Canyon Road west over the mountain towards Parker Canyon Lake for a visit.

Proceed north on 83 to the Sonoita Vineyards for some wine tasting. (http://www.sonoitavineyards.com/)

Take 83 north to Sonoita and head west on 82 towards Patagonia and check out Patagonia Lake.

Backtrack to Salero Canyon Road/FR 143 and head north to find a way up to the top of the peak just west of Mount Wrightson.

From there head back down the mountain and go north into Tucson to take the Mount Lemmon Highway up to the peak of Mount Lemmon.

From there, head northeast down Old Mount Lemmon Highway/Road until you get to Oracle.

Head northeast on 77 towards Mammoth and up through Dudleyville Winkelman, where you turn onto 177 and head northwest, and Kearny before turning onto the Florence-Kelvin Highway towards Florence.

From here, head home into Phoenix.

jimmex · Nov 1, 2012

Go to Mexico.

Hucker · Nov 1, 2012

There's nothing to see here:

Please keep out:

MrGoldfish · Nov 2, 2012

You sold me! Looks like a cool place to go

Edit: By the way, what road is in that bottom picture? The one with the slab in it?

Hucker said: ↑

There's nothing to see here:

Please keep out:

Click to expand...

MrGoldfish · Nov 5, 2012

I take it by the quietness that this might not be the most visited place on the map.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that someone will post on this with some good spots to visit.

buls4evr · Nov 6, 2012

FR143 from Patagonia to Amado is a tough ride if you are doing it double. It is a rough 2 track in places but very beautiful. I would also go up the road to the observatory that is East of Amado (sorry can't remember name) as this is a fun and twisty road that is pretty well graded. Should be a nice time of year for this. Of course you can always go to Tombstone while you are in the Chiricauhua Mon area also. Then there is the great Portal to Chir Nat Mon road that is really fun and beautiful also and stops you just short of entering NM. Also a little rough and rocky in places but very twisty and up/down. Enjoy your ride .

MrGoldfish · Nov 6, 2012

buls4evr said: ↑

FR143 from Patagonia to Amado is a tough ride if you are doing it double. It is a rough 2 track in places but very beautiful. I would also go up the road to the observatory that is East of Amado (sorry can't remember name) as this is a fun and twisty road that is pretty well graded. Should be a nice time of year for this. Of course you can always go to Tombstone while you are in the Chiricauhua Mon area also. Then there is the great Portal to Chir Nat Mon road that is really fun and beautiful also and stops you just short of entering NM. Also a little rough and rocky in places but very twisty and up/down. Enjoy your ride .
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feed back. I went and found the roads you are talking about on the map. Looks like a great addition to what I was thinking of. I didn't even know there was an observatory on top of what looks to be Mount Hopkins. I might have to check that out. Thanks again.

BullShatter · Nov 6, 2012

Looks like a great route, are you looking for another couple to join you at the wineries.....just sayin' !

Globecruiser · Nov 7, 2012

I think you are skipping the best road in arizona... 191 between Alpine and Clifton

MrGoldfish · Nov 7, 2012

Unlikely Cowboy said: ↑

Looks like a great route, are you looking for another couple to join you at the wineries.....just sayin' !
Click to expand...

Well we are trying to finish up our front yard landscaping right now and that looks like it's about 3 weeks out minimum. I'm afraid that if we went after that it's going to have become to cold (read snow) to ride up those mountains. I don't know though. This might end up being a spring time ride. I can keep you posted though.

Globecruiser said: ↑

I think you are skipping the best road in arizona... 191 between Alpine and Clifton
Click to expand...

That section of 191 is on the to do list. It's not really in Southeastern Arizona which was the goal of this trip.

Low-N-Slow · Nov 7, 2012

Unfortunately you won't be able to go over Garden Canyon Road like you were hoping, it is locked off by Fort Huachuca. Another option is to go over Montezuma Pass via Coronado Memorial Raod off HWY92, then west on Montezuma Canyon road . That is a pretty cool ride up and over the mountain and across the San Rafael Valley. If you stop just past the Coronado National Memorial Visitor's Center, there is a short hike (.5 mi) up to a cave that you can go down into that is pretty cool, just bring some flashlights. That road will take you all the way over to Nogales if your interested also. Any problems and just wave down one of the friendly BP vehicles along the way and they can point you to some more interesting places close by.

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Planning a 2-3 day trip in South Eastern Arizona. What are your thoughts?

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