Southwest Utah: Dual Sport Riding from St. George

[westerlywinds]

Hi R.R.R. just wondering if you have seen the thread by Macadam Drifter? "A solo TW travels eastbound WA." His TW 200 and trailer are great looking. Another machine for the someday list.I enjoy your thread and many photos.

[DirtyJohnny]

RRR,

I know that curiosity killed the cat, but I must ask. Is that river pic of you and your family on the Middle Fork of the Salmon?

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

[RedRockRider]

Originally Posted by westerlywinds

Hi R.R.R. just wondering if you have seen the thread by Macadam Drifter? "A solo TW travels eastbound WA." His TW 200 and trailer are great looking. Another machine for the someday list.I enjoy your thread and many photos.

Yes, I've read Macadam Drifter's wonderful thread: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470415

His catch phrase: "The TW200 is slow but the earth is patient "

Photo of Mkd's rig. Wishing him the best on future travels!

[/QUOTE]

[RedRockRider]

Originally Posted by DirtyJohnny

RRR,

I know that curiosity killed the cat, but I must ask. Is that river pic of you and your family on the Middle Fork of the Salmon?

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks, DirtyJohnny. The family photo on the river sand (page #1, post #1) is on the Main Salmon in Idaho two summers ago. We rafted with ARTA (arta.org) from Salmon, ID (Corn Creek) to McCall, ID (Carey Creek). The River of No Return. It was a spectacular 6-day trip. Lots of class 2 & 3 whitewater. Very fun in inflatable kayaks and paddle rafts.

This past summer we did a similar trip with ARTA on the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon. Beautiful country although not as remote. Great river, perhaps even more family oriented. Here is a pic of the Rogue River.




This next summer we will raft / kayak on the San Juan River in southeastern Utah (Bluff). ARTA doesn't cover the San Juan, so we'll be with a different company. The whitewater will be a bit tamer, but it should still be a great family vacation. We have inflatable kayaks so perhaps we'll do the San Juan River only with friends on a future trip.

Rafting trips -- highly recommended as a family vacation!

[Superhawk]

Keep posting - Im enjoying following along with you and your Dad !

Originally Posted by RedRockRider

Thanks inmates and lurkers! Safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving to all.

Appreciate the positive comments:

Unlikely Cowboy
David13
Superhawk
Signal
TheAdmiral
samthg
Bob
MSH
azwheelin
BeezaBoy
tgregg
Scribe
quota
DirtReeper
Benwiggin2
4PawsHacienda
DBrentMiller
Cat
StuckinUtah
Fredster
Westerlywinds
dec181966
bomose
bretedge
tompee
havocdog
Pantah
Warp9man
wbbnm
DirtyJohnny
TwoShots
mknight
MasterMarine
Pitster

[RedRockRider]

ATV ride to the top of West Mountain Peak. Check out the wind.




Family mugshot. The three adventurers!

[RedRockRider]

Late afternoon with a little time -- just enough for a quick run on the TW out towards the Bloomington Cave.

Road has been recently maintained. The lower part of this road by Bloomington (Navajo Drive) is in much better shape. The upper part by the cave has some ruts and loose rock, still very passable for any dual sport bike.




The map on page 2, post #17, shows the detail. Bloomington Cave itself is on Hollow Wash Road, just south of the word Hollow. This is about 2/3 of the elevation gain to the connection with the Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway (Apex Mine Road). There are several small cave signs from Navajo Drive in Bloomington so the route is easy to follow.


A new sign kiosk at the cave site.




Details:




Be prepared:




Watch out:




Creepy crawlies:




One of the entrances. Caving has never been my thing, although I'm sure it could be great with the right group.




Pine Valley Mountain in fading light. No snow yet. Boomer Hill in foreground.




Spectacular post-sunset color from dirt trails behind Green Valley, very close to St. George.




Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend. Thanks for checkin' in. Ride safe!

[MSH]

How cool are the new cave signs! In high school we went with big groups of people (girls) through the cave... kind of to scare them so they would hold on to us tight. haha.

Thanks for the pics!

[RedRockRider]

Nice afternoon for a ride. High temp in St. George today was 65 degrees. Did a circumnavigation of West Mountain Peak. Left St. George and started out the Motoqua Road. Just short of Motoqua (Beaver Dam Wash) turned south onto Indian Springs Trail (also good dirt). Followed this to Jackson Well, then Indian Spring Tank, and finally to the Eardley Road. Back home on Old Highway 91 over the Utah Hill. About 80 miles total.

For those following along, here's the map:




I'd been on all these roads (Indian Spring Trail, Jackson Well) about a year ago. Good to check back and see the conditions. Generally quite good. Any ADV bike could make this circuit. Overall, very scenic. Lots of dispersed camping throughout. Saw several large groups of deer (10-20) on the lower portion of Indian Springs Trail.


On the Motoqua Road, just leaving the Shivwitz Indian Reservation. Started several rides on this road recently. Check out post 120 on page 8. Also, post 128 (Manganese Spring) and post 131 (Pahcoon Flat).




Over 5,000 miles on the original rear tire. Tread isn't what it used to be. Getting time for new rubber for the WR.




When you get to this sign, you are close. This road heads north, eventually to the Enterprise Reservoir area. Lots of nice riding in this direction. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to get up here before significant snowfall. Some of this area is higher elevation and the "passes" can get blocked by snow.




Looking back in the mirror. Lots of the Motoqua Road is fast dirt, easy 50+ mph.




The key turn south onto Indian Springs Trail. Road isn't as fast now, but still very good.




Final look back at the Motoqua Road. This last stretch was 70 mph dirt.




Soon you see the first Joshua trees. Lots more to come. West Mountain Peak (with TV towers) in the distance.




Desert plants become more noticeable.




Desert plant with Beaver Dam Wash in background. Very impressive topography on display at this point. Beaver Dam Wash is a BIG wash. Worth a ride out if you haven't seen it.




Looking west into the sun at Beaver Dam Wash. Steady stream of running water. Very modest at this point, but makes for a great reflection.




My bike, crossing a side wash (Jackson Wash). This drainage comes down from the Motoqua Road area.




The sign for the short spur road heading west to Jackson Well, actually down in Beaver Dam Wash.




The Jackson Well Road is lined with Joshua Trees.




The view back to West Mountain Peak (with TV towers on top, faintly visible in photo). Check out page 9, post 121.




Jackson Well area, on the valley floor of Beaver Dam Wash. One prominent tree, a shed, and an old windmill. Old cattle area. Some current activity on occasion.




The old windmill. The solar panel halfway up now provides the pumping power.




The tank. Inflow pipe.




Close up of the inflow trigger. My son would say "just like a toilet."




Crappy photo, but the tank is packed full of goldfish! Quite the stunt. Someone put a few fish in the tank, and they have multiplied, big-time. Might have been here for years now. Interesting little ecosystem!




Abandoned shed.




Went out and crossed Beaver Dam Wash. Did some exploring on the other side (west, close to Nevada). Map isn't clear, but reasonable road continues. Never been here before. Always more to look into. This pic is heading back across the wash. There has been recent maintenance here. This road has not been underwater since grading.




Re-crossing the wash. Very attractive in late afternoon light.




WRR with Joshua Trees in route back to Indian Springs Trail.




Healthy trees.




Close-up.




Power Line road heads back north to Motoqua Road. I continued south on Indian Springs Trail.




Late afternoon shadow. That might be the ADV salute. I'll get this clearer next time.




At the Indian Spring Tank. This is one end of the Hell Hole Pass Road which climbs West Mountain Peak. Several other roads / tracks diverge south / west (towards Lytle Ranch at Beaver Dam Wash) from this point.




Similar photo of my TW200 from ride a few weeks ago (Hell Hole Pass, post 121 page 9).




Light was fading for the last part of the ride on Indian Springs Trail. I drove slowly since there were several large herds of deer in the area. This was partly out of deference to my friend Paul who had a deer run into his bike near Zion (post 103).

The connection back to the Eardley Road (post 102, page 7) and out to Old Highway 91 was uneventful. Here's the final pic at the junction back onto pavement.




Ride safe, inmates. If you can, ride often! Good for the spirit!

[westerlywinds]

I ride often if you count to work and back. not as scenic as your Utah photos.but every day.Last sunday was hunting for rumored dead volcano in eastern New Mexico, Got chased back 25 miles to El Paso by the black hail storm.it caught me just as I got to the pavement.wet legs because I didn't want to stop to put on my dry pants. wet long enough to be an adventure not long enough to get cold.

[RedRockRider]

Hey inmates -- a lurker friend of mine said I should post up a list of rides -- so here it is. More to follow. Enjoy!

Post #2: Virgin River Gorge - AZ Strip (South Side)
Post #3: Virgin River Gorge - Utah (North Side)
Post #10: Brian Head Peak
Post #14: Cedar Breaks & Zion via North Fork Road
Post #17: Apex Mine Road. Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #22: Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site
Post #36: Duck Creek
Post #44: Virgin River Gorge (Utah) and Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #49: Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Cove Road
Post #50: Sand Cove Road and Gunlock Reservoir
Post #56: Enterprise Reservoir (Veyo Shoal Creek Rd / Goldstrike Rd)
Post #57: Diamond Valley
Post #61: Mammoth Creek, Duck Creek, Cedar Breaks
Post #62: Brian Head - High Mountain Meadow
Post #79: Diamond Valley - Pine Valley Mountain, Rt. 033
Post #92: Toroweap via Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse
Post #95: Mohave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #96: Leeds / Silver Reef and Oak Grove
Post #102: Eardley Road (Beaver Dam Wash at Lytle Ranch)
Post #117: Gold Butte Road (near Mesquite, Nevada)
Post #120: Motoqua Road
Post #121: Hell Hole Pass, West Mountain Peak, Indian Canyon
Post #128: Manganese Spring Road
Post #131: Pahcoon Flat (south side of Motoqua Rd.)
Post #142: Bloomington Cave
Post #144: Indian Springs Trail

Thanks again to everyone for all the positive comments. Ride safe!

[goran e]

[scarysharkface]

Originally Posted by RedRockRider

Hey inmates -- a lurker friend of mine said I should post up a list of rides -- so here it is. More to follow. Enjoy!

Post #2: Virgin River Gorge - AZ Strip (South Side)
Post #3: Virgin River Gorge - Utah (North Side)
Post #10: Brian Head Peak
Post #14: Cedar Breaks & Zion via North Fork Road
Post #17: Apex Mine Road. Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #22: Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site
Post #36: Duck Creek
Post #44: Virgin River Gorge (Utah) and Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #49: Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Cove Road
Post #50: Sand Cove Road and Gunlock Reservoir
Post #56: Enterprise Reservoir (Veyo Shoal Creek Rd / Goldstrike Rd)
Post #57: Diamond Valley
Post #61: Mammoth Creek, Duck Creek, Cedar Breaks
Post #62: Brian Head - High Mountain Meadow
Post #79: Diamond Valley - Pine Valley Mountain, Rt. 033
Post #92: Toroweap via Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse
Post #95: Mohave Desert Joshua Tree Scenic Backway
Post #96: Leeds / Silver Reef and Oak Grove
Post #102: Eardley Road (Beaver Dam Wash at Lytle Ranch)
Post #117: Gold Butte Road (near Mesquite, Nevada)
Post #120: Motoqua Road
Post #121: Hell Hole Pass, West Mountain Peak, Indian Canyon
Post #128: Manganese Spring Road
Post #131: Pahcoon Flat (south side of Motoqua Rd.)
Post #142: Bloomington Cave
Post #144: Indian Springs Trail

Thanks again to everyone for all the positive comments. Ride safe!

Edit that into the first post, so we can find it again!

John

[RedRockRider]

Done! Good call John. St. George is great for riding. Also, lots of cheap hotels (and inexpensive restaurants). Nearby access to Zion, Bryce, North Rim of Grand Canyon (remote), and lots of state parks. Give me a heads up if you're ever in the area. Ride safe!

[RedRockRider]

Been busy with work and family. Not much on the motos in the last few weeks. Quite a bit of hiking and early season skiing. Hope all inmates are enjoying the holidays!

Needed to get a safety inspection for the Vulcan.

Here's the place:




Wall of credentials:




Crazy little gadget. Utah has a new requirement. Windshield has to allow a specific amount of light to pass through -- nothing too smokey or opaque. The Vulcan's stock shield is translucent -- passed no problem.




Gotta include a photo from a recent hike to "the wave" -- south central Utah on the border (actually in) Arizona!




Highly recommend hiking "the wave" if you ever get the chance. Permit required, even for dayhike. Spectacular!