Hello to All

I'm planning a trip, leaving Texas and heading west. I'd like some info on great places to ride in New Mexico, and Arizona and southern Utah.

It's a 2 week trip, the turn around point is the coral pink dunes in Utah. I'd like to know if anyone knows of dunes, as well as trail riding. It would be great if these places were along I-40 west, so we could hit as many places as possible, but I doubt that will be the case.

The goal is to find at least 4 places, other than the Coral Pink Dunes. If there are any locals who have first hand knowledge of the terrain and local laws, that would be even better.

Thanks for the help, Mark

 

You definitely want to stop at the Cinders (I'm not sure of the name) next to Sunset Crater 10 miles north of Flagstaff off of Highway 89. Volcanic cinders about the size of your fingernail form incredibly steep hills. This stuff doesn't pack as tight as sand so its always loose. Not sure but I believe the angle of repose is steeper than sand too. So you have very steep, very loose hills that suck horsepower (and eat tires!). Look for Hundred-Dollar Hill! You will enjoy Coral Pink dunes, too. small area but very scenic!! When are you going?

 

You may also want to look up Little Sahara Utah it is definitely worth the trip. Coral pink is good very scenic with nice campgrounds, average sized and dunes and a little trail riding but the acreage is smaller (i believe) than Little Sahara. At Little Sahara they have camp sites, bathroom, and running water(on big weekends). They have a huge!! hillclimb, sort of like a comp hill, smaller dune section and a large dune area with some trails. The larger dunes are comparable to Glamis. Speaking of, if you have the time it would be a good idea to go to Glamis the sand dune capital.

Local laws are the usual 8ft flag, helmet, no riding double, parking fees, and there is a spark arrester rule at Coral Pink because the ranger talked to us about it and will patrol.

As for Cinders it is an alright riding place with nice scenery and big hillclimbs, but the only reason i will never go back is because it tears up your bikes and your tires. Because you are after all riding in cinders and can be very dusty. Oh and there might be snow up there so you may want to check the weather.TextCheck the elevation and pack your jets too. do as much research as you can like from magazines websites as Sand Sports or through just websites. have fun and ride hard

 

Thanks for the ideas, both of you. I had considered the Little Sahara.
I've talked to a few people who have been there, and they liked it. I've found a couple of places that I'm looking into.

Cinders sounds a little rough for me. I'm still paying off my machine, and don't have the money for parts when it brakes, due to big rocks or accidents.

I can't go all the way to CA on this trip. Maybe next year.

Talk to ya later, Mark