Anyone be interested in going with me to GSE for the ultimate dual sport ride? It would be more fun on a single but a KTM 990 Adventure could do it all. GSE was the last area explored in the US and it was not even mapped until 1935. I would like to traverse the area from Escalante, UT south, get gas in Kanab and then head back north to Cannonville and then back to Escalante. Attempt to find two interesting slot canyons on the way. Then head up north on the Devil's Backbone road to Boulder. Get gas and head out east on the Burr Trail (a road that should be on everyone's bucket list) to Notom road along the Waterpocket fold. Head up that to Capital Reef NP. Get gas and return to Escalante. Then head to Comb Reef. Head down the west side and then back up the east side stopping for ruins that we can locate on the east side. From there we could head back to Kansas. Or we could look at other interesting points to ride like the Valley of the Gods, or hike to Cedar Mesa ruin (near Comb Ridge).
I would like to go the 2nd or 3rd week in October. Anyone like to go?
Stu
Grand Staircase Escalante, UT Ride
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KC
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Re: Grand Staircase Escalante, UT Ride
Stu, that sounds amazing! Some day I will actually have time to go on long adventures. Out of curiousity and without doing the research myself, how many miles are you talking here?
2017KTM 500EXC, 2009 KTM 300XCW
Re: Grand Staircase Escalante, UT Ride
Mileage:
14 hours each way to trailer the bikes out to southern UT. Then all day mostly off road for about 200 miles for the first day. A little more than that for the next day. That could be extended by riding up to a mountain lake on the way back and come down Chokeberry Rd., noted for its nasty steepness and suggested on lighter singles only that you do not mind dropping on rocks. The road isn't maintained and is too rough for the BLM to go on so you are really on your own on this "road" if you take it. The third day would be about 100 miles on both sides of Comb Ridge.
The scenery is incredible. On the second day one could ride up to the Aquarius Plateau which is about 12,000' and overlooks Bryce NP. That would add another 60 miles to day two.
If you also hike to the Cedar Mesa ruin you would see one of the most impressive ruins anywhere. Especially if you get there at about 9:30 when the sun first strikes the ruins. They look like they are on fire.
Stu
14 hours each way to trailer the bikes out to southern UT. Then all day mostly off road for about 200 miles for the first day. A little more than that for the next day. That could be extended by riding up to a mountain lake on the way back and come down Chokeberry Rd., noted for its nasty steepness and suggested on lighter singles only that you do not mind dropping on rocks. The road isn't maintained and is too rough for the BLM to go on so you are really on your own on this "road" if you take it. The third day would be about 100 miles on both sides of Comb Ridge.
The scenery is incredible. On the second day one could ride up to the Aquarius Plateau which is about 12,000' and overlooks Bryce NP. That would add another 60 miles to day two.
If you also hike to the Cedar Mesa ruin you would see one of the most impressive ruins anywhere. Especially if you get there at about 9:30 when the sun first strikes the ruins. They look like they are on fire.
Stu