Adventure Rider magazine has published the third installment of its 'America the Beautiful' series, chronicling a motorcycle journey from Kayenta, Arizona, across Utah's scenic landscapes to Yosemite National Park. The author highlights challenging roads, campsites, and attractions like Monument Valley and Death Valley. Practical tips include contact details for visitor centers and inns along the route.
The series installment begins after a stop at the Blue Coffee Pot in Kayenta, following prior travels through Joshua Tree National Park and the Grand Canyon. Riders head to Monument Valley via a straight stretch of road 163, noted for its views of Oljato-Monument Valley rock spires. The Navajo Welcome Center (1-435-727-5871, www.navajonationparks.org) offers access to lookouts and tours; the valley road is bumpy with rocks and sand. Nearby campgrounds include Sleeping Bear (1-435-444-7777), suitable for night sky viewing. Next, the route crosses the San Juan River at Mexican Hat, passing the San Juan Inn and Trading Post (1-435-683-2220) and Mexican Hat Rock. A detour into Valley of the Gods provides a quieter alternative with free camping opportunities before a 27-kilometer loop road joins highway 261 below the Moki Dugway. This gravel dugway climbs steeply without barriers but is wide and safe, offering views of Valley of the Gods. The path continues to Moab, a hub for outdoor activities near Arches, Canyonlands National Parks, and the Colorado River. Resources include the Bureau of Land Management (+1 435-259-2100, www.blm.gov) and Moab Information Center (+1 435-259-8825, www.discovermoab.com). Further north via Crescent Junction and Hanksville, the route follows Utah 12 through curvy sections, high elevations, and rocky drops without guardrails. Stops include Torrey's Broken Spur Inn & Steakhouse (1-435-425-3775, www.brokenspurinn.com), Kodachrome Basin State Park, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. After Interstate 15's Virgin River Gorge, it reaches Hoover Dam, skips central Las Vegas for Mountain Springs Saloon, then Tecopa Hot Springs Resort and Shoshone's Crowbar Café & Saloon. In Death Valley, the author prefers Stovepipe Wells (1-760-786-7090, www.deathvalleyhotels.com) over Furnace Creek Ranch, noting gas stations accept international cards. The trip climbs to Panamint Springs, Lone Pine, Mono Lake's tufa formations, and Yosemite National Park, described as the world's first. Future segments cover Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Lost Coast to Big Sur.