Five Incredible Winter Riding Destinations.
Winter can be harsh. To much tinker time in the garage and not enough saddle time gets old. We’re in Colorado, we know all about this. To help you dream of better times here is a list of our favorite winter adventure riding destinations. For obvious reasons they are not in places like Maine or Montana. Let the ground thaw a bit and we will get to those. In the mean time, mount some fresh rubber, load up the truck and point her away from the cold.
Bisbee Arizona
This is a border town with more character than a carnival. The old main street is preserved with tons mid century nostalgia and has one of the best breakfast spots we’ve ever tried, The Bisbee Breakfast Club. You’re a hop skip and a jump from Mexico and the high desert landscape is perfect for exploring in the winter time. Head north a few miles and check out a gun fight at the old west town of Tombstone, or head west and ride the border fence. Make sure to wave at the border patrol agents.
Texas Hill Country
We admit, the best time of year in Texas is when the Blue Bonnets begin to pop in the spring, but Texas Hill Country is still a great winter escape. Both paved and dirt roads are plentiful, as is BBQ and live music. Get yourself to Austin and head west. Stitch together gravel farming roads on your way to towns like Kerrville and Bandera.
Mexican Hat Utah
It’s not a sure fire bet to be warm and dry here in the winter but if you hit the weather right there is lots of riding to be had in Southeastern Utah around Mexican Hat. You won’t be exploring high into the surrounding mountains but the dry desert can be great in the winter months. Plus, riding in Valley of the Gods needs to be on your bucket list anyway. There is a reason some of the best western movies every made were shot here, the classic wild west landscape is second to none.
Santa Monica Mountains/Malibu CA
You wont find to many exotic dirt roads this close to Los Angeles and Malibu, but the canyon carving and ocean viewing is spectacular all year long. The famous Rock Store on Mullholland Drive is a must stop, as is Neptunes Net. Some of the paved one way roads are so narrow and beat up that you’ll be glad you are on an adventure bike.
Wickenburg AZ
Wickenburg is an awesome cowboy town northwest of Phoenix, you can access all sorts of great paved and dirt riding all year long in any direction right from town. Take a spin up Vulture Mine road and peal off north or south on any number of desolate desert two tracks. You can also ride straight up the sandy river drainage east of town until it constricts into a stunning slot canyon. Pack a lunch and pick a sunny spot next to a cactus. You might want to bring a sleeping bag too because it’s likely you wont want to leave.
Comments (9)
You can add to that Mission Valley, TX, The Great River Road, Natchez, MS to New Orleans, LA all the way to near the mouth of the MS River, Alabama, and the western side of TN, GA and SC as well as Key West, FL. Southern NM has a lot of good rides also. This was a good article. I am fortunate that in E. TN as long as the temp is around 30 and dry, we ride. Great backroads in the eastern end of the state and can ride most of the winter months. Sometimes you have to ride away from the mountains if there is or has been moisture due to icing in the shady areas. My Fat Lady(Honda Valkyrie) does not go on a bike stand except to change tires and oil.
Thank you for creative ideas for a winter trip!
Butler Maps gets my vote.
Best,
Jerry Macki
Thanks Jerry! We hope you get to spend some time in the saddle this winter .
The Big Bend of Texas. The greatest riding in theUSA. And hardly any cars or people either.
Big Bend is the best!
There are lots of great historical sites to see in Death Valley and areas east of the Sierra Nevada mountains and you need to do Death Valley in the winter because the heat is overwhelming in summer. The tourist booth managed by the Chamber of Commerce in Bishop is an excellent source of ideas starting from the northern parts along 395 Hwy and continuing right over to the Nevada border. Check it all out!
We could use some maps of California, North & South
We have both North and South CA Sandy. Take a look in the store.
Big Bend was an interesting ride. Many people go in April we went in June despite the caveats of brutal heat…it was the coolest, rainiest June on record (not that cool or rainy) I had a head-on collision with a black vulture riding into Big Bend, what a smelly mess, nor was it good for the vulture.