Four Corners

Epic Ride 2017

An epic Southwest journey through Arizona to Four Corners, through the Rockies and Utah, ending in Sin City.

Sep 1, 2017 to Sep 12, 20173320 mi12 days

The Ride

The Four Corners

When I first put this ride together, we wanted to center it around the one place where four states come together at a single point. From there, we’d explore the incredible national parks, mountain passes, and desert landscapes that make this corner of the country unlike anywhere else. It turned into one of those trips where every day brought something completely different, and looking back, it was exactly what we’d hoped it would be.

The Route

The Ultimate Southwest Loop

Starting in Fresno, the route winds through historic Route 66 in Oatman, climbs to the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, crosses Four Corners, rolls into the Colorado Rockies, explores Utah’s incredible red rock country, and finishes with a stop in Las Vegas before heading home. I have to say this is some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet.

Photo Story

Oatman Arizona

This is where the ride really starts. We trudge through the desert and hit the cool little town of Oatman near Route 66, replete with donkeys walking around the streets of the town.

Monument Valley

Unlike anyplace I've ever seen. Like right out of a western.

Pikes Peak

14,000 feet is a long way up. They have oxygen at the top because the air is so thin.

The Continental Divide

It was cold up there. We went from sweating to death to freezing in literally a day.

Like Another Planet

You'll read that a lot on this ride. Utah is like no other place on earth.

The Story

This is one ride I kept a journal on. Here are my entries:

September 1, 2017

Long, hot day of riding. Not much to see. Just getting through the desert. Oatman is always cool.

September 2, 2017

Much fun seeing the cheese of old Hwy 66. Jerome is really cool. Great ride on awesome roads.

September 3, 2017

Monument Valley is amazing! Goosenecks—wow! Four Corners sucked. Amazing natural scenery though.

September 4, 2017

Mesa Verde was amazing. The Indian dwellings were so interesting. Million Dollar Highway was a fantastic road. Black Canyon had the most amazing views I've seen. Unreal. Great day.

September 5, 2017

Took the tram over the gorge and walked the bridge. Rode Skyline Drive. Finally went through the mountains to Cripple Creek. Awesome mining town. Excellent.

September 6, 2017

Visited Garden of the Gods. Neat place. Rode up Pikes Peak—14,000 feet. Could not breathe! David broke down and we rode to Denver for a part. Connected with my old friend John Smith.