Coronado Trail ride

[cactusjack]

We (myself a bunch of riders from work) are planning a Coronado Trail ride June 1-2 (Sat-Sun). We will ride to Safford and take US-191 through Clifton, Morenci (huge open pit mine), and Hannagan Meadow to Alpine. We are staying at the Tal-Wi-Wi Lodge in Alpine. Sunday morning we will continue N to Springerville/Eagar, then to Show Low and either take the 60 through Salt River Canyon or the 260 through Payson to get back to the Valley.

The Coronado Trail, for my money, is the best ride in AZ. We will go over 3 mountain passes at 7400', 8400' and 9400' and has more twisties than most people can handle. It is always a welcome break from the Valley heat. It's an annual ritual for our group, although I have had to miss the past couple of years due to work. This will be my first trip on the Harley. Make sure you bring rain gear, it usually always rains on us at some point. Hopefully, we planned this trip early enough in the year that we won't get wet.

Anyone who wants to tag along is welcome. Rooms at Tal-Wi-Wi are in the $90 range. There is a less expensive option at the Mountain Hi Lodge, just a few miles from the Tal-Wi-Wi. The Tal-Wi-Wi has a cafe and bar, which is why we are staying there. Alpine is gorgeous this time of year!

If anyone is interested, let me know.

[ponch]

The Saturday's Arizona Republic did an article about that ride, but by car. I think he did it in a day, but it looks like a lot. He ended at Safford.

[cactusjack]

You could do it round trip in a car in one day. We try to avoid riding through the mountains at night. Less chance of hitting an elk.

Hitting an elk is much worse than hitting a shriner (rimshot) I'll be here all week, folks. Remember to tip your waitress.

We ride it south to north because it gets cooler as the day goes on as you climb in the mountains instead of coming down the hill toward Safford and getting hit by heat in the afternoon.

[cactusjack]

The ride was great! We thought be going earlier in the season instead of August as we historically have done, we wouldn't get rained on...and we didn't. Rode 303 miles yesterday from my house to the Tal Wi Wi Lodge in Alpine. It was very hot until we got past Morenci on 191 and I have the sunburn to prove it. From Globe through Safford it was well over 100° and the sun was blazing. The ride through the mountains was spectacular. Since it wasn't wet, there were no slick roads. The Coronado Trail is the section of US 191 from Morenci to Alpine, about 90 miles of twisties and switchbacks. That section takes over 3 hours to complete. The average speed is about 25 MPH.

We left the lodge this morning at 8:00 and stopped for gas and then ate breakfast at the Alpine Grill. We then took 191 to Eager, then took AZ-260 through Pinetop-Lakeside to Show Low. The weather was great, warm but not too hot. Once we started down the rim to Payson, it got hot quick and from Payson to the Valley it was near 110°.

We ate lunch at Macky's Grill in Payson then headed for home. All 8 of us had a great time.

[Jared]

If I was in your area I would definitely tag along. If you remember right, three years ago I rode it with Ken (Tombstone). It's a awesome ride for sure.

[cactusjack]

This was the first time we had ridden it in bright sun, not overcast/raining and it was much more enjoyable. My only problem was the group I was with tends to stop too frequently and for too long, they dinked around so much getting to the Coronado Trail that it was nearly dark when we finished. Elk and deer are prevalent in the area. In fact, we did see several head of elk in a meadow and in the town of Clifton we rode past a bighorn sheep munching on brush at the side of the road.

I couldn't get any interest in this ride from the local members. It's too bad, because it is the best ride in AZ, and probably one of the best in the country. It ranks right up there with the Blue Ridge Pkwy, tail of the Dragon and Beartooth Hwy.