Ongoing thanks goes to our Riding Realtor: Anthony Drager MidWest Realty for hosting this site year after year.
Was Thursday through Sunday, June 23-26, 2005 in Kanab, Utah.
Kanab is a small town with lots of motels and a few campgrounds. You might have to walk a couple blocks, but I think rooms will be available for a while yet. Just stay away from Best Western (overpriced) and the Kanab Mission Inn (far away and filthy). There is a Holiday Inn Express in Kanab that is new and has Internet in the lobby, but is about as far from the Parry as you can get (about a mile). The Best Western Thunderbird out near Zion National Park is about 18 miles away and similarly priced, but you get something for your money.
There are some more upscale lodgings available like The Victorian Charm Inn but expect the price to match.
Kanab hosts an annual CMA rally as well as a HOG rally so they are biker friendly.
Internet access is available at a coffee shop across the street from the Parry on a pay basis. Access is also available at the local library that is closed on Sundays.
Liquor laws can be a bit odd in Utah, for example the state run package stores close early on Saturday afternoon and are closed Sunday. The Arizona border is only 3 miles away so those who wish to partake should have no problems with a little planning ahead.
The Crazy
Horse Campark should be no worse than camping at the Iron Horse in Eureka
Springs and is located .8 miles East of the Parry and is the headquarters for
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. They have just finished remodeling.
Talk to Ginger McGuire. She and her dad run the place. They said that they could
accommodate up to fifty campers total and had a large common area that could fit up to about 15 tents
if we wanted a "group site." She said the sites are grassy
and there are lots of extras there (game room, store, pool, etc. Even wireless internet connections.)
Individual tent sites are $15 but she said that if we get as many as ten campsites, she could reduce
the cost to $13 and would go to $12 if we got twenty or more. Their sign advertises free wireless and motorcycles welcome.
Keep in mind that "grassy" might mean something different here in the desert,
bring a sleeping pad.
Far out of Kanab but very biker friendly the Escalate Bikers Campground might make an interesting stop going or coming.
Lodging Discounts!
For the more frugal of us, there are several hotels including the Aikens, Best Western, Holiday Inn and others who offer discounted rates for those visiting the largest no kill pet shelter in the county. Visit the shelter and you could take home more than memories of Kanab. (Thanx to Shooter Bob for pointing this out.)
DINING:
There are 24 restaurants in Kanab, but I cannot find many reviews.
RIDING:
It CAN be chilly early mornings and evenings
in the high country surrounding Kanab, especially at the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon, but in Kanab it will likely vary from daytime temps around 90 degrees
to the seventies in the evening. Zion National Park often sees 100+ temps and
is best visited in the cooler morning hours. Marble Valley also sees temps of
100+. Jacob Lake and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon seldom get above 85 degrees.
For riding in the desert hints, go here.
Most are common sense, but people new to the desert sometimes think they are
too tan to worry about it.
Mileage from Parry Lodge to:
Zion National Park - 40 miles
Jacob Lake - 37
miles
Grand
Canyon North Rim - 78 miles
Marble Valley overlook - 48 miles
Marble Canyon Bridge - 78 miles
Bryce Canyon Entrance - 78 miles,
don't miss the HooDoos!
Bryce Canyon farthest point - 94 miles
Escalante-GSC (Hogback)
- 125 miles with a nice
place for a pit stop at the end.
Lake Powell
/ Glen Canyon Dam
- 71 miles
These are just a FEW of the destinations and rides we took. Luckily in this part of the world, there are very
few bad roads. Just point the bike in a general direction and head out! If ya
miss a turn.........who cares?? There will be another.........<G>. (Thanx
EZ.)
A nice introduction to the area is Max Bertola's Southern Utah Site. Loads of good info there including directions to Butch Cassidy's home.
Also some of Utemike's rides are hosted at Fergy's Site with nice maps including time distance and comments. Thanx Fergy!
National Park Pass:
Most national parks have entry fees. Consider getting a National Parks Pass, they're $50 and allow you and your spouse/family entry into any National Park. Entry fees for two at Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon during the rally will exceed the cost of the NPP and the Pass is good for a full year from it's first use, buy one now and you'll be all set when you get here. Some of the other parks included are Arches, Canyonlands, Pipe Spring Monument, Cedar Breaks, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Dinosaur, Great Basin and many many more in across the US. To order a Pass online click here.
If you or a friend is an REI
member, you my get a $10 REI Coupon when purchasing the NPP from their stores.
You must go into an REI to make the purchase.
You can also order by phone at 1-888-GO PARKS (mailing fee of $3.95). When ordering
by phone there is a $2 discount for AAA members or a $5 discount for AARP members.
You can purchase a NPP at a Park Entrance for $50, but bring cash most are not
set up for credit cards or checks.
If you are 62 (or older), you can buy a Golden Age Lifetime Pass for a one time
fee of $10. But these can only be purchased at a Park Entrance with a valid
Driver's license as proof of age.
This is from the Park Service FAQs:
Q. My spouse and I are each riding our own motorcycle, will one NPP cover both
our entries?
A. Yes. Except at those parks that have a separate motorcycle fee, the pass
admits the pass holder, spouse, parents, and children. At parks with a separate
motorcycle fee, the pass allows the pass holder and any additional rider(s)
on the same motorcycle.
Both Zion and Grand Canyon North have a $10 motorcycle fee.
A BIG thanks goes out to the fabulous 4Es and Utemike for pulling off this great rally!
Also thanx to Craig for the great logo up top, which
Flaco and Badger incorporated into Rally Pins
and Piper
has incorporated into shirts that really suited the event.
If your travels take to East instead of West, consider stopping by Heaven on Earth for Riders, The Kickstand Lodge.
Selling Solutions, not Promises .