Las Vegas and National Parks Motorcycle Tour

Las Vegas makes an easy start and finish for a week on a bike, and this self-guided loop uses it well. Seven nights, around 890 miles, and a route that takes in the Hoover Dam, a long stretch of Route 66, Sedona’s red rocks, the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.

The distances are short, between 105 and 215 miles a day, which makes this one of the more relaxed rides in the range. The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead come first, then Kingman, where Route 66 takes over through Seligman and the old mining town of Jerome on the climb to Sedona. The red rock formations there glow properly at sunset and are worth an evening of their own.

Oak Creek Canyon is the standout stretch, a switchback climb out of Sedona through pine forest, and it leads towards the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Cameron and the Vermillion Cliffs follow on the way to Page, then the route crosses into Utah for Zion National Park, riding the canyon road through its tunnels before turning back towards Nevada through Mesquite.

EAGLERIDER supplies the motorcycle and books each night’s accommodation, with Harley-Davidson touring models and Yamaha sport machines among the choices. Fuel, meals and insurance are handled separately. Being self-guided, there is no group and no timetable beyond the route notes, so mornings can start whenever they start. For a first American motorcycle trip, or for riders who would rather see more and ride less, this loop gets the balance about right, and Las Vegas at both ends keeps the flights straightforward.