Arizona

A collection of 57 posts

City Escape

City Escape: Flagstaff, Arizona

As the youngest state to be admitted into the contiguous U.S., Arizona still can still feel like a frontier. From tourist luxury in Sedona to semi-abandoned history in Skull Valley, central Arizona offers a wide range of options for motorcycle travelers to explore. Tourist-friendly natural beauty can be found

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Valley of the Gods—A Good Adventure for Father and Son

“The adventure leads the ride.” —JJ Lewis It was July, 107 degrees, and not a sliver of shade in sight. My son Ben had just ripped a gash in his rear tire on the razor-like rocks so common in this part of the northeastern Arizona desert. It was a “good

Travel Guide

10 US Riding Destinations with Bizarre Names

Some riding destinations in North America have evocative, awe-inspiring names, like the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Sea to Sky Highway. The names for some other places are… Less so. Many locations in the U.S. have decidedly mind-boggling names. But that makes them worth taking your bike to—if

Classic Roads Premium Content

El Camino del Diablo—A Baptism of Fire

El Camino del Diablo, or the Devil’s Highway, has earned its ominous name. This Native American and pioneer trail snakes through the formidable Sonoran and Yuma Deserts in Arizona, uniting Ajo to Yuma amidst the Tinajas Altas Mountains. During our ride through the devilish road, our friends Beth and

Destinations

The Wickedest Town in the West—Jerome, AZ

Motorcyclists riding into Jerome, AZ, can expect this small, charming mountain town to get the good times rolling as soon as you arrive. Had your visit taken place some 120 years earlier, though, you may not have received such a warm welcome. At the time, Jerome had the dubious honor

Travel Guide

9 Spectacular Places to Visit in Arizona

Heat, sand, and cacti—that’s Arizona in the popular imagination. But the state has much more to offer for a moto traveler who knows where to point their front wheel. Arizona sports a huge variety of Southwestern environments, from its famous sun-scorched desert to tranquil lakes, awesome (in the

Travel Guide

4 Unique Desert Rides

Deserts possess a unique magic, but their serene beauty often masks inherent dangers. Yet, when you’re equipped for the ride with plenty of water, sun protection, and working high-quality maps, they can deliver unforgettable moto trips. Deserts offer properly prepared riders astonishing vistas and amazing landscapes, with sunrises and

Nov/Dec '23 Premium Content

Arizona: Cowboys, Miners, and the Devil's Highway

The red-sashed cowboy welcomed us to Tombstone, AZ. The outlaw challenged the Earp brothers as the O.K. Corral standoff began. “Wait, there are motorbikes in the street!” Joshua Manning and I were parked at Tombstone’s main street, the first stop of our epic Arizona route. The tour included

Travel Guide

6 Most Haunted Roads in the U.S.

We’re all fascinated with spirits, and roads have always been some of ghosts’ and goblins’ favorite haunts. They have their own brand of spooks, with seemingly every backwater town having its own Dead Man’s Curve. Myths and legends tell of restless spirits unable to leave these darkened roads

Travel Guide

3 Winter Ride Destinations You Haven't Thought Of

Depending on where you live in the U.S., winter often spells the end of the riding season. In some states, bikes are ritually put away and sit dormant for months to wait out the cold and freezing weather. However, there are many states where you can still find riding

News

How to Find the Aliens Among Us on Two Wheels

Sometimes you want a grander objective for a motorcycle tour than simply enjoying the open road and curves. If you’re after a truly otherworldly experience, why not hit the asphalt to look for proof of alien life? After all, the Congress recently got the most compelling testimony to date

Travel Guide

Explore 8 of the Most Otherworldly Landscapes in the US

If you're a motorcycle enthusiast looking for a journey that feels like it's straight out of a sci-fi movie, you're in for a treat. Across the U.S., there are destinations that boast distinctive flora and fauna, unique geological features, and other outlandish characteristics

Destinations

In Pursuit of Wildness: Great Basin National Park

“On the path that leads to Nowhere I have sometimes found my soul.”   – CORINNE ROOSEVELT ROBINSON Rarely do I ride 1,800 miles just because a stranger suggests an awesome ride, but I had just met a fellow rider, Scott, in Springerville, AZ, and he was already persuading me to

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

MotoGP 2023

Way back in 2005, my good friend Andrew Ferguson and I witnessed Nicky Hayden win the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca. What a glorious day it was for both him and Colin Edwards, who placed second ahead of Valentino Rossi. Hayden rode Honda and the Yamaha bikes were colored yellow

Travel Guide

10 Best Places for a Moto Stargazing Trip in America

The night sky has always fascinated us. Our ancestors saw the constellations and signs from ancient gods in the stars, while our modern knowledge and technology lets us gaze at distant planets—or look for flying saucers. Motorcycles are excellent vehicles for accessing fantastic stargazing spots. But where should you

Destinations

Experience Gold Rush Past at Goldfield Ghost Town in Arizona

Ancient volcanic and seismic activity in today’s Arizona created the Superstition Mountains and the valuable mineral deposits buried within. But their most valuable resource—gold—wasn’t discovered there until the early 1890s. That, along with the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, created a gold rush fever.

Travel Guide

10 Unique Summer Motorcycle Trip Destinations in the U.S.

At RoadRUNNER, we are always searching for new routes that take you to historically and socially significant destinations—and offer a fantastic riding experience. Here are 10 destinations to spark your wanderlust this summer. Cody, Wyoming Voted the Best Western Small Town by USA Today, Cody, WY, sits in the

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A U.S. Bucket List on a Budget

Slurping a coffee at Burnout Cafe in Vancouver, Canada, the butterflies in my tummy were doing barrel rolls. This was it! The start of our big ride from Canada to the southern tip of Argentina. With no house to sell and no apartment to rent out while we are gone,

Destinations

In Pursuit of Wildness: Canyon de Chelly National Monument

The rain is hard and relentless. The gas station ahead, a few miles from Window Rock, AZ, offers shelter. In seconds, the parking area is flooded, but my motorcycle is safe and dry. “Do not go out further just yet,” the old Navajo man says. “The roads will be full

Travel Guide

Top 10 Winter Motorcycling Destinations in America

Winter can be a dodgy time for motorcycling. There are places where the thought of rolling out on two wheels is an absolute impossibility. That said, there are a host of routes that you can enjoy even in the winter months. It may entail some planning and even require you

Destinations

In Pursuit of Wildness: Chiricahua National Monument

I’m on my motorcycle, heading west on I-10 back to California, when I see the sign for a destination totally unfamiliar to me: Chiricahua National Monument. Just the name sparks my interest. Although best known for being the home of the Grand Canyon, Arizona is rich with more than

Destinations

The Legendary Navajo Code Talkers’ Memorial in Window Rock, Arizona

“Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.” —Major Howard Connor, USMC 5th Marine Division Signal Officer In the South Pacific Theater of World War II, U.S. military forces had a significant problem. The Japanese were highly proficient at deciphering coded American communications.

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Riding from Mexico to Canada along US HWY 191

A little north of Tombstone, the coyote (Roadrunnerus digestus) emerges from the low scrub brush on the dusty shoulder of Arizona's SR 80. He stops mid-trot and watches with apparent nonchalance as our RoadRUNNER Gold Wing (Burn-em-upus asphaltus) breezes by. But I'm not fooled by his

Sep/Oct '22 Premium Content

New Beginnings and Mystery in Arizona and New Mexico

I dispensed warm goodbyes to riding friends in Arizona, saddled up, and turned the key in the ignition with a growing reluctance. Internalizing my petulance in the process, I was happy where I was. A heavy sigh betrayed a sadness in parting from the place. Our stint in Yavapai County

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Wild Winds Across the Badlands of New Mexico

Rarely do I heed a warning before a long-distance ride. This message, however, is from my nephew Ruben, who is a wildlands firefighter stationed in Silver City, NM. A credible source. His message is, "It's supposed to be very windy across New Mexico, starting tomorrow." He