Highway 261 in SE Utah

[Denno]

Has anyone rode Highway 261 in Utah from 95 south to 163 on their Spyder?
From what I understand it contains about 3 miles of gravel switchbacks called Moki Dugway, with several parts of the gravel section being a fairly steep climb - don't know the degree of ascent.
Planning on incorporating that in a ride we are starting on Sunday, won't get to it until Tuesday, so any info from anyone who has already done that route would be greatly appreciated.

As always, riding 2-up on a 2016 RT, no trailer for now.

Thanks

[UtahPete]

Has anyone rode Highway 261 in Utah from 95 south to 163 on their Spyder? From what I understand it contains about 3 miles of gravel switchbacks called Moki Dugway, with several parts of the gravel section being a fairly steep climb - don't know the degree of ascent. Planning on incorporating that in a ride we are starting on Sunday, won't get to it until Tuesday, so any info from anyone who has already done that route would be greatly appreciated. As always, riding 2-up on a 2016 RT, no trailer for now. Thanks

It's a good road . Take it easy and you will be fine.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Has anyone rode Highway 261 in Utah from 95 south to 163 on their Spyder?
From what I understand it contains about 3 miles of gravel switchbacks called Moki Dugway, with several parts of the gravel section being a fairly steep climb - don't know the degree of ascent.

For questions of this sort Google Maps with Street View and Satellite View are your friends! Take a look.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2727...!7i3328!8i1664

https://www.google.com/maps/place/UT-261,+Mexican+Hat,+UT+84531/@37.2728021,-109.938645,630m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87376cf9cf92bab9:0x95e14 261d6c27d30!8m2!3d37.1951609!4d-109.8659213

Yep, there's gravel there!

[canamjhb]

Rode that section about 10 years ago on a Goldwing. It was fairly steep but not too bad. Several riders on 2 and 3 wheelers and the 3 wheelers had no concerns. Biggest issue for me was blind corners and little or no guard rails. I wanted to take my half of the road right down the middle. Should be no problem with the Spyder. Just go slow.....

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I just did some checking for the fun of it. The gravel section is 2.3 mile.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.2...e3!4m2!4m1!3e0 Click on Details if the route doesn't show up in blue right away.

[Ex-Rocket]

On our trip last year out west, bikes that consisted of 2 Harleys, one Indian and my Spyder, only the Indian and 1 of the Harleys traveled that rode. I didn't ride it cause I was afraid a rock would get into my belt. They told me later on after they rode it that there was a lot of loose gravel. So I was happy I made the decision I did.

[oldgoat]

I've done it many, many times in a car/suv & the blind corners can be worrisome. If I see motorcycles coming the opposite way to me I always stop until they have passed me. They are appreciative & always wave.

I would do it on my Spyder, but slowly.

Just at the top of the Moki Dugway on the left as you go up is a turning to Muley Point. It is a sandy road & can be very dusty. Maybe 2 miles long & more slabs of rock than sand as you approach the end. I've never seen a 2 or 3 wheeler on it but the views at the end are magnificent.

Enjoy your ride. I would love to do it on my Spyder but will have to imagine it instead.

[UtahPete]

I've done it many, many times in a car/suv & the blind corners can be worrisome. If I see motorcycles coming the opposite way to me I always stop until they have passed me. They are appreciative & always wave. I would do it on my Spyder, but slowly.

Just at the top of the Moki Dugway on the left as you go up is a turning to Muley Point. It is a sandy road & can be very dusty. Maybe 2 miles long & more slabs of rock than sand as you approach the end. I've never seen a 2 or 3 wheeler on it but the views at the end are magnificent.

Enjoy your ride. I would love to do it on my Spyder but will have to imagine it instead.

[KX5062]

I've done it on 2 wheels. I don't think a Spyder would have any issues, provided you have Spyder Pop's missing belt guard. Without some additional rock/gravel protection it would worry me a little about the belt. Otherwise, no issues that I can think of.

[jaherbst]

Done it on two wheels and it was fun. Spyder should be a "piece of cake".

Jack

[UtahPete]

Done it on two wheels and it was fun. Spyder should be a "piece of cake". Jack

Did you ever do the Shafer Trail near Moab, Jack?

Shafer Trail switchbacks.jpg

[UtahPete]

Mogi Dugway;

Shafer Trail;

[asp125]

I've done Shafers in my truck, looking forward to doing it this fall on my dual sport.

[jaherbst]

Did you ever do the Shafer Trail near Moab, Jack?

Shafer Trail switchbacks.jpg

As a matter of fact yes several times. Utah is my favorite state in the whole US to ride. A lot of single trail riding around Moab on dirt bikes but these old bones are starting to bark back at me. I have tamed my adventure riding now to a Can AM Maverick. Should be back in Moab in June after Hemet CA end of May.

​Jack

[UtahPete]

I've done Shafers in my truck, looking forward to doing it this fall on my dual sport.

I did it in my Xterra. I think it would have been better on a bike - even a Spyder. Couldn't see the edges from a cage...

[Denno]

Utah is my favorite state in the whole US to ride.

​Jack

Thanks to all for their input on this road. We just returned from our Utah trip and I have to agree that it is one of the most beautiful states to ride. We chose not to head east toward 261 due to a change in the weather so from Bryce Canyon we went southwest to Hoover Dam via Lake Mead recreation area - what a beautiful ride and perfect weather. The Pat Tillman Memorial bridge was very impressive, at 900 feet above the Colorado River, it is the 2nd highest bridge in the U.S. and the world's highest concrete arch bridge.
We did get a good dose of dirt road riding however as on the way home we took 73 south from Williams AZ through some beautiful forests but it turns into a very un-maintained dirt road that you either take for about 30 miles south to Jerome or turn west and head on 71 about 10 miles to highway 89.
I would not recommend either route as we barely got out of 1st gear the majority of the time due to the condition of the road. We never met a single vehicle on the road - nice from that respect, but very rocky and open range country where you would not want to have a mechanical issue.

We decided we will take 261 early this summer on our 2nd trip up that way so looking forward to that.

On a secondary note, this is our first time my wife and Iare taking trips this early in the year since it's the first time we are both retired. We've done trips a dozen times in the summer months and this time (in May, middle of the week) we expected the crowds and prices to be less than usual. However we found the parks to be crowded (both Zion and Bryce) and motel prices to be higher than expected. Our summer trip from AZ to Nova Scotia that is coming up - I think we have to budget more dollars all the way around if this last trip is any indication of what we can expect.
Thanks again.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

On a secondary note, this is our first time my wife and Iare taking trips this early in the year since it's the first time we are both retired. We've done trips a dozen times in the summer months and this time (in May, middle of the week) we expected the crowds and prices to be less than usual. However we found the parks to be crowded (both Zion and Bryce) and motel prices to be higher than expected.

The tourist season for all the parks and monuments in Utah and AZ starts about May 1 and ends about Sept 30. You either pre-plan months in advance or be willing to often lose the gamble for accommodations. A hotel manager in Flagstaff told me hotels run about 96% full in that time period.

[oldgoat]

We drive around Utah most years in late Aug & Sept. This Aug the cost of the Holiday Inn Express in Moab has really shot up from previous visits. Being a cheapskate it has already taken some of the gloss off the upcoming visit to that beautiful area.

Wifey ( who deals with these things) says hotel prices in general in the southwest tourist areas are up a lot and we book in Dec/Jan, To compound it all our $ is down. GRRR.

[UtahPete]

We drive around Utah most years in late Aug & Sept. This Aug the cost of the Holiday Inn Express in Moab has really shot up from previous visits. Being a cheapskate it has already taken some of the gloss off the upcoming visit to that beautiful area.

Wifey ( who deals with these things) says hotel prices in general in the southwest tourist areas are up a lot and we book in Dec/Jan, To compound it all our $ is down. GRRR.

Yes I'm afraid that is true for the popular destinations. Seek out rural towns for accommodations and ride to the attractions. Or, just ignore the attractions altogether. The roads are the attraction.

[pegasus1300]

We are finding that if you search you AirB&B you can often get a great room much cheaper then a motel.Also check the Mom & Pop motels,they are cheaper and can some times be bargained with. You know the older 1 story motels built in an "L" shape.

[GOZFST]

As a matter of fact yes several times. Utah is my favorite state in the whole US to ride. A lot of single trail riding around Moab on dirt bikes but these old bones are starting to bark back at me. I have tamed my adventure riding now to a Can AM Maverick. Should be back in Moab in June after Hemet CA end of May.

​Jack

Chicken Corners was one of my favorite rides in Moab, did it on my BMW F650gs.

[UtahPete]

Chicken Corners was one of my favorite rides in Moab, did it on my BMW F650gs.

I'm too chicken

[canamjhb]

We are finding that if you search you AirB&B you can often get a great room much cheaper then a motel.Also check the Mom & Pop motels,they are cheaper and can some times be bargained with. You know the older 1 story motels built in an "L" shape.

We tour the west usually July-August for 4-5 weeks. Gets us out of the desert heat for a few weeks. Wife does all the motel booking. She always tries to book locally owned small motels with good, clean reviews. It is our way of doing a small part to contribute to the local economies we are visiting..... Local owners seem to be more accommodating. We like that.