Southwest

September 2012

Southwest

Links

Stats

Distance
5408 mi
Days
19
States
6 *
  1. Texas
  2. Oklahoma
  3. New Mexico
  4. Colorado
  5. Utah
  6. Arizona
National Parks &c.
16 *
  1. Great Sand Dunes NP
  2. Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
  3. Canyonlands NP
  4. Arches NP
  5. Natural Bridges NM
  6. Capitol Reef NP
  7. Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
  8. Bryce NP
  9. Zion NP
  10. Glen Canyon NRA
  11. Monumnent Valley NNTP
  12. Petrified Forest NP
  13. White Sands NM
  14. Carlsbad Caverns NP
  15. Guadalupe Mountains NP
  16. Big Bend NP

A five thousand mile motorcycle trip from Austin, up to Oklahoma City, and then along Route 66 towards Santa Fe, with many stops in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, before returning to Texas and skirting the Mexican border on my way back to Austin.

Highlights included hanging out with Rusty and Merin in Santa Fe; climbing the enormous sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park; visiting the amazing rock formations of Monument Valley, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park; walking out into the snowy gypsum landscape of White Sands National Park; seeing lots of bats at Carlsbad Caverns and the Devil's Sinkhole; and camping in a nearly-deserted Big Bend National Park.