Four Corners
Mountains, canyons, desert towers, rivers and more mountains!
Departure September 25 - September 29
$2200
Arrive Saturday night 9/24 in Durango
23 hours of total saddle time, 637 Miles, Intermediate skills
Launch into an epic adventure motorcycle trip into the Canyon Country of Southwestern Colorado and Southeastern Utah taking you through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the American Southwest, offering a perfect mix of off-road trails, scenic highways, and ancient ruins.
We begin in Durango, the home of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway and will immediately be surrounded by the big trees and deep valleys of the La Plata Mountains as we traverse across to the rarely traveled Dolores River Canyon, before heading out into the vast open spaces of the Utah desert.
After a quick gas stop in Monticello, we dive down into Montezuma Creek Canyon all the way towards the Navajo Indian Reservation before taking in the out of this world scenery of Valley of the Gods and the famous climb up the Moki Dugway! We will traverse Cedar Mesa, with fantastic views of the famous Bears Ears and then drop down into the sandy reaches of Butler Wash, and stop at the notorious road cut through Comb Ridge, made famous by Ed Abbey in his iconic book, The Monkey Wrench Gang.
From there we head into the Bears Ears National Monument area, crossing the Abajo Mountains and back into Monticello before heading back towards the Dolores River and eventually back into SW Colorado. Our final night under the stars will find us camping on the mesa above Dolores before awaking on our final to tackle the length of the Million Dollar Highway, from Ouray back to Durango, taking in Red Mountain, Molas, and Coal Bank passes on one of the finest motorcycling roads in all of North America!
This mountain and desert adventure is a fully supported off-road motorcycle experience, where we’ll journey through some of the most iconic desert locales . Forget hotels and crowded campsites—this is about sleeping in the backcountry, enjoying the distant landscapes and cooking around a campfire, and truly disconnecting from the modern world.
Gear up for an unforgettable journey as we explore the canyons and crazy topography of the Desert SouthWest!
Day 1: Durango, CO to Dolores River Canyon
We depart from Durango, CO and point north on Hwy 550, paralleling the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway tracks as we head towards Purgatory Ski Area and you will begin to feel the adventure take shape as we ride along dirt roads through the La Plata Range, embracing the panoramas of this remote region. We crest the La Platas at Hotel Draw, and traverse a high ridge with fantastic views off to each side. As we descend toward the Dolores River, then venture up the West Fork Road to Mavreeso Road, leading us across a plateau, the scenery begins to shift from the mountains to the open spectacle of the desert. We cross the Dolores River again at Bradfield Bridge before finally making your way deep into the Dolores River Canyon to set up camp along the riverbank, surrounded by towering cliffs, take a refreshing swim in the river and enjoy the serenity of the canyon at twilight.
~ 134 miles
Day 2: Dolores River Canyon to Muley Point
This promises to be a highlight day of riding in SE Utah as we rise early and climb out of the depths of the Dolores River Canyon, heading toward the open mesa lands of Eastern Utah. After stopping in Monticello to stock up on gas and supplies, we continue our journey down Montezuma Creek Canyon, including a stop to explore a 1000 year old pueblo area, and even drop down into a well preserved Kiva. We hug the northern edges of the Navajo Reservation before arriving at Bluff, a quaint watering hole set amongst the red rock mounds of SE Utah.. Next up is one of the highlights of our trip as we explore the Valley of the Gods, a landscape of towering red rock formations that will leave you speechless. Our day concludes with the thrilling ascent of the Moki Dugway, a series of gravel switchbacks that lead us to Muley Point, where we’ll camp and enjoy an unforgettable sunset over Monument Valley. Take a walk along the canyon rim, stare out over the Goosenecks area of the San Juan River and marvel at the carvings of mother nature!!
~ 152 miles
Day 3: Muley Point to Abajo Mountains
We open Day 3 with a ride across the Cedar Mesa area, known for its cliff dwellings and ancient ruins and great views of the two buttes known as Bear Ears. An awesome descent down Snow Flats Road takes us to Comb Wash, soaking in the beauty of the desert landscape as we go. Next we head north through Butler Wash passing a few pictograph sites for a quick hike, and riding the famous road cut through Comb Ridge, immortalized in Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang. After a brief stop, we’ll continue on our way up through the Bears Ears for which the Bears Ears National Monument is named before turning north towards the Abajo Mtns and camping in a lovely mountain meadow.
~ 117 miles
Day 4: Abajo Mountains to Dolores Area
We begin Day 4 riding along the Causeway as we head into the heart of the Abajo Mountains before crossing North Creek Pass and dropping back into Monticello for a quick re-supply. We then head back towards the Dolores River Canyon area, exploring some old uranium mining areas and taking in the incredible views of the canyon country of SW CO. The winding canyons covered in pinyon & juniper trees interspersed with sage make for a beautiful and aromatic stretch! Eventually we travel up on the mesa above the small village of Dolores, to set up camp for the evening, marveling at the vast desert sky.
~ 126 miles
Day 5: Dolores Area back to Durango
Day 5: Dolores Area back to Durango
We start our final day with a meander through the high desert meadows around Groundhog Reservoir, then we will head for the picturesque mountain towns of Norwood, Ridgway, and Ouray, each offering unique charm and stunning mountain views. As we ride from Norwood to Ridgway, we will pass by the Double RL Ranch, owned by fashion designer Ralph Lauren, and truly one of the most beautiful spots in all the mountain west, with alpine meadows and aspen groves backed by the 14,000’ Sneffels Range.
After a stop in Ouray, known as “The Switzerland of America”, our journey concludes with the legendary Million Dollar Highway, one of the most exhilarating and scenic routes in the U.S., crossing over the high altitude passes of Red Mountain, Molas and Coal Bank, and including a quick stopover in the offbeat mountain town of Silverton, all leading us back to Durango, where we will gather for a celebratory team dinner.
~ 167 miles
Minimum Gas Range per tank necessary - ~ 160 miles
While we will make every effort to ensure this is the route we follow for your trip, we reserve the right to alter the route due to road/trail conditions/closures, weather conditions, rider ability, timing, safety, etc. Please remember the variables that none of us can control and prepare yourselves! We look forward to sharing an adventure with you.