Best of the West – CO to CA

Today we leave Rawhyde Colorado and spend the entire day surrounded by towering peaks and classic Rocky Mountain scenery as we ride up and over Weston Pass. At 26.5 miles long and nearly 12,000 feet in elevation, Weston Pass is one of Colorado’s highest mountain roads. Originally built in 1860, it was known as the Road to Riches because prospectors crossed it in pursuit of gold and silver. Along the way, we often see remnants of old cabins, beaver dams, and sweeping high-altitude views. Before climbing the pass, Rawhyde coaches review high mountain riding techniques, including line choice, clutch control, and managing traction on loose surfaces. From there, we continue up and over the Continental Divide via Hagerman Pass, our second nearly 12,000 foot crossing of the day. At the summit, riders are treated to panoramic views of Turquoise Lake to the east and the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness to the southwest. Coaches use this section to reinforce safe descending techniques and visual scanning as the terrain transitions from alpine rock to rugged forest roads. We then drop into the Roaring Fork Valley for a lunch stop in Carbondale, dining in the magnificent shadow of 12,953 foot Mount Sopris, where rocky ridgelines tower above crystal clear waters. After lunch, we head south along CO 133 through quiet mountain landscapes before arriving in Hotchkiss. The final stretch brings us up Highway 50 and into Grand Junction for the night, wrapping up a full day of riding, skill application, and breathtaking Colorado scenery.

We bid farewell to Colorado today and enter Utah by following the Colorado River along Highway 128, passing the remains of the historic Dewey Bridge, the towering Fisher Towers, and the striking red rock walls leading into Castle Valley. Before entering this section, Rawhyde coaches review on-road cornering skills, visual scanning, and safe pacing through narrow canyon corridors. From Castle Valley we climb past Castleton Tower and into the La Sal Mountains, riding the scenic Loop Road before descending into Moab for lunch. After lunch, the terrain shifts again as we ride down Potash Road past prehistoric dinosaur footprints, offering a perfect moment for coaches to discuss traction management and body positioning for loose, uneven surfaces. From there, we head up the Shafer Canyon Trail, an 18 mile dirt road that includes a dramatic ascent of the legendary Shafer Switchbacks. With sheer drops, tight hairpins, and expansive views across Canyonlands National Park, this climb is one of the most iconic training environments in the West. Coaches provide guidance before riders begin the ascent, reinforcing safe line choice, clutch control, and proper downhill and uphill techniques. The Shafer Trail was originally carved into the cliffs by uranium miners in the mid-twentieth century, and its narrow ledges and serpentine twists remain unchanged. It is the gateway to the famous White Rim Trail and a must-ride experience for any ADV rider. After conquering this breathtaking section of Canyonlands, we continue west to Hanksville, Utah, home of the Mars Desert Research Station. The surrounding landscape is so surreal and alien that many riders say it feels like traveling on Mars itself. This day blends stunning scenery, meaningful skill development, and some of the most unforgettable terrain in the American Southwest.

We leave the Mars-like landscape of Hanksville and make our way through Capitol Reef National Park, a stunning ribbon of red rock country in south-central Utah. The park surrounds the Waterpocket Fold, a 100 mile long wrinkle in the earth filled with golden sandstone layers, narrow canyons, and dramatic rock formations. As we enter the park, Rawhyde coaches review key techniques for riding through winding pavement and mixed-surface transitions, helping riders stay smooth and confident as the terrain shifts between tight curves and wide open desert vistas. From Capitol Reef we continue to the small town of Loa, known for its distinctive black igneous stone buildings, before heading toward our lunch stop in Beaver. This section includes a mix of highway and scenic byways, offering another chance for coaches to reinforce safe passing strategies, visual scanning, and proper cornering on mountain pavement. After lunch, we continue northwest into Nevada and onto Highway 50, famously known as the Loneliest Road in America. We spend the night in Ely, Nevada, a historic town originally founded as a stagecoach stop along the Pony Express and the Central Overland Route. It is the perfect place to unwind after a full day of diverse terrain, skill development, and classic western landscapes.

Today we ride west along Highway 50, the famed Loneliest Highway in America. Despite its reputation, this stretch of road is full of life, history, and wide open beauty. As we cross Nevada, it is common to see herds of wild horses, pronghorn, and free range cattle grazing across the open basins. Along the way, Rawhyde coaches review pavement techniques such as proper cornering, visual scanning, lane positioning, and managing wind exposure, all of which are essential for riding confidently through long, remote stretches of high desert highway. We will pass the remains of Pony Express and Overland Stagecoach stations and ride sections once crossed by settlers, prospectors, and railroad crews during the westward expansion. Depending on timing and group interest, we may stop at Spencer Hot Springs (39.3269, -116.8598) for a soak or hike to the Hickison Petroglyphs (39.44868, -116.73785) to explore ancient rock carvings that tell stories from thousands of years ago. Our lunch stop is in the historic town of Austin before continuing west toward Carson City. Along the way we pass Sand Mountain, an enormous, shifting dune that rises out of the desert like a mirage. While Life Magazine dubbed Highway 50 the Loneliest Road in America back in 1986, they missed the truth. This road is filled with small towns, dramatic mountain passes, open vistas, and a sense of solitude that makes every mile unforgettable. With solid pavement skills reinforced by coaching and endless scenery surrounding you, today becomes one of the most peaceful and rewarding days of the training-tour.

Today we ride over the Sierra Nevada and descend the western side into California’s historic gold country via one of the most intimate and untamed trans-Sierra routes: the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway. Rising from the heart of the Sierra with Lake Tahoe and Yosemite as its neighbors, this 61 mile stretch of Highways 4 and 89 delivers some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the West. Before beginning the climb, Rawhyde coaches review key pavement skills, including cornering technique, braking strategy, lane positioning, and body posture for tight mountain switchbacks. The day unfolds through glacially carved valleys, granite outcroppings, basalt columns, ancient volcanic peaks, deep river canyons, and thick forests. Riders may spot bald eagles, Giant Sequoia groves, open meadows, pristine alpine lakes, and cascading streams as the route winds across the high Sierra. Throughout the ride, coaches reinforce proper scanning, smooth throttle control, and safe descending techniques to help riders navigate narrow lanes, exposed drop-offs, and the rhythm of continuous elevation changes. After crossing Ebbetts Pass we continue along Highway 49 into Angels Camp, then stop for lunch in Sonora before heading south. It is a stunning and skill rich day, blending world class mountain scenery with continuous real world training in one of the most iconic landscapes in California.

Today marks our final day of riding as we leave California’s gold country and head south on Highway 33 toward Frazier Park before returning to Rawhyde Ranch in northern Los Angeles County. Highway 33 is one of California’s classic motorcycle roads, filled with flowing curves, mountain grades, and beautiful scenery. Before we begin the descent and twistier sections, Rawhyde coaches review proper on-road cornering technique, visual scanning, lane positioning, and smooth throttle control to help riders finish the training-tour with confidence and precision. We stop for lunch in Taft, then continue south through the mountains toward Frazier Park, enjoying one last stretch of wide open pavement and big-sky views. Upon arrival at Rawhyde Ranch, riders can relax and enjoy the hospitality of the Rawhyde Ranch, the Dakar Bar, and even an outdoor shower. It is the perfect ending to an unforgettable journey, wrapping up a week of adventure, skill development, and spectacular riding across the American West.