Why I Love Utah (and motorcycles)

From time to time I encounter people from both coasts of the USA who openly wonder why anyone like me would ever want to live in a flyover state, especially one where you have to be around so many Mormons!

Religious bigotry aside, I am frequently amazed and humbled to live in such a beautiful place like Utah with such great access to the outdoors and all manner of sports and activities.

One of my favorite activities is riding motorcycles, especially my Ducati Multistrada 1200S. I think that would be true anywhere, but especially in Utah.

Ducati Multistrada 1200S

There are so many great motorcycle rides in Utah! You can ride the perimeter of Utah lake. You can ride up through the Cottonwood Canyons (big and little) or to Park City. You can ride Ogden Canyon, Monte Cristo, Bear Lake, and down into Evanston. You can ride the high country through the Mirror Lake area and the High Uintas. You can ride the national parks and all through Southern Utah. But my favorite ride in Utah is even closer to home and highlights some of the best scenery I've ever seen in my life.

The ride begins and ends in Provo. You head up through Provo Canyon to Deer Creek Reservoir, Heber, and then south to Daniel's Summit and Strawberry Reservoir. Then you head north to Tabiona, then west to Hanna, Wolf Creek Pass, Francis, and Jordanelle Reservoir. Finally you loop back into Heber and down into Provo.

Motorcycle ride route

Why do I like this ride so much? Nowhere else can you see so much great scenery in a (relatively) quick 3-4 hour ride. Once you start heading up Provo Canyon, stop 1 is Bridalveil Falls.

Bridalveil Falls, Provo Canyon

You keep following the Provo river up through Provo Canyon.

Railroad bridge, Provo River between Deer Creek Dam and Vivian Park

Once you emerge at the top of Provo Canyon you find Deer Creek Reservoir.

Deer Creek Reservoir

A few miles more and you are in Heber. In Heber, turn right to the south-west towards Daniels Summit. As you ride up this canyon you follow Strawberry Creek.

Strawberry Creek

At the top of the canyon you get to Daniels Summit.

Daniels Summit

Now you start heading downhill and quickly arrive at Strawberry Reservoir.

Strawberry Reservoir

After passing Strawberry, you start seeing some Utah farmland.

This is a scenic overlook and the picture doesn't make it look very scenic but it's actually very beautiful.

You also start seeing some Utah red rock that becomes more and more prevalent the further you ride south.

A few miles past Strawberry there is a turnoff where you can head north to Tabiona. Tabiona is a little farming community that is absolutely gorgeous - ringed by mountains with lush green fields, lots of streams running this way and that way, and tons of horses, cows, and sheep.

Tabiona cows

Tabiona horses

As you head out of Tabiona and pass Hanna, there are some beautiful streams.

Near the top of Wolf Creek Pass the snow often lasts through the summer.

Wolf Creek Pass

And it is heavily forested.

Wolf Creek Forest

Coming down the steep grade from Wolf Creek Pass you find the headwaters of the Provo River coming out of the High Uintas.

Provo River

The Provo River empties into Jordanelle Reservoir.

Jordanelle Reservoir

Jordanelle has a nice overlook of the dam.

Jordanelle Dam

My bid, bad motorcycle gang

After Jordanelle it's back through Heber, down Provo Canyon, and then you're home! What a ride. It's really breathtaking. The temperature ranges from summer hot in the valleys to winter cold at the summits and mountain passes. I love it all. Just one more perfect day riding in a flyover state.