Arizona winter riding

[Bluenoser]

I'm considering a trip to Arizona, possibly New Mexico at the end of January.  I'm trying to figure out where would be a good location to book a room for 3 weeks or more,  fairly close to good paved road riding but also fairly warm.  4x4 off roading will happen as well but riding is priority.  A week or 2 in more than 1 location would also work.  From what I've determined so far the better riding is mostly NE of Phoenix but the temperatures will be too low.  Suggestions??

[chrisolson]

59 minutes ago, Bluenoser said:

From what I've determined so far the better riding is mostly NE of Phoenix but the temperatures will be too low.  Suggestions??

 

Yes, the northern half of Arizona is surprisingly high in altitude and correspondingly cold in the winter ...  below freezing in AM and mid 40-50 in PM  .  As a home base, Phoenix would be acceptable temp wise and has a close, great Jeep Badge of Honor 4x4 trail (Back Way To Crown King) .  There are  some interesting and short-day doable out and back MC road routes possible (its winter so you most likely will get a later start with shorter daylight hours available) .  But you still will need to ride out of town a ways before finding some interesting roads. Most will go to "high country" but you'll hit that in the warmer part of the day.

 

Outside of Phoenix Payson would be your best bet . Closer to good MC riding and some 4x4 but it would be significantly cooler  . Tucson would be OK temp-wise, but there's not a lot of great riding in the near-Tucson area.

 

Ultimately I don't have a really good suggestion consistent with "fairly warm" ...  a quick google check on average temps per Arizona city are pretty accurate but you could also hit a stretch days with temps in the mid 60's to low 70's.  But impossible to predict .

 

Maybe @Dennis Andress  will have something less pessimistic to offer 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dennis Andress]

I stayed at several different VRBOs around Tucson last November and December. The majority of the places I stayed were pretty marginal, heck a buddy named one of them "Al Capone's hideout." Tucson, and I assume Phoenix, see an influx of visitors from January through late May, so it is hard to find a good short term rental. Weather wise, March would be a better time to visit.

 

There is good riding in southern Arizona. Some of it might be hard to fit in a short winter day, but it's always fun to try. I'm willing to lead a few day trips.

 

Tucson offers good food and good music in a relaxed "anything goes" society. While it is true that a lot of our drivers are rather aggressive, things have improved since we got rid of the suicide lanes.

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Dennis Andress
I found a better picture

[Bluenoser]

15 hours ago, chrisolson said:

 

Yes, the northern half of Arizona is surprisingly high in altitude and correspondingly cold in the winter ...  below freezing in AM and mid 40-50 in PM  .  As a home base, Phoenix would be acceptable temp wise and has a close, great Jeep Badge of Honor 4x4 trail (Back Way To Crown King) .  There are  some interesting and short-day doable out and back MC road routes possible (its winter so you most likely will get a later start with shorter daylight hours available) .  But you still will need to ride out of town a ways before finding some interesting roads. Most will go to "high country" but you'll hit that in the warmer part of the day.

 

Outside of Phoenix Payson would be your best bet . Closer to good MC riding and some 4x4 but it would be significantly cooler  . Tucson would be OK temp-wise, but there's not a lot of great riding in the near-Tucson area.

 

Ultimately I don't have a really good suggestion consistent with "fairly warm" ...  a quick google check on average temps per Arizona city are pretty accurate but you could also hit a stretch days with temps in the mid 60's to low 70's.  But impossible to predict .

 

Maybe @Dennis Andress  will have something less pessimistic to offer 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for replying.  Payson looks like a good location, the Feb forecast is highs of 50-60, elevation is 5000 ft.  Looks like a great area.

[Bluenoser]

15 hours ago, Dennis Andress said:

I stayed at several different VRBOs around Tucson last November and December. The majority of the places I stayed were pretty marginal, heck a buddy named one of them "Al Capone's hideout." Tucson, and I assume Phoenix, see an influx of visitors from January through late May, so it is hard to find a good short term rental. Weather wise, March would be a better time to visit.

 

There is good riding in southern Arizona. Some of it might be hard to fit in a short winter day, but it's always fun to try. I'm willing to lead a few day trips.

 

Tucson offers good food and good music in a relaxed "anything goes" society. While it is true that a lot of our drivers are rather aggressive, things have improved since we got rid of the suicide lanes.

 

Thanks Dennis.   The weather forecast is certainly good for Tucson, seems to be quite far away from interesting roads though. 🤔 Mt Lemmon area would be very nice but probably not feasible in Jan or Feb. 

[Dennis Andress]

34 minutes ago, Bluenoser said:

...  seems to be quite far away from interesting roads though. 🤔 

 

There are roads down here that are not talked about. Lots of history too.

[chrisolson]

Camp Verde could be a viable option temp wise with lots of good riding / sightseeing options east/west/north of there but not sure of your accomodation requirements / budget .  Camp Verde is  rural Arizona ... but there is a casino 

[Bumwah]

I just returned from a trip to Bullhead City, and on to Tucson and returning back to Northern California. I chose highways less traveled until Bakersfield 

Then it was 99 to 58 to 40 and the Mo-have… Met a friend in Newberry Springs and we rode together to BHC.He opened my eyes to a desert Buggy, a side by side though the desert flora and mountains.What a gas! Then we rode down to Tucson. The road bypasses Phoenix and Rolls through Gila Bend .There are no speed limits in Arizona. Is not true! But why there are speed limit signs, puzzles me. Under normal conditions 99% of the road time is solo. I’ve ridden hours and passed one car and 3 went by. Sometimes it’s not that busy. The interstates  are different. Trucks Rule butt, speeds are flexible. Make sure the trucks have room to pass and the road is clear.Make sure you keep your eyes open… Eight Day Ride 2 Arizona Troopers 2 CHP, 1800 miles 2004 1150RT. What a terrific motorcycle.My friend Rick was on a more modern 2022 R1250RT. My trip was cut short due to a big rainstorm in the Bay Area butt, I made it home DRY! The desert riding is fun except on the Interstates butt, they are a necessary evil, and tye together the lesser used desert highways held together by truck stops. It was a gas and our motorcycles performed incredibly! By all means… Ride Arizona!

[Twisties]

We enjoy Tucson, Organ Pipe and Chiracuhua in the winter months.  Maybe more for the sights, eats and things to do than street riding, but there is some.  Riding through Sagauro NP East is always a treat.  The ride to Arizona Sonora Desert Museum through Gates Pass is also worthy, as is ASDM itself.  Riding in Chiracahua and Organ Pipe can be good, or you can do some 4x4 in those areas.  Tons to see in the area.  We've ridden street bikes on the Ajo Mtn Loop  in Organ Pipe, but it's pretty rugged and I got a flat....  probably best done with a dual sport. 

One year we did get snowed on in Bisbee and ended up holed up in Tucson for several days, but usually it's pretty nice down there.  Up near Phx we like the Apache trail for riding.  Again, we've done it on RTs, but a dual sport is more appropriate.   I'm not sure when desert wildflower season starts, but if you can catch that, it's well worth it.  Probably later, though....end of February or into March, I think