January 4, 2019
Best Motorcycle Rides Around Prescott
Best Motorcycle Rides Around Prescott
The Arizona motorcycle experience provides scenic beauty with an old western touch. Take part in road adventures by exploring the vast landscapes of the epic southwest!
If you’re shopping for a new bike, needing parts, repair, or service, you’ll find four convenient Harley-Davidson locations in northern Arizona, down the road from Prescott.
Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson® is Northern Arizona’s only authorized Harley-Davidson® retailer. The dealerships in Bellemont and Mayer offer a large selection of new and pre-owned bikes as well as top of the line service, sales, and parts departments. Satellite locations, Whiskey Row Harley-Davidson® and Sedona Harley-Davidson®, have all the licensed MotorClothes® apparel and a wide array of wild west history.
138 S Montezuma St, Prescott
320 N. SR 89A, Suite #1, Sedona
10434 Highway 69, Mayer 
Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson in Bellemont
I—40, Exit 185, Bellemont
Recommended Rides:
Iron Springs to Bagdad via Co. Rd. 10, Bagdad Rd. and AZ-96W. 47 miles
This is a gorgeous ride through untouched desert. The road is isolated and well paved, but narrow and flat. You’ll see a variety of igneous and metamorphic rock formations, all derived from old volcanic and underground action. Most of the roads are in pretty good shape and it’s easy to hold a moderate speed. Bagdad has gas, garages, cafes and a cool, silver 50s diner. Kirkland has one café/bar. Skull Valley has one (crowded during lunchtime) café.
Lake Mary Rd from Flagstaff to Payson, 85 miles
Start at Lake Mary Road just south of Flagstaff on I-17. (Indian Route 3) Continue south to State Route 87, then go south on 87 which leads to Payson.
Drive by Lake Mary and through tall pines on nice gentle curves until the stop sign at Highway 87. Turn south and again enjoy the cooler temperature of the forest. You’ll be traveling through Coconino National Forest. As you leave the forest and start to come down off the rim, take care coming down the mountain as there are sharp curves and slow traffic coming up the hill. Continue through Pine and Strawberry on into Payson.
All the roads are two lane and well maintained. Be on the lookout for road kill and at night LOTS of Deer and Elk will cross your path.
Flagstaff to Sedona on the Incredible 89A, 28 miles
Considered one of the BEST routes in Arizona as well as the entire western half of the U.S. Starts out up in the lush rugged forests of Flagstaff and runs south to the canyon and rock formations surrounding Sedona. You will be driving through what is known as the Old Creek Canyon on road 89A (also known as “Oak Creek Canyon Drive”). If you go in the October/November time frame, you might be lucky enough to see the aspens and oaks in their full fall glory.
This road can have some awesome switch backs and steep ascents/descents. Most consider it a perfect five-star road quality, except for the fact that it can be crowded at certain times of the year and it requires motorcyclists to be extra careful considering that all the car drivers are dividing their attention between the road and the scenery.
Grand Canyon South Rim, 154 miles
This is a must-see road in Arizona. From Cameron to the Little Colorado River Gorge is high desert and interesting but, from here on it just goes from good to breathtaking. Beginning at Desert View and Mary Colter’s Watchtower all the way to Mather Point, the problem is making any time due to stopping constantly for photos and to take in the view. The road is well maintained inside the park. If you don’t want to cover the mileage in one day there is lodging at the El Tovar (make reservations).
Cottonwood Canyon Run, 120 miles
Amazing scenery! (From Phoenix) Starting just north of Wickenburg, the drive starts in a desert setting and quickly climbs the side of a mountain to enter pine country. Goes through Prescott and ends in Cottonwood with the option to continue to Flagstaff on another of the state’s great scenic roads. Road can become steep at certain times and very twisty. Be sure to take breaks to allow bike brakes to cool (depending on your speed). The road is very smooth overall. The road north of Jerome will scare those who don’t like “edge of the steep cliff” narrow roads. Several towns along the way for food or gas.
Great views and vistas! Start from high desert in the Verde Valley and make your way into the cool pines. Some tight twisty climbing to gentle rolling sweepers through the trees. Road quality is good with twisty sections. Watch for Elk in early morning and evening.
More great information is available on Motorcycleroads.com.
Thirty minutes outside of downtown Prescott, Talking Rock is private, guard-gated master-planned community offering a variety of home sites including custom builds, on the golf course, two to 10-acre lots, and read- to-move- in options. Visit Talking Rock. https://talkingrockaz.com/.