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I've gone down to Mesquite NV the last couple of winters for a week. You can get there in 2 days from Saskatoon, ride 5 days, and get back in 2 more, so one week with the weekend on each end (9 days) gives you a good trip.
Mesquite has a combination of a few things that make it a pretty good spot for a winter ride destination:
- It's the closest place to Saskatoon where you should be good for year-round riding,
- Tons of trails and backroads in the area,
- If it's warm, you can head southeast into the high country and get all the way to the Grand Canyon,
- If it's cold, you can stay in the low country to the southwest and northwest,
- Aside from some main roads, you are allowed to ride off-road vehicles in the city to get to trails,
- The casinos offer rooms for as little as $27 US per night. Cheap if you split the room with a buddy,
- The Virgin River Casino has a decent buffet and a bar, so you can get a meal and drink after your ride,
- Valley of Fire State Park and the Hoover Dam are accessible if you can ride a few hours of slab.
- Cold snap means you're riding in ~ +4-8 in the lower areas to the west. Warm snap could be +20-25. I hit two cold snaps (Vegas had first snow in 3 years when we were there and we had a fun ride down to Lake Mead on backroads).
The Phoenix/Tucson area is good for riding too, but it's another 6-7 hours further to drive and the hotel will cost you more there. Phoenix is warmer than Mesquite in Jan/Feb, but if you go into the mountains down there it can still be quite cold. However, Phoenix valley in a cold snap will still have highs of +15, whereas Mesquite can be 10 degrees colder.
If you ride in November, March, or April then Moab UT could be a good choice too. But it's a bit cold there in winter to guarantee a good trip. Their warm snaps would be fine, but normal highs and cold snaps would be a bit cold. I haven't ridden in Death Valley or Laughlin, but either of those might have good temps for winter riding and Laughlin also has casino hotels that could provide cheap lodging.
Keep us posted as to where and when you go!
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Chris
2017 Versys X
1991 Suzuki TS200R
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