Distance covered by motorcycle: ~449 km
Route: Milford, UT → Red Branch View Area → Moab → Arches National Park → Grand Junction, CO
🏍️ Day 18: From Red Rocks to Colorado Colors
Day 18 delivered the kind of magic you chase on long rides — vast deserts, surreal landscapes, and a state line that signaled a new chapter. From Utah’s fiery sandstone formations to Colorado’s welcoming hills, today’s ride was a full-spectrum experience across 449 kilometers of open road and natural wonder.
🌄 Sunrise Ride out of Milford
The day kicked off early, with the desert sun stretching across Utah’s rugged skyline. The road was quiet, the sky clear, and the anticipation high. Just outside town, we pulled off at the Red Branch View Area — a quick stop that delivered big views and a hint of the geological wonders to come.
⛽ A refuel at Love’s Travel Stop kept our tanks full and our caffeine levels high before heading deeper into the desert.
🪨 Hole ‘N The Rock – Roadside Quirks in the Desert
We couldn’t pass by Hole ‘N The Rock without a proper visit. This 5,000-square-foot home carved directly into a sandstone cliff is pure roadside Americana — part oddity, part time capsule. It was weird, wonderful, and made for some great group photos.
🏞️ Arches National Park – A Ride Through Another World
Today’s showstopper was Arches National Park, and it did not disappoint.
📍 We started at the Visitor Center, soaking up some history and grabbing park maps.
🏜️ Then it was on to the real show — a slow cruise through towering arches, delicate rock fins, and massive balanced boulders.
It felt like riding through a Martian landscape painted in red and gold, with the impossibly blue sky overhead tying it all together.
🏁 Entering Colorado – A New Chapter Begins
Leaving the Martian terrain of Arches behind, we rolled east and crossed into Colorado, greeted by the colorful and always Instagram-worthy “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign. Another state down, and the journey rolled on.
The landscape slowly shifted as we approached our destination, trading desert tones for the green and gold hues of western Colorado.
🍛 Grand Junction Arrival – Dinner with a Twist
We landed in Grand Junction just in time for a well-earned dinner. Tonight’s meal? Something a little different:
🍽️ Indo Grill – INDIAN CUISINE served up bold flavors that hit the spot after a day in the dry air.
🥃 A quick stop at Andy’s Liquors to pick up a few supplies wrapped up our evening errands.
🛏️ Rest Stop: Grand Junction, CO
We settled into our Grand Junction lodging with tired legs, dusty bikes, and big smiles. Day 18 had it all — scenery, adventure, state-line milestones, and that unbeatable sense of freedom you only find on the road.
🗺️ Highlights of the Day:
Total motorcycle distance: ~449 km
Riding hours: ~5 hrs 45 mins
Stops:
- Red Branch View Area – Utah
- Love’s Travel Stop – near Moab, UT
- Hole ‘N The Rock – Moab, UT
- Arches National Park – Moab, UT
- Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign
- Indo Grill – Grand Junction, CO
- Andy’s Liquors – Grand Junction, CO
✍️ Quote of the Day:
“Every twist in the road brings a new horizon — and today, we found one worth chasing.”