One-Day Motorcycle Routes | Salt Lake Summer Edition, Vol. 1

Utah offers some of the most incredible motorcycle riding in the country, and you don't need a multi-week expedition to experience it. The Salt Lake Valley is tucked right beneath an impressive mountain range, making canyon byways, forests, lakes, and wildlife a short ride away.

If you're traveling into the state and looking for an unforgettable ride that packs scenery, solitude, and riding enjoyment into a single day, we've hand-picked three diverse routes for you! Each loop begins and ends in Salt Lake City and captures a sample of Utah's diverse landscapes, small towns, restaurants, and unique sights.

Read on to discover your next destination!

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Antelope Island

There are nearly 700 bison living on Antelope Island. Photo attribution: Matthew Dillon via Flickr

Depending on the time of year, water around the island may be high, low, or nonexistant

Lots of roads to explore for any type of motorcycle

It's a short drive from downtown SLC

Round trip distance: 130 miles

Ride duration: 3.5 hours

Escape the Wasatch Front's heat & traffic with a quiet ride across a scenic causeway to Antelope Island State Park, a unique refuge on the Great Salt Lake. This expansive island offers more than just stunning views; you can hike, bike, and observe abundant wildlife, most famously its large bison herd and swift pronghorn antelope.

Stop by the historic Fielding Garr Ranch, the oldest continually inhabited Anglo home in Utah, offering a glimpse into pioneer life. While the island's picturesque Western scenery and free-roaming bison are sure to make your jaw drop, we do have a friendly suggestion: keep your helmet visor down as the flying bugs can get thick in spots.

Sites

• The Fielding Garr Ranch House is distinctive for two reasons: first, it is the oldest continually inhabited Anglo home in the state of Utah (from 1848 to 1981 when the island became a state park), and second, it is the oldest Anglo built house in Utah still on its original foundation.

• There are several campgrounds and cottages on the island. They do require a nightly fee in addition to the $5 Park entry fee. Due to Summer 2025 construction on a new visitors center, there's no running water on the island including campgrounds, so bring your own water with you.

Restaurants

• There are minimal services once you cross the Causeway, so stock up in Farmington, Layton, or Syracuse.

  
  

Fees: $5 per motorcycle to enter Antelope Island State Park

Information

Route link

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Bear Lake

You can see the blue water from miles away as you descend into Garden City

Get in, the water's fine!

Bring a passenger and swimwear to enjoy a day at the beach

Experience a range of diverse scenery on this route

Round trip distance: 250 miles

Ride duration: 5.0 hours

Straddling the Utah-Idaho border, Bear Lake is famously known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its stunning turquoise waters and sandy beaches. This popular recreational hub offers sunshine and ideal conditions for boating and watersports in summer.

Loop the lake by heading north into Idaho before riding down the eastern shore. Take a break at one of its beaches or pop into the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge to spot some native birds and wildlife. If you'd like to extend this adventure, there are plenty of established campgrounds along the route, or dispersed camping opportunities in Cache National Forest.

Sites

• Bear Lake is a perfect destination for off-the-bike activities, such as swimming, boating, and camping on its shores.

• The Monte Cristo byway is one of Utah's best motorcycle roads, but keep an eye out for wildlife such as deer, moose, and large birds of prey.

  
  

Restaurants

• Treat yourself to an above-the-rim raspberry shake from one of Garden City's many quaint burger or ice cream joints

• Snowbasin Resort has top-notch restaurants on site, but the mountain also hosts summer events with food & drink options such as the Blues & Brews music fest

  
  

Fees: No roadway fees. Beach or campground fees may apply.

Information

Route link

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Nebo Loop

Mt. Nebo rises 12,000 feet above sea level

Exceptional views, but expect chilly weather in spring and fall

Riding is always better with friends!

You can extend this route with detours east or west

Round trip distance: 195 miles

Ride duration: 4.0 hours

The Mount Nebo Scenic Byway, or Nebo Loop, is a picturesque 35-mile paved road winding through the Uinta National Forest. It offers spectacular views of the 12,000-foot Mount Nebo and a diverse range of vegetation, from oak and juniper at lower elevations to aspen and spruce-fir higher up.

Riders will find numerous scenic overlooks, trailheads, and campgrounds along the route. A popular stop is Devil's Kitchen, known for its striking red rock cliffs and spires. While nationally renowned for its vibrant fall foliage (mid to late September), summer visitors can enjoy a wide array of wildflowers from June through September. Remember to stay alert for wildlife and changing road conditions, especially in cooler weather.

The loop linked below takes you west of Utah Lake before cutting through Mona, allowing you to skip the drudgery and traffic of I-15.

Sites:

• Snap a photo in front of the vintage Sinclair gas station in Elberta.

• Take a dip in the Mona Reservoir to cool down from a hot ride.

• There's only one building remaining in the flooded ghost town of Thistle, can you spot it?

Restaurants

• You'll find typical small-town dining options in Mona and Nephi, but plenty more options in Saratoga Springs and Spanish Fork

• The Sidecar Cafe in Springville has your typical burger and brunch menu, but it happens to be attached to the Legends Museum which houses a collection of vintage motorcycles that makes this destination worth a stop. And free admission!

Fees: None, but campground fees may apply

Information Route link

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