Uniquely varied terrain and entertaining roads highlight the Arizona?New Mexico border region. Photos by the author.
Let me tell you about a perspective-changing, paradigm-shifting roll through a spectacular region spanning two great southwestern states. Before you accuse me of hyperbole, ride this loop that combines Arizona?s serpentine Coronado Trail with the alpine vistas of extreme western New Mexico. I believe you?ll agree that your view of the ultimate motorcycle road has shifted.
By most anyone?s standards, this is a remote region. Furthermore, most of these roads are so coiled that any GPS program in the world will avoid routing through them. No, these roads are not the ?fastest route? to anywhere. With these points in mind, you?ll likely want to lodge in close proximity to this route. For me, that means a stay in the tiny Arizona town of Duncan and a room in the delightful, historic Simpson Hotel. After a restful stay at the quaint bed and breakfast, I gas up at the local pump and head north toward U.S. Route 191. The Pioneer Mexicano Cemetery near Morenci is the final resting place of many early Arizona miners.
The Coronado Trail
My ride up the Coronado Trail, which is a magical portion of U.S. 191, begins with a slow roll through a region that has been amazingly, disturbingly and even somehow beautifully sculpted by large-scale mining. If that sounds like a dichotomy, it is. The mines around the small company towns of Clifton and Morenci are massive, multi-hued t...