PHOENIX / COPPER CANYON MEXICO

[Dragon997]

Looking for some suggestions please....

Going to have the Super Ts in Phoenix for a week, November 18 to 24, looking for suggested day trips. Did Apache trail last month in a Jeep..redo on the bikes... loved it. Thats one!

Then,

We have a week Dec 30 to Jan 5...thinking of riding from Phoenix to Copper Canyon Mexico. Tell me... is a week enough for that trip? Best route to take? Hotels, food, border crossing info?

Cheers,

Johnathan

 

[88millimeter]

Border crossing is fairly easy , all you need is a license, your bike's title, and a credit card. You will also need your passport to obtain a tourist visa to enter mexico (at the same place you get your vehicle permit). The best advice I can give you is only drive during the day and do not loiter near the border , the farther you get from the border the safer you are.

 

[justbob]

I would not carry my title in to Mexico but you will need at least a current vehicle registration. Also shop around online and get Mexican vehicle insurance before you leave home, its pretty cheap and you dont want to be involved in an accident without it.

 

[bob dirt]

Copper Canyon has a lot to offer. A week may be long enough. I have not been there, but friends have gone down crossing at El Paso/Juarez. We have a friend that lives in El Paso that did tours years ago. They rode Polaris 4x4 quads so not as much distance could be covered as with the S10.

I go to Puerto Penasco (rocky point) from Phoenix a lot. It is in Sonora. I buy liability insurance on my drivers license by the year for my wife and I. This makes us legal and protects us even when riding or driving a side by side, quad, or dirt bike in town or in the desert. The best thing to do would be to check online for daily insurance. You can get liability or full coverage.

Just like said above...Going that far south, you'll need a visa, vehicle permit, insurance, and current registration. You'll need your passport or passport card to enter back into the U.S.

There are all kinds of great rides in AZ. Sometimes we get some big snow around Thanksgiving which makes it sucky to ride in the high country. Are you looking for dirt or pavement or both?

 

[Dragon997]

Thanks Bob,

I was looking at crossing in Douglas then to Copper Canyon, for the Mexico trip. If you think Copper Canyon is ambitious for a week, any other nice trips into Mexico, south of Phoenix? I see you mentioned Puerto Penasco.

As for the day rides in November, I am looking for a gravel/paved mixture. I will be riding alone, nothing to crazy. I did Apache trail/Tortilla flats to Roosevelt Dam, that type of riding.
Up to Prescott or Sedona if the weather is good, if not south of Phoenix. Just looking for day rides, 5-6 hours. Getting dark early in late November.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Doug44]

I have done the Copper Canyon several times and a week should be OK. Just remember that it will be very chilly (cold) getting into and out of the canyon. Creel at the mouth of the canyon is a neat town and several good hotel and motels along with a hostel or two. Creel is very high 9000 ft up and I have hit freezing rain and sleet getting in/ out of Creel and the area the time of year you are talking about. Also be advised once down in the canyon the only gasoline you will be able to buy will come from a 55 gal drum from the local gas man. Be sure and take an old Sammy to filter the gas you pour into your tank. Also the descend down into the canyon on the gravel road is very step to the point where you will need to do a lot of engine braking if you try and use the rear brake the ass end will swing around. I have only road a KLR down there but rode with a buddy on a old R80RT BMW so no biggie just be careful. The town and or towns down in the canyon run on generators and they power them off around 9pm. Neat trip, neat experience enjoy and come back and give us a ride report.

Attached photo of my KLR on the road into the bottom of the canyon. I have ridden in every state in Mexico, Baja, did the overnight ferry crossing from the Baja to the mainland over the Sea Of Cortez etc. If I can be of any help please let me know.

 

[rlasater]

Wow, that sounds/looks like a fun trip


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[Dragon997]

Doug,
Great info...
A friend of mine said its mostly paved now??? anyway, still sounds like a great trip. Really looking forward to it.
Is it safe traveling in Mexico?
If time gets short, can you make any suggestions for shorter trips into Mexico from Phoenix. Im a little concerned of the time, with flights home.

 

[justbob]

As mentioned above Creel is in the higher elevations and when I went they had their 100 yr winter storm with 10" inches of snow. We rode about 30 miles to get in to town in undescribable conditions. There were 8 bikes in our group, 4 guys dropped their bikes on the way in to town, 2 of them were dropped twice. The train was shut down and travelers were stranded in town for a couple of days, thankfully we had reservations. It made it one of those trips that will never be forgotten.

 

[rlasater]

That, does not look like fun.

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[Doug44]

Doug,
Great info...
A friend of mine said its mostly paved now??? anyway, still sounds like a great trip. Really looking forward to it.
Is it safe traveling in Mexico?
If time gets short, can you make any suggestions for shorter trips into Mexico from Phoenix. Im a little concerned of the time, with flights home.

Sorry for not getting back on this thread I have been busy @ my part time job working in a large motorcycle store running their delivery truck etc. I might suggest the Baja it will be safer, would be good for short time and still give you plenty of Mexico flavor. As far as being safe to travel in Mexico or the Baja it is pretty much like the USA you have to be aware of your surroundings and try and get as far south of the border after crossing over. Exchange your dollars for pesos at the border so you don't get skinned at the gas pump on the exchanges, and if and when you need more pesos go to a bank in Mexico and use their ATM inside the bank lobby you will get the best exchange rate there. Remember you are a visitor in their country, treat the people their good and they will go out of their way to help you 99% of them are wonderful people. Get the best map of Mexico you can find once down there it seems you can't find them and by all means same goes for a GPS.Also please be advised be careful medical help is not like here it might be hours before help can arrive, no e-vac helicopter rides down there. You will be fine just enjoy that is why you are going if you are like most Mexico will keep calling once you visit her the first time.
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