Your ride will be a great ride but be prepared for some cold weather. The San Juan Skyway has a lot of elevation and I have encountered snow on that ride even in early June. The Skyway will take you over Red Mountain Pass (11,000 ft), Coal Bank Pass (10,500 ft), Molas Pass (10,600 ft) and Lizard Head Pass (9,300). I did the Skyway in early May last year and although the roads were dry there was lots of snow on the shoulders and it was cold.
The ride to Mexican Hat and Panguitch is great choice. If you are going through Bluff, Utah at the right time of day the Twin Rocks Restaurant is a great place to eat. I would suggest staying at Bryce Canyon City instead of Panguitch. If time allows I highly recommend visiting Zion National Park while you are in the area, Zion is fantastic and the roads to and from the park are fantastic motorcycle roads. Cedar Breaks is also very good but check to see if the road has opened.
Bryce Canyon is at 8,000 ft elevation and also will be chilly. Utah Highway 12 between Bryce and Torrey is truly a beautiful ride, one of the best in the country. This road will take you over Boulder Mountain which is about 10,500 ft, so more cold. Utah-24 between Torrey and Hanksville takes you Capitol Reef National Park and is more great riding and a lot lower elevation. In Hanksville Duke's Slickrock Grill has good food. Stop at the Hole in the Rock store, it is a great photo op. From Hanksville to Blanding is a good ride and very dramatic where it crosses the Colorado River.
If you have the time ride north from Blanding to LaSal junction then east to Naturita and south to Cortez. this is a virtually unknown route and some of the best roads anywhere
Your ride plan is very good, you are just a little early in the season. i am not trying to discourage you, i have ridden these roads this ealy and even a little earlier but I urge you to check the weather often and remain flexible. I ride Southern Utah and Southern Colorado every year and sometimes twice a year, it is one of my favorite riding areas
Good luck
Az wingrider
p.s. If you arrive in Silverton about noon you will probably be able to see the Durango Steam Train arrive. It is quite a sight
Az Wingrider,
Thanks for all the advice. I'll be certain to check out your suggestions and take some of the routes. I'm glad I'll have enough time to add a few extra rides. I've never ridden Utah and all the routes I have planned in CO, along with the ones you suggested, will also be new to me. I've ridden the mountains of CO in April before, just not these particular routes... And it's been probably 4 years or so.
I know I'm a little early in the season and am hopeful for clear roads and good weather. I've taken a few trips in similar weather circumstances and just try to prepare as best I can. I'm a big believer in heated gear. I have a heated jacket liner, heated socks, and heated glove liners (although I don't often wear the heated glove liners and rely on heated grips and good gloves). I also splurged on the heated option on my Russell seat (best money I ever spent was on that seat).
I hope the weather cooperates...
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