West TX to Grand Canyon - need route/trip advice

[EricT]

I'm beginning planning a trip to the Grand Canyon for probably around late September or early October. The plan is for me to spend 2 days riding up solo, then meet my family (who will drive up with a friend) for a couple days of sightseeing, then ride back.

I'm planning to avoid Interstate travel, and want to experience some nice roads and sights along the way.

This is the route I've worked out so far. If you have a suggestion for better roads let me know:
1. El Paso to Hatch along 28 and 152
2. Hatch to Caballo Lake, then west on 152 over Emory Pass to Silver City
3. From Silver City take US 180 all the way up to Eagar/Springerville, AZ. This would be the farthest I plan to go in one day, it's over 300 miles and I'm a little bit new to touring.
4. West on 260 to Show Low and on to Payson.
5a. North to Flagstaff on 87 and Lake Mary Road (NF-3, is this road paved?)
5b. Alternate route would be to take 89 up through Sedona.

Total route is 636 miles, and 15 hours according to Google. I plan to split the trip over 2 days each way, since I am new to long-distance touring and don't want to push myself too hard. Of course if I'm out there and I feel good, I'll keep going.

I'd appreciate any advice about the route, and the best places to stop for fuel (man and bike) and to spend a night. Any other tips for a first-timer are much appreciated.

[Neonnoodle]

Looks like an awesome route, Eric. I was down in Silver City about 2 weeks ago and HWY 152 is pretty amazing. It has some GREAT twistys, and a few hairpin blind corners too. Watch for gravel patches in that area because they have some ferocious storms that hit down that way. 180 is a nice road too, but has more leisurely curves to it. There's a little gas station, I think in the town of Cliff, that you might want to hit, because I believe the next one after that is in Glenwood. Glenwood might be a good stop if you're needing some rest, and from there you can always take a side trip to the Catwalk right outside of town.

Oh, if you're going to eat in Silver City there's a great place called The Adobe Springs Cafe. It's casual but nice and right on the main road through town. We had a great lunch as well as a breakfast there when we went to see the cliff dwellings.

[dietrichpfeifer]

Show Low to Payson has some fun FAST sweepers. Lake Mary Rd is paved, but a little rough in some sections just south of Mormon Lake. Out of Payson through Pine and Strawberry are fun and nice roads, just slow sections through the towns. Have fun!

Post up when you go, I might be interested in meeting up for a section of that ride.