If you can, while in Albuquerque, take the tram to the top of Sandia. Great trip! Buena Vista, Colorado, home of the 14ers. Absolutely Beautiful. While there spend some time and head up to Leadville, Twin Lakes, Taylor Park. Gorgous area!
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
blkdodge wrote: If you end up in Colorado, it is worth a shot to try to get into Priest Gulch RV Park. It is 25 miles north of Doloras on the river. Beautiful Place.
We love Dolores....it is a very nice area.
2012 Montana High Country 333DB
*NEW* 2012 Dodge 3500MEGA 6.7 CTD, 2012 Jeep JK Rubicon, 2012 Durango Citadel, 2010 Harley Heritage Softail....American STEEL = American profits.
With only two weeks available, you will be very limited in how many places you can really see. Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado have plenty to see and do and are closer to Albuquerque. Since the Balloon Fiesta is October 6-14, you may want to plan any visits to the higher elevation areas of Colorado before the Fiesta. Last year we had snow at night in the higher elevations near Santa Fe and Pecos, NM in mid-October.
If you want information about the many great places in Utah, you may find this downloadable trip planner usefull along with this website. Also checkout this website for information about the many destinations in Southern Utah. For more information than you will likely need about Moab take a look at the Discover Moab website.
Hope you have a Great Trip and enjoy the Balloon Fiesta!!!
Early October is a great time to visit the SW (less heat and people). If you've never traveled the SW I'd recommend the following for a two week itinerary (either starting or ending in ALBQ). Canyon DeChelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon (near Page, AZ), North Rim of GC (if it's still open), Zion, Bryce, Utah Hwy 12, Capital Reef, Arches and home via I-70. Southern Utah and N AZ is very impressive if you schedule around the summer heat.
You mentioned you like to park and then do day trips. You also want to visit Colorado and Utah in two weeks. Please keep in mind that the distances between the recommended areas are great and exploring from one spot would be very difficult to do. Also, since the Balloon Festival is in October, I would suggest that you plan your extra time in September - before the Festival, especially for Colorado. If you can work in more than two additional weeks that would be even better. To give you a "taste" of those states, you might want to work your way to Sante Fe and then take Hwy 84 up to Chama. You'll pass through some beautiful country of the painter, Georgia O'Keefe. Abiquiu Corp of Engineers campground is great. From Chama, go to Pagosa Springs, Colorado and enjoy a soak in the immaculate, scenic hot springs, right in town. Then take 160 west to Durango, CO. You could stay there and from Durango you could take the train up to Silverton or drive your truck. This will give you a glimpse of some gorgeous mountains. If you have time, drive up to Ouray. Many will suggest you not take your RV on this route if you aren't used to high mountain driving. We've done it often but we love the mountains. Taking your truck would be a long, full day - and well worth it.
Back to Durango, continue on 160 to Mesa Verde Nat'l Park near Cortez. Then 491 to Utah 191 at Monticello. Head north to Arches Nat'l Park in Moab, then I-70 west a short distance to UT24 near Green River. SW on 24 to Capitol Reef Nat'l Park, Hwy 12 to Bryce Nat'l Park (an easier mountain drive than to Silverton on a very good highway), south on 89 Kanab. From here you could take in the north rim of the Grand Canyon if time permits or continue on 89 to Page and Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreation area. Then 89 south to Flagstaff, AZ. Get on I-40 and head east to Albuquerque and the Balloon Festival. Of course you could reverse this and do it all after the festival. The only weather problem you might have in mid-Oct would be the trip up to Silverton, CO but to Durango and westward would be great weather. Whatever you choose, have a great trip! These are some of our favorite areas. Also, if you're 62+ be sure to get the Golden Age Passport for free entries into the national parks and 1/2 off for camping within the parks.
Extremely Happy Full-Timers for 16 years
.... now trying to adjust to 3-season traveling - and it isn't easy!
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
In Utah it's hard to prioritize, but don't miss Arches NP, Bryce Canyon, N. rim Grand Canyon, Dinosaur Nat. Mon.
In Colorado, be sure to see Rocky Mtn NP, Pike's Peak (cog rr was great). The Durango/Silverton RR trip is fun. Be sure to visit Taos, NM on the way south.
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