paulj wrote: Aren't you already planning on passing through Flagstaff and the mountains of SW Colorado (north of Durango)?
When I made a loop through the area one fall, the best colors (mostly Aspens) were in:
- mountains east of SLC, toward Duschane and south to Price
- La Sal Mtns above Moab
- San Juans Mtns of SW Colorado (Teluride, Ouray, Silverton)
- Boulder Mtn on UT12
- area around Cedar Breaks
No, not Flagstaff. We'll bypass it by about 40 miles when we head North into Grand Canyon. But yes on the mountains of SW Colorado.
If we want to stay at higher elevations for cooler temps, it seems like the two options are UT12 or the route through Flagstaff that 4runnerguy suggested. Am I missing anything?
I'll do some searching for activities that my family would enjoy along these two routes and see if that helps make the decision for me.
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The options along UT12 are primarily short hikes. For example at Escalante State Park there is a petrified forest to walk through; it makes a nice walk after setting up camp or the next morning. And a bit to the east is Calf Creek Canyon, with a small camp ground and hike to waterfalls. Bryce also has hikes and views, as does the Red Rock Nat. Forest visitor center to the west. Cedar Breaks also has rim walks, and drive to that monument from east passes some lava fields. I also liked the drive up to the top of Brian Head.
In the summer all areas will be warm to hot midday, with possible exception of the highest Cedar Breaks area. Planning on activities in the evening and morning would be a good idea.
paulj wrote: What activities does your family enjoy?
The options along UT12 are primarily short hikes. For example at Escalante State Park there is a petrified forest to walk through; it makes a nice walk after setting up camp or the next morning. And a bit to the east is Calf Creek Canyon, with a small camp ground and hike to waterfalls. Bryce also has hikes and views, as does the Red Rock Nat. Forest visitor center to the west. Cedar Breaks also has rim walks, and drive to that monument from east passes some lava fields. I also liked the drive up to the top of Brian Head.
In the summer all areas will be warm to hot midday, with possible exception of the highest Cedar Breaks area. Planning on activities in the evening and morning would be a good idea.
We do a lot of Jeep trails, bike rides, hiking, and other stuff we find along the way - train rides, dinosaur museums, waterfalls, etc...
I'm starting to think that any route we take South from Glenwood Springs to Bullhead City is going to be hot mid-day, and I'm not sure what activities we're going to find along the way. Maybe it would be better to stay a few more days at higher elevations in Colorado, and then just make a 2-day push to Bullhead with an overnight stop somewhere along the Interstate.
We've decided to head South from Glenwood Springs through Telluride and then down to Mesa Verde for a few days. Mesa Verde is at 7,000 feet, so it won't be quite as hot some of the lower elevations. And we only spent 1 full day there last year, so we'd enjoy returning to see the rest of the park.
We still need to break up the drive from Cortez, CO to Bullhead City, AZ, so we'll probably stop for 1 night somewhere around Flagstaff. Any suggestions on that one?
Also, the Morefield campground in Mesa Verde advertises 36' sites with FHU, and we're 38' long. We've been to many state and national parks where we fit just fine, without infringing on our neighbors, and without any issues on the roads in & out. Can anyone comment on the size of the pads with FHU at Morefield?
Thanks.
**Edit** Another thought just crossed my mind: Maybe we head south out of Cortez on 491 through Shiprock, Gallup & Winslow. That might be more interesting than Flagstaff. What's the road like heading south on 491? Any issues with my DP & toad?
* This post was
edited 05/17/12 05:45pm by MPond *
From Cortez there is a paved county road that runs west into Utah (just north of the airport). There's at least one stop for Canyons of the Ancients Nat Mon. Once in Utah there's turn off to Hovenweep Nat Mon, another ruins, but on a much smaller scale than Mesa Verde. I'm sure there is info at MV about these outliers.
You could continue on to Mexican Hat (crossing the San Juan River), and Monument Valley. Before Mexican Hat is Valley of the Gods, which some prefer to Monument valley, but the road is dirt. Near Mexican Hat is Goosenecks State Park, though the best views of these meanders is from Muley Pt at the top of Mookie Dugway, which you probably don't want to drive.
paulj wrote: From Cortez there is a paved county road that runs west into Utah (just north of the airport). There's at least one stop for Canyons of the Ancients Nat Mon. Once in Utah there's turn off to Hovenweep Nat Mon, another ruins, but on a much smaller scale than Mesa Verde. I'm sure there is info at MV about these outliers.
You could continue on to Mexican Hat (crossing the San Juan River), and Monument Valley. Before Mexican Hat is Valley of the Gods, which some prefer to Monument valley, but the road is dirt. Near Mexican Hat is Goosenecks State Park, though the best views of these meanders is from Muley Pt at the top of Mookie Dugway, which you probably don't want to drive.
I appreciate your suggestions, but we did most of that last year - we hit Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, Mokee Dugway, Goosenecks, Muley Pt, etc... And I'm one that prefers Valley of the Gods over Monument Valley - nobody trying to sell you trinkets at every stop, no fee, no crowds. Just quiet & beautiful.
I like the idea of heading south out of Cortez toward Shiprock & Gallup because it's something we haven't done before, and it's a different route than the one we'll be taking on the way out.
If anyone has comments on US-491, the Morefield campground in Mesa Verde, or things to see/do along that route, I'd really appreciate the input.
RE: Morefield C.G. in Mesa Verde. We stay in the dry camping area with our 40' MH but I just looked at RV Parks Reviews site and in reading the past posts from the party who posted the Sept. 2011 entry for Morefield it appears that he has a 40' motorhome. I didn't go back to any other past posts but that might give you an idea. Here's the site:
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2gypsies wrote: RE: Morefield C.G. in Mesa Verde. We stay in the dry camping area with our 40' MH but I just looked at RV Parks Reviews site and in reading the past posts from the party who posted the Sept. 2011 entry for Morefield it appears that he has a 40' motorhome. I didn't go back to any other past posts but that might give you an idea. Here's the site:
Very cool - thanks; that's exactly what I was looking for. I'd checked RVParkReviews for Morefield, but I hadn't thought about checking a user's other posts to get an idea of how long their RV was.
I drove on 491 years ago (when it was 666) and I don't recall anything along that route other than wide open space (and some rock formations). But if you take 191 in AZ, you could stop at Canyon de Chelly in Chinle. There's a campground there (no hookups). Also in Ganado there is Hubbell Trading Post Nat'l Historic Site.
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