tragusa3 wrote:
4runnerguy, thanks for an awesome post! I appreciate your thoughts and your time.
1. Typically, I am a "reservation" kind of a guy.
Just wanted to make sure you thought about the July 4th week. We rarely travel that week in the west, simply because it is so difficult to find a place to camp w/o reserving months in advance (and we don't often plan that far out).
2. With so many things to plan on this trip, I don't know how involved I can get in sun/shade patterns, but we will certainly have an awareness and do the best we can. Narrows during the middle of the day is an example! Thanks.
For instance in Zion, just hike the trails on the east side of the canyon in the morning and the west of the canyon in the evening.
By cooling off in the evening, are you implying that A/C is probably not needed while sleeping? I ask, because we would like to have some boon docking experiences. I do have a generator. We prefer being away from people if possible.
It depends on how cool you need it to sleep. Sometimes your trailer can take some time to cool off. We don't go to the deserts of Utah from mid-June on, so I don't have direct experience, but we did stay there once in late May when it was in the 100's during the day, but by 10 in the evening it was cool enough to sleep. Of course in a tent trailer, we can open every "wall" since they're nothing but windows all the way around. Of course it is a dry heat, which helps at night, but only make you lose even more water during the day -- stay hydrated!
Once you get to the mountains around Ouray, Durango, etc., you shouldn't have any problems with heat. In fact, I would advise you to throw in a sweatshirt and long pants for the evenings in those areas, just in case.
As for boondocking, you will definitely have to do some research ahead of time. For instance, there are boondocking opportunities around Moab, but in quite restricted areas. Check out the BLM Moab website for a map and directions. Link Above Buena Vista, head up beyond Cottonwood Lake and you'll find quite a few boondocking locations (which get very busy on weekends). In that area, we often camp at Cottonwood Lake CG, any of the NFS CG's up Chalk Creek toward St. Elmo, or O'Haver Lake NFS CG above Salida.
4. The reason Colorado Springs is on the list is that it would include a day for Pike's Peak and it sets us up to hit the interstate for the drive home. We have no interest in the town itself.
The Salida/Buena Vista area sounds worth checking into. Although, we prefer being alone in the woods to doing "tourist" activities. We are not one to stop at roadside attractions.
That's why I recommended that area. While there are guides who will lead you on any adventure, you can also do your own thing there. We don't have a raft, so we have to join a group, but otherwise, we do everything on our own. There are boondocking opportunities in this area if you arrive in early to mid week. But like most of the destinations on your schedule, they are popular, so you won't find yourself very alone at any of them.
5. Done. But I didn't have 3 nights designated there. I think only one.
I was just adding the nights you have listed for #5 and #6 together.
6. That's a great tip. I was thinking that Mesa Verde was a day trip only and we could save towing the trailer there by having base camp at Durango. But, based on my comments about not being an "attraction" family, sounds like Durango is a pass through and we should just spend more time at MV.
The only exception would be the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Like you, we don't go for the touristy things, but the railroad is one thing we have done several times. Your kids will love the train aspect, you will love the scenery and the views, and you will all get a kick out of Silverton, a real rough and tumble mining town. (We try to spend a week around Silverton every year for the scenery and the town.)
Also wanted to mention, we have a new 4x4 truck and want to spend a good deal of time trail riding. We aren't looking for off road challenges, but more of an off road site seeing experience. We would much prefer a day in Ourey on some old mining roads than a day in downtown eating fudge!
Around Ouray, check out this page for info on the various trails to drive in the area. So many of them have historic significance and on many you'll encounter mining ruins. Read the descriptions carefully, as some of these trails are pretty tough.
Also, consider some 4x4 activities in the Salida area. Particularly fun is to leave the "ghost" town of St. Elmo, go over Tincup Pass, past Mirror Lake to Tincup. Then head south over Cumberland Pass and start up Hancock Pass. Part way up the pass, take the left to the Alpine Tunnel. You'll be driving along an old railroad grade that you'll be amazed that they constructed back in the 1880's. Then return to the junction, go over Hancock Pass and back to St. Elmo. A great day of 4x4, sight seeing, and plenty of places to stop for the kids to poke around old mining areas. Link
