Advice needed-Western US summer trip

4runnerguy wrote:
My two cents worth:

You've started pretty late to get reservations at the more popular stops, so that might limit your choices.

June is hot in the desert SW. Might I suggest the following so you get a feel of the great red rock scenery but miss the hottest places:

If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, I'd recommend the South Rim. For one thing, there are hookups at Trailer Village, something not available on the North Rim. More can be seen in less time on the South Rim. The South Rim is around 7000' so a little cooler than other places to the south or than Moab (4000').

While in that area, spend a little time around Flagstaff. Visit Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki NM's. All of these are higher in elevation and thus cooler.

Sedona, at just over 4000', is quite a bit hotter. Maybe a day trip to Sedona down Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff would be a better option.

While Zion is low in elevation, Watchman CG in the park is a wonderful place for kids. The Virgin "River" flows past the CG and kids play in it, building dams, soaking, etc. It's under a great cottonwood tree canopy, so adults even sit in there to cool off. Not FHU, but electric hookups available with a dump station at the CG entrance and flush toilets. From the CG, one walks over to the visitors center and takes the bus into the canyon (about the only way to get up there except on a bicycle). Take a hike up the Zion Narrows, it will be 10 or 15 degrees cooler (or more), than down in the CG.

Moab can be quite hot and there's precious little shade. Do it if you want, but I have another suggestion: From Albequerque, head north on I-25 to NM 44/US 550 to Durango and set up a base camp there. Not much in the way of hills along that route, but it gets you to the southern edge of the amazingly spectacular San Juan Mountains. From Durango, you can visit Mesa Verde NP and take in some of the tours of the ruins. Take the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Steam powered and runs through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the lower 48. A full day adventure your kids will love. Take another day and drive back to Silverton and on to Ouray, where you can take the kids to the Hot Springs Pool. Renovations are scheduled to be completed in May, 2017. Amazing scenery right from the pool. Ouray and Silverton are both quaint mountain towns in amazing settings. Take another day and drive over Lizard Head Pass to Telluride.

Doing this Durango diversion will allow you to see amazing mountain scenery without having to haul your trailer over any of the mountain passes Colorado is famous for. And compared to the heat you'd encounter in Moab, you may find yourself needing a sweater in the evening around Silverton!

^^^^^^^^^ Follow Ken's advice - a - if you read his vehicle of choice is a 96' 4runner so he will steer you clear of motor issues. :B

Cooler will equal easier driving - Heat IMHO is a bigger enemy than the grade in the Mountains. JMHO

But if you follow Ken's advice you will likely have a lot more Smiles for the miles you are driving.

Best of Luck and be sure to get back to us on how the trip went.