Advice needed-Western US summer trip
Hello all, We are planning our first big RV road trip and I need some help. We will be leaving from Central Florida in June, and have about 28-30 days total. We have traveled quite a bit in the pas...
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Here's another option. Head to Moab and up to Dead Horse Point SP. map Lots of nice bike trails up there. Your wife and kids can ride out Raven Roll to Big Chief (we often see 4 or 5 year olds on this trail). Pretty easy and wide although they may decide to walk for a short distance in a few places. About 1/2 mile or so into Big Chief (an easy section), there is a bike rack and bench with great views of the LaSal Mountains. In the meantime, you ride Pyramid to Big Chief, make the hairpin at the turn and after 1/4 mile or so, you'll also be at the bench. (Route finding is easy as there are maps at every junction with a :) showing where you're at.) Have lunch at the bench, then they can turn around and return the way they came, while you take Crossroads, Whiptail, Prickly Pair, etc. back to the car. The nice thing about riding at Dead Horse Point SP is that it's about 1500' higher and cooler than Slickrock and there are some Juniper trees, etc. to get under and rest when one gets hot. No shade at all on Slickrock. None of these trails are over the top technically, but great scenery and a totally different experience than anything you've probably ridden before.
Once you finish up, drive out to the end of the road and Dead Horse Point and take in the scenery. IMHO, better than Monument Valley (and we both like it better than the Grand Canyon!). So rather than a long day trip to Moab and another to Monument Valley, you can do just one. You're going to have enough long days of driving just getting to Durango from Florida. Grab dinner at the Moab Brewery, Pasta Jay's, Zax, or any of a number of fine establishments in Moab before the long drive back to Cortez (at least the days will be long in mid to late June).
Staying in Cortez is more advantageous for visiting Telluride, Moab, and Mesa Verde. Plus it's closer to Phil's World and Boggy Draw trails. There are a couple of sites at McPhee Reservoir NFS CG with water and electric hookups and decent shade. Reserve early. There is also a campground up on Mesa Verde but there is a bit of a pull (several pullouts along the way). FHU sites with showers included. Much higher up than Cortez so cooler.
Staying near Cortez does mean more of a drive back to take the train and to drive to Silverton. Durango has a better selection of restaurants if you're so inclined, but also a much busier tourist town because of the train.
This is kind of our back yard. I typically get out to Moab for four or five weeks a year and down to Durango/Cortez every other year or so. (We were just in Durango a couple of weeks ago to ski.)
Once you finish up, drive out to the end of the road and Dead Horse Point and take in the scenery. IMHO, better than Monument Valley (and we both like it better than the Grand Canyon!). So rather than a long day trip to Moab and another to Monument Valley, you can do just one. You're going to have enough long days of driving just getting to Durango from Florida. Grab dinner at the Moab Brewery, Pasta Jay's, Zax, or any of a number of fine establishments in Moab before the long drive back to Cortez (at least the days will be long in mid to late June).
Staying in Cortez is more advantageous for visiting Telluride, Moab, and Mesa Verde. Plus it's closer to Phil's World and Boggy Draw trails. There are a couple of sites at McPhee Reservoir NFS CG with water and electric hookups and decent shade. Reserve early. There is also a campground up on Mesa Verde but there is a bit of a pull (several pullouts along the way). FHU sites with showers included. Much higher up than Cortez so cooler.
Staying near Cortez does mean more of a drive back to take the train and to drive to Silverton. Durango has a better selection of restaurants if you're so inclined, but also a much busier tourist town because of the train.
This is kind of our back yard. I typically get out to Moab for four or five weeks a year and down to Durango/Cortez every other year or so. (We were just in Durango a couple of weeks ago to ski.)
