Mesa Verde, CO to Capitol Reef UT
We will be leaving Mesa Verde in the next day or two (weather depending) and traveling to Capitol Reef. Our plans are to take US160 to US191 to Utah 95 to Utah 24 to Torrey. Traveling in 40 fo...
Forum Discussion
You've selected a good route all the way to Rt24. Rt.95 is a beautiful easy drive. Don't decide to take Rt.261 from Mexican Hat up to 95. In the middle of 261 the nice paved road turns into a graded dirt section that climbs switchbacks up the mesa face called the Moki Dugway.
At Hite, the lake is so low on water that it has returned to just the Colorado river and the original Hite Gold mining town(now gone). Mining was stopped when the lake covered the area from the new dam. Most services at Hite have closed, but I believe there is still a Ranger station there and probably free camping just about anywhere. Just across the two Bridges you will rise up to the top of the mesa. There is a parking viewpoint. Plenty of room for big rigs. AMAZING views from there. NOT to be passed up.
At Cap.Reef, there is a Nat'l Pk. water only CG called Fruita. 1st come 1st serve. Wonderful CG. Sites for Largest rigs with large trees for shade.
A couple of the attractions are The Capital gorge road. Take the TOAD to the park lot at the end and hike about a 1/2 mile to see the wall of old pioneer dates/names and Indian petrolyphs. Also, the short side road to the Goosenecks is a big wOW. This is not the same Goosenecks on Rt.261.
At Hite, the lake is so low on water that it has returned to just the Colorado river and the original Hite Gold mining town(now gone). Mining was stopped when the lake covered the area from the new dam. Most services at Hite have closed, but I believe there is still a Ranger station there and probably free camping just about anywhere. Just across the two Bridges you will rise up to the top of the mesa. There is a parking viewpoint. Plenty of room for big rigs. AMAZING views from there. NOT to be passed up.
At Cap.Reef, there is a Nat'l Pk. water only CG called Fruita. 1st come 1st serve. Wonderful CG. Sites for Largest rigs with large trees for shade.
A couple of the attractions are The Capital gorge road. Take the TOAD to the park lot at the end and hike about a 1/2 mile to see the wall of old pioneer dates/names and Indian petrolyphs. Also, the short side road to the Goosenecks is a big wOW. This is not the same Goosenecks on Rt.261.
