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 foot Class A motorhome with minivan in tow. We have already visited the other 4 parks in UT, some three times but because of Capitol Reef's out of the way location, we have always missed it.Any comments on this route or suggestions?Also thinking of stopping at Hite Marine near Lake Powell for one night on the way - will we fit in there?As always, thank you for your input.

Route is good, can't comment on your stop location.

If you're wanting to really see Lake Powell, Hite is not the place. It's very barren. The lake is down so low now that even the boat ramps are unusable. You could boondock on the 'former' shoreline and yes, you could fit. For an overnight it would be o.k.Page, AZ is the best place to poke around Lake Powell and take the dam tour or Antelope Canyon tour. We always boondock at Lone Rock which is north of town on Hwy 89. It's a national recreation area and boondockers typically enter and then drive to the lakeshore. We stay on top of the bluff just past the ranger's entry station. Then you don't have to worry about the sandy spots down below and you get an awesome view of the lake.But if you drive to Page you might as well continue north on 89 to Hwy 12 to Torrey or 89 to 62 to 24 and then southeast to Torry which is a easier drive if you don't want to do Hwy 12.From Cortez and Hwy 160 you'd be getting on 491 to 191, then south on 191 to Hwy 95 to Hanksville then west on 24 to Capitol Reef. It's a nice route for big rigs. You could also stay on 160 from Cortez to Mexican Water, AZ and then north on 191 to Bluff to Hwy 95.Pretty country. Have a good trip!

Thanks for the replies so far. We have already spent some time in Page AZ on a previous trip. Really enjoyed Lower Antelope Canyon - stunningly beautiful. We'll talk about it, maybe we'll go through there again and check out the Upper Antelope Canyon - have you seen both?By the way, I should have mentioned, we will probably go from Capitol Reef to North Rim of Grand Canyon. We've been to the North Rim but only briefly and want to explore more this trip. Not sure which way we will head after that so either way, we'll probably end up going through Page at some point in the next 3 - 4 weeks.

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.

If it is very hot, we like staying at 1000 Lakes RV in Torrey, but there is another rv park there that is also decent. while you are in the area, do take a day trip and drive highway 12 south to Escalante and back the same way. it is a really great drive. at Boulder, about midway, there is an Anasazi National Monument...museum and nice shady picnic table out front if you want to take a picnic lunch with you.

Mesa Verde, CO to Capitol Reef UT | Good Sam Community

2chiefsRus
Explorer
May 15, 2015
Thanks for the replies so far. We have already spent some time in Page AZ on a previous trip. Really enjoyed Lower Antelope Canyon - stunningly beautiful. We'll talk about it, maybe we'll go through there again and check out the Upper Antelope Canyon - have you seen both?

By the way, I should have mentioned, we will probably go from Capitol Reef to North Rim of Grand Canyon. We've been to the North Rim but only briefly and want to explore more this trip. Not sure which way we will head after that so either way, we'll probably end up going through Page at some point in the next 3 - 4 weeks.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 14, 2015
If you're wanting to really see Lake Powell, Hite is not the place. It's very barren. The lake is down so low now that even the boat ramps are unusable. You could boondock on the 'former' shoreline and yes, you could fit. For an overnight it would be o.k.

Page, AZ is the best place to poke around Lake Powell and take the dam tour or Antelope Canyon tour. We always boondock at Lone Rock which is north of town on Hwy 89. It's a national recreation area and boondockers typically enter and then drive to the lakeshore. We stay on top of the bluff just past the ranger's entry station. Then you don't have to worry about the sandy spots down below and you get an awesome view of the lake.

But if you drive to Page you might as well continue north on 89 to Hwy 12 to Torrey or 89 to 62 to 24 and then southeast to Torry which is a easier drive if you don't want to do Hwy 12.

From Cortez and Hwy 160 you'd be getting on 491 to 191, then south on 191 to Hwy 95 to Hanksville then west on 24 to Capitol Reef. It's a nice route for big rigs.

You could also stay on 160 from Cortez to Mexican Water, AZ and then north on 191 to Bluff to Hwy 95.

Pretty country. Have a good trip!
lbrjet
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Route is good, can't comment on your stop location.

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Mesa Verde, CO to Capitol Reef UT

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