Mesa Verde Colorado

Some very good info for you but my only comment is forget Four Corners itself. No big deal.

Hovenweep is one of our favorite places and we have watched the improvements for easier viewing, etc, over the years. It is worth the drive. Valley of the Gods is wonderful. We are not big on cities - love Nature - but Santa Fe is very interesting; particularly loved the different churches.

My parents lived in Albuquerque for many years and after a number of visits, in my opinion, about the only things worth seeing/doing is the Balloon Festival (second weekend in October) and the tramway to the top of Sandia Peak. Beyond that, we found Albuquerque to be OK but just another city. Santa Fe, on the other hand, was much more interesting with a fair amount of history, arts and sightseeing to offer.

I believe you will enjoy Mesa Verde with its rich human and geological history to offer. Be prepared for some hiking and don't miss one or more of the tours offered by "Mr. Ranger". You will learn a great deal.

If at all possible, make the day-trip to Durango and ride the Silverton. It is a full day trip, up and back, and well worth the time to ride the train both ways! I'd do it again, any chance I could get.

Hope all this helps and, as always,

Happy Camping!

NCWriter wrote:
Depending on how much time you have, if you get interested in the Ancestral Puebloans, you could also visit the Anasazi Heritage Center museum just up the road in Dolores, CO. Also nearby is Hovenweep National Historical site with great ruins you can walk through with far fewer crowds.

Agree completely with NCWriter! The Anasazi Heritage Center, in my opinion, is the best Ancestral Pueblo museum anywhere in the Four Corners region. And I would even stay just west of the Anasazi Heritage Center at the Juniper Campground at McPhee Reservoir Recreation Area and not at Morefield inside Mesa Verde.

fanrgs wrote:

NCWriter wrote:
Depending on how much time you have, if you get interested in the Ancestral Puebloans, you could also visit the Anasazi Heritage Center museum just up the road in Dolores, CO. Also nearby is Hovenweep National Historical site with great ruins you can walk through with far fewer crowds.

Agree completely with NCWriter! The Anasazi Heritage Center, in my opinion, is the best Ancestral Pueblo museum anywhere in the Four Corners region. And I would even stay just west of the Anasazi Heritage Center at the Juniper Campground at McPhee Reservoir Recreation Area and not at Morefield inside Mesa Verde.

X2 on McPhee for the Dolores area (I also liked Morefield up inside the park the first time we went because I managed to get an electrical site. We've also stayed in Cortez).

Fanrgs,You've probably also been to Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding, Utah,which has a wonderful collection as well.

The drive between Durango and Ouray on 550, the " million dollar highway" is spectacular. Well worth a day trip.

Ouray & the hot springs are great - but take the Jeep as a side trip from Silverton (and the railroad), not driving the Bounder -- twisty turny mountain road. We loved Durango too, but stayed at a friend's hook ups.

We just drove from Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM to Towaoc, CO to Kanab, UT.

In Albuquerque, we stayed at Coronado Campground. Very nice place but no sewer at the sites. The dump station was fairly convenient.

On the drive from Albuquerque to Towaoc, we stopped at the Aztec Ruins National Monument or Park or something. This was a great lead-in to Mesa Verde.

In Towaoc, CO we stayed at Ute Mountain. I wouldn't stay here again if touring Mesa Verde was the primary goal. It initially wasn't our plan, but plans change.

We swung by 4 Corners on our way to Kanab. I don't think I'd make a special trip out to it, but if you can stop while passing through then it's worth it. It's a tourist trap and they get you to drive in. But, where else can you do it?

I believe your question was about sites around Albuquerque. Instead, I'd recommend staying either at Santa Fe Skies RV in Santa Fe or nearby at Cochiti Lake Corp of Engineer park. Near Cochiti is Kasha-Katuwe National Monument which is extremely interesting. From either Santa Fe or Cochiti you could also go to Bandelier National Monument and even a day trip to Taos.

When you're ready to head to Mesa Verde take 84 north to Pagosa Springs, CO (stop for a few hours of soaking - awesome) then west on 160 to Mesa Verde.

I hope you can work in more days for your trip especially since you have a Jeep. Go up to Silverton, CO and do some of the trails. It's prime Jeeping country from easy runs to extreme. Stop at the Visitor Center for ideas and maps. It's one of our favorite places.