Utah & Colorado State Parks

We've done a lot of traveling in the Southwest, and we were just knocked out by Kodachrome State Park in Utah, east of Bryce -- full hookups, great ranger staff, beautiful and quiet campground, amazing stars, lots of hiking in the park, lots to see and do nearby. Here is a long blog post about our recent trip there:

Kodachrome Blog Post (includes Bryce and Zion) -- lots of photos

And just to whet your appetite, here is a sample shot -- this was taken at the entrance to "Cool Cave" on the Panorama Trail in Kodachrome:

I forgot to mention Goosenecks, in southern Utah just north of Monument Valley -- no facilities (really more like boondocking), but wonderfully remote -- that's my trailer on the edge of the canyon in the middle of the photo:



The Valley of the Gods is next to Goosenecks -- it's a lot like Monument Valley, with almost nobody there.

Any place in southern Utah, I've spent many years there exploring and still lots to see......On the above post, I wouldn't waste my time going to Valley of the gods, just terrible.

Gosh, tuna, "terrible?" I guess it depends on what you like to do. We were there in cold weather, which helps a lot (the heat can be brutal), and we like to hike up into the scenery, instead of just looking at it from the road:



I admit that I have been to places that are more spectacular than Valley of the Gods, but saying VOG is terrible is like saying you will never eat a t-bone steak again because you have tasted filet mignon. Reasonable minds can (and do!) differ.

By the way, be careful of going into Valley of the Gods in wet weather -- I am told that the dirt roads turn to slick mud very quickly.

caysea7254 wrote:
We have been to all to all of the national parks in Utah except for canyonlands. We were just wanting some info on a few state parks that would be well worth a visit. Kodachrome state park we would love but when we were out there in 2013 it was booked.

Pink Coral Sand Dunes SP (UT) near the Arizona line is excellent. In a like vein Great Sand Dunes NP in CO is also very good. If you are in the area Goosenecks SP UT is a impressive sight, no camping and just a parking area to see the canyons cut by the San Juan River. In that same area is Natural Bridges NM and the Canyon of the Gods both worth a look. I think Natural Bridges has a CG.

agesilaus wrote:
...Goosenecks SP UT is a impressive sight, no camping and just a parking area to see the canyons cut by the San Juan River... I think Natural Bridges has a CG...

Gooseneck State Park does allow camping. It is dry camping for $10/night. Natural Bridges National Monument has a small campground. The website lists a 26' length limit.

profdant139 wrote:
Gosh, tuna, "terrible?" I guess it depends on what you like to do. We were there in cold weather, which helps a lot (the heat can be brutal), and we like to hike up into the scenery, instead of just looking at it from the road:



By the way, be careful of going into Valley of the Gods in wet weather -- I am told that the dirt roads turn to slick mud very quickly.

I was being sarcastic, we love VOG, just don't want it overun by others. We spend many days camped there and seen as there isn't many good campspots, don't want to loose that possibility. Makes a great basecamp for all the other places in the Cedar Mesa area.

trailertraveler wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
...Goosenecks SP UT is a impressive sight, no camping and just a parking area to see the canyons cut by the San Juan River... I think Natural Bridges has a CG...

Gooseneck State Park does allow camping. It is dry camping for $10/night. Natural Bridges National Monument has a small campground. The website lists a 26' length limit.

OK I'll file that info away. It would be a great place to camp for a photographer.

Trailertraveler has a good list for Utah. Personally, I'm not similarly impressed with what CO has to offer.

The James Robb Colorado River parks do have campsites that make a good base to explore the area around Grand Junction. Sylvan Lake SP south of Eagle is in a pretty setting, but the campsites have few trees for any kind of privacy. Rifle Falls is a nice setting with jut a few campsites. Nearby Rifle Gap is another one of those CG's with few trees. (Hey, I like trees for the shade and a little privacy)

In the area you asked about, there are some lesser know NM's. Of course there's Mesa Verde NP, but how about the different units of Hovenweep NM (both UT and CO). Canyon of the Ancients also has a variety of Native American Ruins. There's a great visitors center near Dolores. Personnel at the Anasazi Heritage Center can give you info as to how to get to some of the more off the beaten path places.

If you've been to Ridgway SP, then you've probably had a chance to visit the mountains around Durango, Silverton, Ouray and Telluride. Lots to explore in that area.

IMHO, many of the best parts of CO aren't in NP's, SP's, or NM's.