Central Ohio to Central Arizona
We plan on traveling from Ohio to Arizona and back later this year (probably September) and I am looking for suggestions on things to see. We like off-beat things, interesting parks, etc. What are ...
Forum Discussion
Here's some sights & sites in NE AZ, NW & N New Mexico.
:C Tucson is a neat city & easy to get around in with a lot of things to choose to do & see.
Chiricahua National Monument out from Willcox is so very dry at times. The fires they had in 2012 really left it changed as well. Much more barren. Still a neat place to see.
White Mountains by Show Low to Springerville have many higher elevation campgrounds (many Forest Service) and a neat place to find cool tempts in the summer heat.
Apache & Sitgreaves Nat'l Forests
Flagstaff Area +: Coconino Nat'l Forest
AZ National Park Campgrounds & Camping
AZ National Forests
One can normally find nice cool temps in higher elevations in the mountains. If the monsoon is happening, then this can keep things a bit cooler as well.
Off I-25, Sugarite Canyon State Park by Raton is a neat area. And a short drive from Raton is the Capulin Volcano Nat'l Mon't.
A Neat Place. ------ But no Camping
Between Raton & Las Vegas, Not far S of Springer, just off I-25 is Fort Union Nat'l Mon't.
At Las Vegas, NM (older place than the one in NV) Storrie Lake State Park, but we have used the Walmart there to do a few overnights. Lot of mountains behind Las Vegas (west) with National Forests campgrounds.
Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path. However, one can use NM 3 to cut down to the I-40 from Villanueva. We did that one visit.
This was a neat place to camp and visit (have not been to in it many years), even with a museum nearby, all close to Gallup at Red Rock/Churchrock just off of I-40 east of town. It was a state park when we used it.
http://www.campingroadtrip.com/campgrounds/campground/campground/11212/new-mexico/red-rock-state-park
Blue Water Lake State Park, by Grants, west of Albu'que on I-40. Bluewater not a bad area, but more of a fishing site. But not at all bad for an overnight, even some hiking trails. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bluewaterlakestatepark.html
:C El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground; there is a private campgound near by as well. Near Grants or can be reached from Gallup. We went from Gallup to Zuni Pueblo then to El Morro (we lingered too long at the Pueblo and didn't get to hike the trial at El Morro, got there too late in the day; its a neat trail too, we had hiked it before). Of course one could go to it from Grants as well.
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm
Happy Camping!
:C Tucson is a neat city & easy to get around in with a lot of things to choose to do & see.
Chiricahua National Monument out from Willcox is so very dry at times. The fires they had in 2012 really left it changed as well. Much more barren. Still a neat place to see.
White Mountains by Show Low to Springerville have many higher elevation campgrounds (many Forest Service) and a neat place to find cool tempts in the summer heat.
Apache & Sitgreaves Nat'l Forests
Flagstaff Area +: Coconino Nat'l Forest
AZ National Park Campgrounds & Camping
AZ National Forests
One can normally find nice cool temps in higher elevations in the mountains. If the monsoon is happening, then this can keep things a bit cooler as well.
Off I-25, Sugarite Canyon State Park by Raton is a neat area. And a short drive from Raton is the Capulin Volcano Nat'l Mon't.
A Neat Place. ------ But no Camping
Between Raton & Las Vegas, Not far S of Springer, just off I-25 is Fort Union Nat'l Mon't.
At Las Vegas, NM (older place than the one in NV) Storrie Lake State Park, but we have used the Walmart there to do a few overnights. Lot of mountains behind Las Vegas (west) with National Forests campgrounds.
Off I-25 between Santa Fe & Las Vegas, Villanueva State Park. It is off the 25 a bit. Somewhat off the beaten path. However, one can use NM 3 to cut down to the I-40 from Villanueva. We did that one visit.
This was a neat place to camp and visit (have not been to in it many years), even with a museum nearby, all close to Gallup at Red Rock/Churchrock just off of I-40 east of town. It was a state park when we used it.
http://www.campingroadtrip.com/campgrounds/campground/campground/11212/new-mexico/red-rock-state-park
Blue Water Lake State Park, by Grants, west of Albu'que on I-40. Bluewater not a bad area, but more of a fishing site. But not at all bad for an overnight, even some hiking trails. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bluewaterlakestatepark.html
:C El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground; there is a private campgound near by as well. Near Grants or can be reached from Gallup. We went from Gallup to Zuni Pueblo then to El Morro (we lingered too long at the Pueblo and didn't get to hike the trial at El Morro, got there too late in the day; its a neat trail too, we had hiked it before). Of course one could go to it from Grants as well.
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm
Happy Camping!
