Advice for Colorado /nm/ Arizona

[Oznick]

Hi we are a family of four (kids 7 & 4) doing
a trip from early September for four weeks.
We start in Denver and finish in tucson, we
have a 32ft c class minnie, our plan is..
Denver to Estes park/ rmnp
Rmnp to Leadville
To Buenavista
To salida
Salida to Santa Fe
Santa Fe to Taos
Taos to durango
Durango to page
Page to Sedona
Sedona to tucson
Advice on roads/places to stay/sight seeing
would be greatly appreciated ..cheers nick

[Lauren]

We live only 43 miles from Catalina State Park but going there is like being waaaaaay far away. It is a fantastic place - that and Collier SP in OR are the best state parks, by far, that we have ever seen.

[Oznick]

Thanks trailer travaler that's great!

[trailertraveler]

Oznick wrote:
...Advice on roads/places to stay/sight seeing
would be greatly appreciated ...

In addition to the downtown areas of Taos and Santa Fe, here are a few places we enjoyed.
In Santa Fe check out the Galleries on Canyon Road. Take a drive up Hyde Park Road (NM-475) to the Ski Basin. When the Aspens are turning, it is a great drive. Pecos National Historic Park is not far Northwest of Santa Fe on I-25. Drive the Turquoise Trail(NM-14) and visit the shops in Madrid where the movie "Wild Hogs" was made. Tent Rocks National Monument is not far South of Santa Fe. Drive up to the Veterens Memorial for a view down into the tents.

In Taos visit the Rio Grande River Gorge, Kit Carson Home & Museum in Taos, and Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument.

In the Sedona/Cottonwood/Camp Verde area are:
Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments
Tuzigoot National Monument
Palatki and Honaki Ruins
V-Bar-V Heritage Site
Verde Canyon Railroad
Fort Verde State Park
Cathedral Rock
Gold King Mine
Jerome State Historic Park
the town of Jerome
the town of Sedona, and
Schnebly Hill Road.

In Tucson, the Pima Air and Space Museum and the Titan Missile Museum are a change of pace from the natural history/desert attractions.

[Oznick]

Thankyou all for taking the time to post
your suggestions! They are most helpful
Thanks for the tip for rt 84/160, scenic good
roads are perfect. We drove some "goat tracks"
on our last trip and are keen to avoid any more.
Any other road/route suggestions are welcome.
The railway is still open in September and on
the list. I will see how go for time re stopping
at page (antelope canyon ) as was said there
is a lot see, some will have to wait to the next
trip. On another note can anyone recommend
A Rv/ ford truck service centre in the Denver
area...thanks again nick

[rexlion]

When you get past Durango and Mesa Verde, you'll head west into the SW corner of Utah. Valley of the Gods, Monument Valley, and Goosenecks State Park are great places to see. If you like those sandstone formations, there's plenty more of it in Utah. You could divert north to Moab and see Canyonlands NP and Arches NP, loop west to Goblin Valley SP and then south to Capitol Reef, then to Kodachrome Canyon SP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Zion NP. From either Bryce or Zion it's a short jaunt south to Grand Canyon. The colors and varieties of sandstone are amazing.

[4runnerguy]

Another vote for Catalina SP near Tucson.

[Allworth]

You might check to see if the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will still be running when you are going to be in Durango. The trip is a full day but the scenery (and the fact that they could even build such a railroad) up the Animas River Canyon is amazing. I'm not sure what their Fall shut down date will be.

Also near Durango is Mesa Verde. Another whole day, but worth it.

There is so much to see and do along the route that you describe that you could spend two or three months and still not cover everything.

The next time you are coming you should consider Yellowstone-Rushmore-Glacier-Cascades. Another glorious loop.

Enjoy!

[mockturtle]

I'll second Catalina SP.

[taddyport]

Can't tell you about the beginning of the trip, but the end in Tucson, I would highly recommend Catalina State Park, big sites and great hiking, clean restrooms/showers and elec and water at the sites, no sewer but two different dump stations. The "A" loop has electric and non electric so if you don't need the elec, that's where you could stay. The "B" loop is all electric. The "B" loop also has the newer showers but you can walk there easily from the "A" loop.

have a blast and be thankful

[4runnerguy]

I think you've picked a good route to see quite a variety of what there is to see. Personally, I'd skip the Page area and head to the Grand Canyon instead.

As noted many of the national forest campgrounds in the west close after the first weekend in September. One nice exception near Salida is O'Haver Lake which stays open for most of September.

You'll have better luck staying in the national parks as they have CG's that stay open much later. Moraine Park in RMNP is one we like, but no hookups. Mesa Verde near Durango also has a nice CG with some hookups available. I'd stay at Mather or Trailer Village CG at the Grand Canyon if you go there.

[NMDriver]

Agree about doing Taos on the way to Santa Fe. From Santa Fe go up US84 through Chama to Pagosa Springs to catch US160 to Durango. A much more scenic route, more things to see/do and a good road.

I am not sure what you want to see in Santa Fe and Taos but you can stay at one of the RV parks between Santa Fe and Espanola. Then do day trips to Taos and Santa Fe without moving.

Trying to maneuver or park a large vehicle in Taos or downtown Santa Fe is a challenge. There are bypasses for both towns to get to a place to park and then use a toad to get downtown.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Just north of Denver in Fort Collins, we like Fort Collins Lakeside KOA. Lots to do for kids.

[Bionic_Man]

If you are planning on staying in forest service type campgrounds you need to check closure dates. A lot of them in the Leadville area close Labor Day.

[pconroy328]

I'm new to RVing so I can't help much on places to stay. But a possible concern is that it could get cold at night. Leadville's around 10,000' in elevation, if I recall.

And September here is a cr*p-shoot for temperatures. It could be 70*F or 10*F.

Regardless at 10,000', odds are it will be chilly!!!