Mesa Verde, CO to Capitol Reef UT

[2chiefsRus]

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.

[Busskipper]

2chiefsRus wrote:
Thanks again for all the replies. When I checked the Capitol Reef NPS website, they are doing some roadwork there this week so we decided to to go from Mesa Verde to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon first (Staying at Jacob Lake). We had about half a day there today before the snow started. Didn't seem to be much point in hanging around when we couldn't see the views. We have 3 more days to give it another try. Thanks again for the input. We'll head to Capitol Reef around Thursday or so.

Best views I ever had on the North Rim was an early June snow storm -- to see that view covered with snow as the sun comes up or sets is just hard to ever imagine - just the best.

BOL,

[2chiefsRus]

Thanks again for all the replies. When I checked the Capitol Reef NPS website, they are doing some roadwork there this week so we decided to to go from Mesa Verde to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon first (Staying at Jacob Lake). We had about half a day there today before the snow started. Didn't seem to be much point in hanging around when we couldn't see the views. We have 3 more days to give it another try. Thanks again for the input. We'll head to Capitol Reef around Thursday or so.

[vermilye]

2chiefsRus wrote:
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.

I've seen both. The upper canyon is easier to walk through since it has a flat floor, but is far more crowded. I prefer the formations & lighting at the Upper Canyon, but taking photographs without including people on tours is a challenge. Some photos & tips for taking them at both Upper & Lower Canyons here.

[TundraTower]

We traveled scenic 95 from Blanding to Torrey last summer. It is an absolutely gorgeous drive, but be aware there are no services - I measured 141 miles between gas stations (Blanding to Hanksville).

Just after the bridge at Hite, we turned left up a dirt road to a picnic pavilion that overlooked the bridge and discovered a paved landing strip up there (which ere we parked for a quick lunch).

Utah state tourist agency told us the marina at Hite was about 12 miles off the road and not paved. There is a vending machine gas pump there, but the tourist agency warned us not to pull our trailed down that road. We didn't try it but no idea if this advice was accurate.

1000 oaks RV park at Torrey is the 2nd most scenic place we have camped (#1 is Gouldings at Monument Valley).

[2chiefsRus]

jolooote wrote:
Saw u'r profile pic. Thank you for u'r service. BTW, I'm a 30 year retiree. Master Chief Petty Officer.

Thank you for your service too. And for the information! I did 23 years and Dave had 33 years.

[jolooote]

Saw u'r profile pic. Thank you for u'r service. BTW, I'm a 30 year retiree. Master Chief Petty Officer.

[jolooote]

hmmm, don't really know, but ask. If allowed, you'll probably be there alone, which is my FAVORITE camping.

[2chiefsRus]

jolooote wrote:

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.

Just to clarify - do you think we could overnight at the spot you described just across the two bridges on the top of the mesa at the parking viewpoint?

[TexasShadow]

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.

[jolooote]

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.

[2chiefsRus]

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]

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]

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