Advice needed on 4 Corners this coming winter

[ian_c]

We're looking to spend 4 months in the 4 corner states this winter, starting in late November. Obviously we'd like to visit several (many) of the major parks but we'd also like to find a place where we can settle our 30' 5th wheel and relax with hikes and bikes as well.

I know this is a HUGE topic. I'm hoping that many of you far-more-experienced RV'ers will suggest where to go first, what to leave until last and possibly a few RV campsites along the way. (I don't think we're ready for boondocking in Quartzite this year.)

Many thanks! All suggestions will be gratefully received.
Ian & Darlene

[Busskipper]

fanrgs wrote:

Busskipper wrote:
First thing is getting out to the SouthWest (4Corners) Keep an eye on the weather as this can be a tricky this time of year but IMHO this is the absolute best time to be in the area. We have traveled over the entire area during the Winter and aside from limiting the trips into the remote Mountain Passes we have never had an issue.

To begin head directly to Denver, usually during the month of November you should be able to explore much of that area.

My wife is a Golden native and I have lived in the Denver area for 50 years. We would never recommend November as "the absolute best time to be in the area," especially to be camping in Colorado. First, in the most scenic parts of the state, all of the Forest Service campgrounds, some state park campgrounds, and the seasonal private RV parks have been closed for a month or more. Ian will, therefore, almost certainly have to stay in private RV parks in big towns or state parks that are not in the mountains.

Second, all of the extremely scenic, seasonal mountain passes are closed by November. That means they cannot travel over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Independence Pass between Leadville and Aspen, Cottonwood Pass between Buena Vista and Crested Butte, or any 4WD pass in the San Juan Mountains. That eliminates a lot of beautiful areas of our state.

Third, the weather can change so much between someone leaving Ontario and arriving in Colorado that it is not worth the risk. Plus the potential for icy highways between Ontario and Colorado, including I-80 and I-70, is substantially higher than earlier in the fall. Just ask the truckers who switch from I-80 to I-40 about that time of year.

Last, November is one of our worst months of the year for chinooks. How many RVers want to be camped during a hurricane? Well, Colorado chinooks can have winds as high as many East Coast hurricanes--100 mph or more. We won't store our trailer in one lot on the west side of the Denver area specifically because of those winds. When I asked the person who operates the storage lot if they had ever had a problem with the wind, she answered, "Well, we have had a few high-profile 5th wheel trailers moved around a little." Translation "Yes, we have a major wind problem that can move 15,000-pound trailers out of their storage spot and possibly into the adjacent trailer!" That's the reason that most of the RVs we see stored there are motorhomes, and not many of those are especially new.

So, IMHO their plan to leave in September next year is a much better decision than risking November camping in Colorado this year.

Sorry to not be in total agreement with you but, the stories I could tell you about the places we have traveled in Colorado in the winter.

As I say, watch the weather and you will be fine, and yes you will likely Boondock a lot in many areas, but we love that.

We all like it a little different, so take my advice for what it's worth -- FREE.

JMHO,

Busskipper

[fanrgs]

Busskipper wrote:
First thing is getting out to the SouthWest (4Corners) Keep an eye on the weather as this can be a tricky this time of year but IMHO this is the absolute best time to be in the area. We have traveled over the entire area during the Winter and aside from limiting the trips into the remote Mountain Passes we have never had an issue.

To begin head directly to Denver, usually during the month of November you should be able to explore much of that area.

My wife is a Golden native and I have lived in the Denver area for 50 years. We would never recommend November as "the absolute best time to be in the area," especially to be camping in Colorado. First, in the most scenic parts of the state, all of the Forest Service campgrounds, some state park campgrounds, and the seasonal private RV parks have been closed for a month or more. Ian will, therefore, almost certainly have to stay in private RV parks in big towns or state parks that are not in the mountains.

Second, all of the extremely scenic, seasonal mountain passes are closed by November. That means they cannot travel over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Independence Pass between Leadville and Aspen, Cottonwood Pass between Buena Vista and Crested Butte, or any 4WD pass in the San Juan Mountains. That eliminates a lot of beautiful areas of our state.

Third, the weather can change so much between someone leaving Ontario and arriving in Colorado that it is not worth the risk. Plus the potential for icy highways between Ontario and Colorado, including I-80 and I-70, is substantially higher than earlier in the fall. Just ask the truckers who switch from I-80 to I-40 about that time of year.

Last, November is one of our worst months of the year for chinooks. How many RVers want to be camped during a hurricane? Well, Colorado chinooks can have winds as high as many East Coast hurricanes--100 mph or more. We won't store our trailer in one lot on the west side of the Denver area specifically because of those winds. When I asked the person who operates the storage lot if they had ever had a problem with the wind, she answered, "Well, we have had a few high-profile 5th wheel trailers moved around a little." Translation "Yes, we have a major wind problem that can move 15,000-pound trailers out of their storage spot and possibly into the adjacent trailer!" That's the reason that most of the RVs we see stored there are motorhomes, and not many of those are especially new.

So, IMHO their plan to leave in September next year is a much better decision than risking November camping in Colorado this year.

[Busskipper]

ian.c wrote:
We're looking to spend 4 months in the 4 corner states this winter, starting in late November. Obviously we'd like to visit several (many) of the major parks but we'd also like to find a place where we can settle our 30' 5th wheel and relax with hikes and bikes as well.

I know this is a HUGE topic. I'm hoping that many of you far-more-experienced RV'ers will suggest where to go first, what to leave until last and possibly a few RV campsites along the way. (I don't think we're ready for boondocking in Quartzite this year.)

Many thanks! All suggestions will be gratefully received.
Ian & Darlene

First thing is getting out to the SouthWest (4Corners) Keep an eye on the weather as this can be a tricky this time of year but IMHO this is the absolute best time to be in the area. We have traveled over the entire area during the Winter and aside from limiting the trips into the remote Mountain Passes we have never had an issue.

To begin head directly to Denver, usually during the month of November you should be able to explore much of that area. Just search one of the Hundreds of threads on Colorado, There is so much to do and November is a great month to get out in the Foothill and the Mountains, before the first Major Snow Storm it will be good to get across the Rockies on I-70, we usually try to get around Glenwood Springs and for the most part you will get fair warning for any major storms, next head to Colorado NM out of Grand Junction. From Grand Junction head into Utah and Exit 214 off I-70 to Rt 128 along the Colorado River to Moab – this will give you a chance to hike and bike in Arches and Canyonlands without the Heat and the Crowds, not to mention enjoying the Beautiful drive along 128 as you head into Moab area.

Now it should be early December and you will expect the weather to affect your decisions. So you could head further west on 70 to Rt 24 then down to Goblin SP and Capital Reef NP – some great hikes and off road areas in these two. If you are up for it take Rt12 down Over Bolder and the National Forest (the elevation is higher here so check the weather – Snow and bad roads are possible but for the most part are short lived) Escalante and Kodachrome await you along with Rt 12’s Hogback road (I love the drive –some are not comfortable, but by now you will know, plus you can scout it in the truck first) this will lead you to Bryce, one year just before Christmas we caught it with 6” of snow at sunset – by noon the next day it was all gone but made for the most beautiful contrast in the Hoo Doo’s and the hiking was great. From here you follow 12 to Zion, where we hiked to the top of Angels Landing in shorts on the 22 of December. You could catch the North Rim – check roads and weather as it is closed – from here you could head to I-15 and the drive through the corner of Arizona, on I-15, along the Virgin River is again Just Beautiful. Mesquite is a little town we have always stopped in then on to Vegas, this could be a drive through or a stop depends on your and the mission on this trip, we always enjoy stopping and just looking at all that goes on. Then you have Lake Mead the Dam and the New Bridge down to Kingman, bumped into the best Mexican restaurant there a number of years ago, Pheonix and Tuscon are waiting to give you a base to explore from before heading back home.

The other option out of Moab is South down Rt191 to Mexican Hat, and Monument Valley, with a couple side day trips to Mesa Verde NP. There are lots of side trips in this area just locate and decide what suits you. We usually go over to Paige and the bottom of Lake Powell, if North Rim is not closed yet it will make a cool trip, Antelope Canyon and again many more side trips are available from here. If you are still up for exploring and the weather has not pushed you, you could catch the South Rim of the Grand Canyon then head down to the Tucson area to rest for a couple of weeks – month .

Not a complete trip but if you add in the side trips will keep you pretty busy, While many RV’ers keep moving south if they need socks or long pants, we have always enjoyed travel in the winter as there are just so few people and if you are not afraid to Boondock a little just so easy – it is a lot easier to heat these things (RV’s) than air condition them. These last two routes could easily be part of a LOOP, doing one on the way out and the other on the way back home.

Not sure this is what you were after but if is always fun to relive the past trips.

BOL,

[fanrgs]

September is one of the best months of the year for camping and sightseeing in Colorado and Utah. Fewer crowds, warm days for hiking and biking and cool nights for sleeping. Generally uncrowded campgrounds, although high-altitude Forest Service campgrounds close around mid-September. Aspen trees turning bright yellow, gold, and even orange, also around the middle of the month.

That's when you want to visit Mesa Verde NP, Chaco Culture National Historic Park, Canyon de Chelly NM, Arches NP, Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, Grand Canyon NP, Monument Valley, and many other national and state parks and monuments in the Four Corners area. You can also ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, visit mining/ski towns like Telluride, drive jeep roads around Silverton, and soak in hot springs in Ouray.

So, visit the Four Corners in September and see everything you may miss next winter!

[DesertHawk]

Might check out the Ajo, AZ area: http://thebayfieldbunch.com/search?q=Ajo

[ian_c]

Thank you so much to everyone! We'll be reworking our plans and the following year we'll arrive In September.

[Corky12]

We spent January and February 2014 south of I-40 in AZ for the first and last time. The weather was warm but that was all we liked about it. Prior to retirement we spent many years from mid-February to mid-March in the Four Corners area. Durango, Cortez, Moab, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Grand Junction are much more to our liking and we were never frozen out. Temperatures might be in the 50s during the day which is perfect for hiking. A good plan would be to go to warm weather and work your way north with the spring. We did like Wickenburg, AZ and Apache Junction, AZ but really DID NOT like Quartzite, Parker, Lake Havasu City. Try it - each person likes something different.

[DesertHawk]

Maybe some of this will help in your Quest:

Off US 191 in Arizona, Canyon de Chelly by Chinle is neat with a Navajo Trip campground. Been there when it was a free campground years ago. Hubbell Trading Post NHS is off 191 as well, maybe a small detour to get to it. Interesting.

Navajo National Monument is located at the end of State Highway 564 off of US Highway 160. Which connects with US 191, north of Chinle. We have not been to this one, but sounds very interesting. Two campgrounds, one open all year, somewhat isolated but no fees are charged. Navajo Nat'l Mon't

Mesa Verde in Colorado is a neat place to see.

Chaco Canyon is neat to see as well in New Mexico. Our Chaco Canyon Trip Part One in 2012. A hard one to get back into at times. Part Two Why we wanted to do the trip only in the pickup.

Some other ruins in the Aztec area as well.

Between ABQ & Santa Fe, Cochiti COE Campground & Tent Rocks Nat'l Park in Northern New Mexico Off I-25 area neat. Our Trip Report

Santa Fe & ABQ Sights & Sites Plus Other Areas

Southern New Mexico & Arizona Sites & Sights

Tucson is a neat city & easy to get around in.

This Canadian Snowbird has spent many winters in AZ & other parts of the Southwest. Bayfield Bunch Blog. The link was for Bisbee, AZ. Might find things in it on other places as well. Use his search & see.

[fanrgs]

2gypsies wrote:
You can plan to hit the Utah area on your way home in spring although even March and April will still be cold. Good luck finding your place!

Good suggestion . . . if you stay in Arizona or New Mexico until about Easter. Many Colorado families spend spring break at Lake Powell. Arches NP, Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands NP, Moab, and even Mesa Verde NP in Colorado are beginning to warm up some by then.

But February is much too early in the spring for those areas to be comfortable camping/hiking/biking destinations (again, as others have said, check the altitudes of the areas you are interested in visiting). If you are going to the Four Corners states to avoid the cold and snow of Canada, you won't avoid it in Utah and Colorado in February or early March. In fact, March is Colorado's snowiest month!

[Jim_Shoe]

BTW, If you drive northeast on US 160, just after you cross the New Mexico border from Arizona there's a turnoff onto New Mexico 597 which takes you to a plaque in the ground where the four states meet. Your kids might get a kick out of getting their picture taken while standing in four states at the same time. Adults do it too. 🙂

[D_E_Johnson]

HI Ian, like everyone has said, the four corners will be way to cold.Try Quartzsite and the Yuma area, even Parker and Lake Havasu. We have been in Quartzsite for the lat 10 years. There are plenty of parks or boondocking. Lots to see and do in this area without freezing. From Quartzsite, Yuma is about 80 miles, Lake Havasu is 80 miles(think London Bridge) Palm Springs and Indio Calif are about 130 miles, Laughlin Nv, casinos along the Colorado river, 2 hours and 15 minutes.January in Q has lots of rock and gem vendors and junk vendors. Not to be missed. Tucson has the rock vendors in February(its 253 miles east of Q. But your prices are lower in Q. In Brenda AZ, about 23 miles east of Q there are a few RV parks with pools(heated) I don't think there is an rv park in Q with a pool. Near Q, you can go prospecting for gold with a metal detector or a drywasher . you just may find some. We do. Got about an ounce last winter. If you need more info, just ask. We have really enjoyed traveling around from the Q area these past few years. We park our rv on a private lot in a development outside Q. Loads of places to ride an atv and great photos of sunsets for your memories.
We are fairly close to you, we are in Mulmur Ontario, just north of Orangeville. Have fun planning. Dona

[2gypsies1]

I would not advise staying in the Four Corners area in winter. It's very cold and windy. Also, Four Corners itself is ugly.

You need to look up elevations of some Southwestern areas and keep yourselves no higher than 3500'.

For Arizona/Utah don't plan to winter any higher by looking on a map - than the Phoenix area. You said you're not ready for Quartzsite. Give it a try you might like it for a short time. There are plenty of nearby places to move near Quartzsite. Yuma is the warmest in the state and along the Colorado River up to Havasu City is fairly nice. Then there's the Tucson/Phoenix/Apache Junction areas. Flagstaff is too high as is Prescott/Payson/Show Low.

You can plan to hit the Utah area on your way home in spring although even March and April will still be cold. Good luck finding your place!

[fanrgs]

We live in Colorado and have spent time during the past two winters camping in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Although the lower-elevation parts of Colorado can have 50 degree daytime temps in January, it can also have -25 to -30 degree weather in January (in Denver, we refer to the latter as "Stock Show weather" because the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in mid-January often brings below zero temps). So, I would not recommend staying long in Colorado between November and April unless you are a skier and have an RV designed for Canadian winter camping.

Southern Utah and northern Arizona and New Mexico are also at higher altitudes. For example, Flagstaff, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM, are at 7,000 feet above sea level, or nearly 2,000 feet higher than Denver. So, expect cold weather and snow during winter in that region as well.

Texas (even along the Gulf), Oklahoma, and Arkansas get cloudy, windy, and rainy during winter, with occasional ice storms but not much snow. Only the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is really suitable for long-term snowbirds (or "winter Texans" as they call them there).

That leaves southern NM and AZ as the only dependably mild snowbird destinations in the "Four Corners" states and surrounding region. And, as others have said, it can still get cold in those southern areas. So, for hiking, biking, touring, sightseeing, and camping, you are going to be competing with all the other snowbirds generally along the I-10 corridor from Las Cruces, NM, to Tucson, Casa Grande, Phoenix, Quartzite, and Yuma, AZ.

My suggestion would be to pick one area for November (that's the month the whooping cranes return to Bosque del Apache in NM, if you happen to be a wildlife photographer), another for December (the old town of Mesilla near Las Cruces is completely lit with luminarias at Christmas), another for January (all the big classic car auctions are in the Scottsdale-Phoenix area in January), and another for February (the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, the world's largest, is held the first two weeks of February). That way you can explore what each area has to offer (except Quartzite!) and pick just one or two areas to return to the following winter.

BTW, in March we met a couple from Saskatchewan who had spent that last 8 winters in the same RV park in Bensen, AZ. So, you wouldn't be the only Canadians wintering in that region!

[2010Liberty]

unless you are in a witness protection program why go south and freeze anyway. come on over to the Tucson area.