Four Corners Area route advice

[jukes]

Trying to narrow down our summer 2016 travels. Thinking to hire an RV (have done this before) and explore the Four Corners Areas. We would have 4 weeks. Is there a loop that makes sense starting from and back to Las Vegas (cheaper flights and RV hire choices perhaps).
Maybe based on having the RV 3 weeks.
We are 2 adults and 3 boys who will be 4, 10, 13. We prefer a larger 30ft MH.
I know it will be hotter than I like, but without humidity or too many bugs that's okay.
We don't want endless driving, we like a few days at each place to enjoy the sites, but also enjoy the campground (if one to enjoy), with water (natural or pool) along the way to enjoy and cool down. The boys need to keep active.
routes appreciated!!!
The other option is to pick up the RV in Las Vegas and drop it off in San Francisco, LA or San Diego and have the final 4th week in a house by the ocean to relax. We actually did this on an East Coast trip and it was great, after a few weeks in the RV we enjoyed time at the end to relax a little more and have some space from each other lol. How could that fit in with this?????
Thank You!!

[Opie431]

I would guess that children would like the Four Corners, just to be able to say they could put a hand in two states and a feet in two states at the same time.
Otherwise in an area of great things to do and see it is last on the list.
Besides the big attractions there are lots other great things to see.
Besides the National Parks there are other things to do. Research, research, research.
Navajo Lake is on the border of NM and Colorado and has campgrounds on both sides.
Or they did years ago.

[TyroneandGladys]

Las Vegas to Zion NP, Zion NP to Bryce Canyon NP to Arches NP, Arches NP to Cortez CO KOA Use Cortez KOA as base camp for Mesa Verde NP and Durango Silverton Railroad. Cortez to Petrified Forest NP Petrified Forest NP to Grand Canyon ,Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas.

[agesilaus]

I agree with everyone else, going to the actual 4 corners site is a waste of time and money.



I see they poured a lot of concrete since I was there but it still isn't worth the trip

[Bigdog]

It's all well and good to say that it's not worth going to 4 corners because you've been there and there's nothing to see. They haven't been there and mebbee want to say they've been there, done that.
Personally I'd hit Las Vegas and head up I-15 to St George and Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Goblin Valley, part of City Slickers II was filmed there, and then Natural Bridges. From there you could head for Blanding, Hovenweep N.M. and then 4 corners and Ship rock. Opitional from there,would be to head down to Chaco and down to I-40 and back to Vegas or Chaco and Canyon D'chelly (sp?),Monument Valley,south rim Grand Canyon and back to Vegas. If you are pulling a toad, I would highly recomend the trip into Chaco and if not, it can get REALLY washboardy as it's gravel and dirt most of the way.
I love that part of the country and have been to Ghost Ranch,out side of Abiquiu about ten times since 1958 from the puget sound area every time. The first two times was with our family of seven in a '55 DeSoto sedan and we tent camped a lot of places along the way.
Have a good trip and drive safe.

[kalynzoo]

Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce (Ruby's Campground) the pick one of the many Natural Wonders National Parks, on to 4 corners (nothing there...really...you'll spend 15 minutes). If your into Westerns and Western/Indian heritage spend a day or two at Goulding's Monument Valley and take the tour through the Valley, Spectacular. Then North to Durango and Mesa Verde where you hike through the ancient Indian villages build into the cliff sides. Then either back south on the 25 to Gallup then drive through Petrified Forest to Williams and South Rim of the Grand Canyon and back to Vegas. DO NOT take the 550 North from Durango to pick up the 70. The 550, the Million Dollar Highway is listed as one of America's most dangerous highways. Great in a car, not great in an RV, even a small RV.
Happy Trails. Sounds like a great month.

[2gypsies1]

The Four Corners area is terrific but don't go out of your way and expect big things at the actual Four Corners spot. Other than a plaque there is absolutely nothing to see there.

I'd also recommend that you not try to see a lot of things from a base site. You'll use up time and energy trying to drive back and forth. Just keep moving. It's more enjoyable.

[4runnerguy]

Here are some example itineraries that you could modify to fill a longer time (these are 11 day tours). (DesertHawk has given you so many places to go it would take all summer!)

http://utah.com/itinerary/grand-circle-tour
http://www.americansouthwest.net/itineraries/grand-circle.html

However, these tours mostly cover the desert parks. I'd take part of the trip into SW CO and visit Mesa Verde, Durango (don't miss the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge RR - one of the most scenic places in the country), Ouray, up to Grand Junction and over to Moab from there. This area is higher elevation and much cooler in the summer, giving you some relief from the heat of the desert. At some CG's, you'll find yourself needing a sweater in the evenings!

As far as places to stay, in Zion I'd strongly urge you to stay at Watchman CG in the park. Electric hookups only, but the Virgin "River" (really a stream) flows right by the CG and is used by many kids to wade, build little dams to make pools, etc. Nice shade under the cottonwood trees, too.

One nice thing about Bryce Canyon NP is the higher elevation and cooler temps. But don't try to stay at one park (or between them) and visit the other - too much driving.

Trailer Village IN Grand Canyon NP is the place to stay. Park once and use the shuttle to get around the south rim. Also higher up so a little cooler.

Although it can be quite hot, I'd still recommend a few days in the Moab area. Do your hiking early in the day and find some place cooler in the heat of the afternoon. The trails to the various arches in Arches NP are just a great time for kids. Do try to hike out of the Devils Garden parking lot. Lots of arches to find. For afternoon activities, a raft trip down the CO river might be fun for your kids. Hike up Negro Bill Canyon which is in shade for much of the day and thus cooler. Or take a drive up to the LaSal Mountain outside of town to see the red rock country from above. Take some food, have a snack and watch the sunset from up there. We love the Moab area and usually spend nearly a month there every year if you add up all of our trips.

I think Arches and Zion NP's are the most fun for kids, although Mesa Verde is quite good for your two older ones. The train ride is also something kids love. Plus, Silverton is a real, honest-to-goodness old west mining town with wooden sidewalks and dirt streets.

As far as heading to the coast, I think I'd spend all my time in the four corners area. It's quite a haul to the coast and once you're there, it's very crowded. Between the deserts, the canyons, Indian ruins, and the high mountains, the experiences your kids will have in the four corners area will definitely keep them excited and interested for the whole time (as long as you don't spend too many long days driving).

[DesertHawk]

Four Corners in New Mexico:
Not a lot of natural lakes, some private campgrounds would have pools. Can't help on those, never used them very often.

Here's some things I throw out for you to pick from or not:
Chaco Canyon is neat to see as well in New Mexico off US 550 from ABQ. 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. One could see a good part in one day if get there early enough. If not in an RV. Shouldn't have trouble taking your Winnebago View on the road taking it easy on the rough sections. Chaco: Hikes & Information
Ditto

Some other ruins in the Aztec area as well. What To See

Near Bloomfield/Aztec os Navajo Lake State Park, the second largest lake in the state, with multiple campgrounds. We stayed at the Pine River Campground some years ago, very nice place. We canoed on the "arm" which is a flooded canyon of the Pine River which leads up towards Colorado. Very nice. There is a CO Navajo State Park as well. Never been to it. NM's would be less expensive I believe. Very nice when we visited with our kids many moons ago, but we did have a canoe. We did swim. Very clear, clean water.

😞 Four Corners Monument (where four states intersect at one point: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado) & Four Corners Tribal Park, Hwy. 160 & 60 miles NW of Farmington, IMHO isn't worth the effort to see & from I have read isn't at the correct location. We went by it years ago before it became a Tribal Park, but wouldn't advise anyone to make the effort. It was the original marker when we stopped (a simple concrete pad), but has since been redone in granite and brass. Now with a Cost: $3.00/person.Wrong Place and Ditto Wrong Place

:C The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a coal-fired, steam-operated, narrow gauge train that travels through the remote wilderness of the southern Rocky Mountains between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO. http://cumbrestoltec.com/

Chama Area. The very neat Cumbres Toltec Steam Train runs from & to Chama & Antonito (Colorado); turns soon after Cumbres Pass Station & head cross country to Antonito. One can do a halfway trip (which we did a few years ago), a 'free' meal at halfway point (price included in tickets). Good food there & plenty of it. Cumbres Toltec Steam Train

Chama has a few RV parks, not sure about pools. Heron Lake State Park is south of Chama, 30/40 minutes maybe. Used to be a nice clean lake, but not sure any more, it has been in decline for a few years now. A shame.

Depending on the time of the year, one might be able disperse camp above Cumbres Pass in Nat'l Forest (in Colorado). There is a campground there called: Trujillo Meadows. There is a lake, not sure about swimming?


Off US 191 in Arizona, Canyon de Chelly National Mon't by Chinle is neat with a Navajo Tribe 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

Utah: Monument Valley is on the state line of AZ/UT. There are private parks with pools perhaps. Goosenecks SP is often used when visiting Monument Valley, but no hookups, etc.

We drove by the turn off to Goosenecks State Park in Utah when we went to Mon't Valley. It seems like one to see & place to overnight. We camped at Capital Reef Nat'l Park as well as Bridges Nat'l Monument. All very neat. And not too far from Mesa Verde Nat'l Park. No pools.

In Colorado: Mesa Verde NP the Morefield Campground, just 4 miles inside Mesa Verde. With 267 sites, there's always plenty of space! The campground rarely fills. Each site has a table, bench, and grill. Camping is open to tents, trailers and RVs, including 15 full hookup RV sites that require reservations. Easy to get into. Morefield's campsites are situated on loop roads that extend through a high grassy canyon filled with Gambel Oak scrub, native flowers, deer, and wild turkeys. No pools.

There is a RV park across the hwy. for the entrance of Mesa Verde with a pool, I believe.

On the way to Four Corners, one could stop to see the Grand Canyon (North) as well as Zion perhaps?

[agesilaus]

Well one obvious path would be Las Vegas-> Zion -> North Rim of the Grand Canyon (much less crowded and just as scenic-> Bryce Canyon -> Capitol Reef _> back to Vegas or on to California.

You miss Arches and Canyonlands with this tour. Vegas is quite a distance from the actual four corners area. Mesa Verde and a lot of smaller attractions are in the actual 4 corners with Arches not too far off.