Boondocking around the Four Corners area-W/ JEEP IN TOW????

[pezvela]

It's time to start planning our annual escape from the heat and humidity of the Sonoran desert along the Sea of Cortez. We generally leave our place in San Carlos, Sonora for the months of August and September. We have been know to leave as early as mid July and we usually return around October 15th.

This year we are targeting the Four Corners area of the US; generally, this is the area within a few hundred miles of the junction of the states of AZ, CO, NM and UT.

This year we are towing our Wrangler behind the TC, as I know this is good jeepin area.

The boundaries we are imposing on ourselves are this: as far north as a line from Moab to Grand Junction, as far west as a line from Capitol Reef to the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, as far south as I-40 from Flagstaff to Alburquerque, as as far east as a line from Albur. to Alamosa, Colorado. This is a general limit; if there is good area just outside this, let us know.

We do plan on hitting the Mogollon Rim area of AZ, which is technically outside of these limits, on our way back home in October, so we are interested in information in that area, too.

What kind of boondocking do we like? Generally, rather remote. We detach the Jeep when necessary and search out specific spots in it and them move the TC to the spot.

We prefer rather open locations that are kept comfortable from heat and bugs by breezes. We do tend to give preference to areas with trees as we live in the desert for 10 months.

But we absolutely love the high desert areas of eastern Utah. In the last two years, we did Muley Point, Valley of the Gods, Comb Wash, Burr Trail, Hole-in-the-Rock and some of Capitol Reef and that kind of area at elevation was great.

Naturally, if there are really special campgrounds or restaurants that shouldn't be missed, please mention them. As TC owner's know, we are going to have to take on water or dump about every 7-10 days. And we do like to hit the occasional country western bar on a weekend night if possible. It sure is great when you find good camping near a small city that has good CW music.

In areas we are unfamiliar with, we ALWAYS hit the local visitor's center or C of C for maps and advice. It's invaluable. We often get info of where we can boondock even in city limits, when it's late in the day. We spend a fortune on maps, Nat Geo, Delorme, BLM, NF, etc. A GPS, as well.

Our rig? It's a bit longer than many. 2000 F350 with a Lance 1030. We also have a Super hitch for towing the Jeep that reduces our clearance by a bit. 4wd.

We are very respectful of special camping areas that you might share, publicly or privately. We rarely make a fire but when we do, we use existing fire rings. And we dont dump gray water at camping areas. We are minimalist campers as TC owners often are. No offroading for the Jeep; dirt roads are plenty of excitement for us.

So, if any of you can recommend general OR SPECIFIC areas to consider within our boundaries, let us know.

PJ and Shelly from Ol' Mexico.

P.S. I do have one special spot to share that someone on this board recommended in the past two years. It is not a boondock spot and the CG, a BLM one, is only so-so. But the hike to the nearby falls is one of the most stunning day hikes I have ever made, and we have been over a portion of the Sierra Nevadas and the Wind River Range.

It is Calf Creek CG on Utah hwy 12 and the adjacent hike to the incredible falls nearby. The hike is about a mile or so and can only be rated easy. My tip? Get up EARLY, near first light and hike to the falls. You will likely have the place to yourself before any of your fellow campers make the trek. We did for a half hour on a busy summer weekend. The place is absolutely magical!

[wintersun]

If you are trying to escape the heat at the times you mentioned I would be heading to Colorado via New Mexico and staying at high elevations. You will have better weather and fewer tourists and pay less for camping and food.

[DesertHawk]

Oh, yes, Creede, I'd forgot about Creede:

We drove from the Telluride area to Ridgeway to Montrose, toward Gunnison & the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Prk (but didn't go to it) on US 50. We turned off before Gunnison on CO 149 to Creede. (Born & raised near the Rio Grande River in South Texas & still live near it in New Mexico, so wanted to see it close to it's birth area). We spend a good part of a day & a night along the Rio north of Creede. If into fishing, it might be a good place to fish. Crystal clear, sparkling water rolling along, very neat area. Campgrounds Rio Grande Nat'l Forest

Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park might be something to see when in the Ridgeway area.

From Creede area we drove over to the Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park. Lot of Sand for sure, neat too see. Nice little campground as well. http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

One Casita Club Forum member does a lot of camping over toward the Show Low area: There are many Forest Service Campgrounds out that way, nice ones it seems.

Seems to be a lot of Dispersed Campsites as well.

A little East & South of your Target Area: Gila Nat'l Forest Campgrounds and Dispersed Camping

[pezvela]

I really gotta get my head outta my ar-e. Well, at least outta the TC forum only.

I just discovered that there is a boondocking board, as well as a campground and route board.

Embarrasing.

[btggraphix]

Virgil_Diesel wrote:
I'm jealous! Used up all my vacation for the year 😞

But we are glad you did and made it to the Expo!

I will put in a strong two thumbs up to the Jamez Mtns./Bandolier NM. Being a geologist, the Valles Caldera gets my magma flowing so to speak.

Always wanted to do the Cumbres/Toltec railroad.

The Silverton to Durango railroad is a must....and for that matter, so is the San Juans Mtns in general....any side of them from Telluride to Creede (or Summitville?) and from Durango to Gunnison. Getting up high in the San Juans at least SOMEWHERE is a must. Speaking of Creede, I always liked the mountains around and north of Creede which by itrself is a cool little town. Spent a week there mapping and considering the area for a master's thesis and loved it.

Tons to do Pezela. Check out SABConsulting's recent trip through upon leaving from Flagstaff.

[pezvela]

jefe 4x4 wrote:
Pez,
There are just so many great spots that I have personally been to, it's really a matter of point-and-shoot. My only admonishment for July/Aug. is to get up high, above 7K feet elev. to beat the heat. So, the San Juans, the Sangre de Cristos, all around narrow gage country, like Ouray, Silverton, Ridgway, Lake City. We camped at Molas Pass once, and it's above 10K feet and nice and cool with so many jeep trails.
regards, as always, jefe

OK, jefe, thanks for the recommendation on spots. There must be a lot of them in the areas I described.

We're not too worried about DRY heat, after living in Mexico for over five years. In past years, even with no shade from trees, we are pretty comfortable down to about 4000 feet.

One benefit of traveling in August/Sept; we almost never have to deploy our shade structure. The sun is already low enough on it's return south that the camper is always casting a large shadow in SOME direction. We position the rig, accordingly, for afternoon shade on our outdoor setup.

Some shade and a breeze, even in 90+ degree heat, is fine with us.

[gwincolo]

we re gonna be in Ouray and surrounding area for a antique motor cycle road run next week, looking forward to seeing the area again.

[jefe_4x4]

Pez,
There are just so many great spots that I have personally been to, it's really a matter of point-and-shoot. My only admonishment for July/Aug. is to get up high, above 7K feet elev. to beat the heat. So, the San Juans, the Sangre de Cristos, all around narrow gage country, like Ouray, Silverton, Ridgway, Lake City. We camped at Molas Pass once, and it's above 10K feet and nice and cool with so many jeep trails.
regards, as always, jefe

[cewillis]

First, DesertHawk is THE Expert. I think he knows every place to boondock in North America.

There are some pictures from the Mogollon Rim road here , 2nd half, including a great boondock spot right on the rim.
Let me know if you want the co-ordinates.

[Virgil_Diesel]

I'm jealous! Used up all my vacation for the year 😞

[pezvela]

WOW, what a fantastic start to the recommendations, Deserthawk! We all really appreciate the time you put in to that. You've gotten my list off to a great start. Thank you!!!

[timn]

Moab will be very hot but there are tons of jeep trails in that area. We went in april took out rzr and had a blast. If at all possible silverton colorado is a must do. The jeep trails are awesome and it will be good and cool there that time of year. Plent of boondocking at silverton. We will be there in the last part of july going to get out of the oklahoma heat.

[DesertHawk]

Our Chaco Canyon Trip Part One in 2012. A somewhat hard one to get back into at times. Less so for a TC.

Not too far South of Bloomfield, There is BLM Camping at the Angel Peak Area. Part Two describes this area.

Between Cuba & Bloomfield (US 550); There seems to be a new Apache Nugget Travel Center & Casino at the junction of US 550 & NM 537. The gas prices were the best we saw up in the area. In 2012 when we made a trip to Chaco Canyon.

Never been to the Bisti Badlands on NM 371. Always sounded like a neat place to see:
Bisti Badlands Info & Map. There is a backcountry road between NM 371 & US 550, which might be neat to check out with a jeep.

Navajo National Monument in Arizona (not been to it yet, but seems neat). Maybe a day to see with an overnight. Navajo Nat'l Mon't

A little more East than your Agenda Plans, East & South of the Mogollon Rim....East of the Ghost Town of Mogollon, in the Gila Nat'l Forest (on the edge of the Gila Wilderness), Dipping Vat Campground is adjacent to the west side of Snow Lake. Snow Lake is approximately 52 miles southeast of Reserve, New Mexico. Willow Creek Campground is near by as well; approximately 55 miles from the town of Reserve. But from over by Glenwood, from US 180 to Mogollon on NM 159, then FR 142 & FM 1421, it is only about 36 miles. Maybe a little less than two hours to drive.

One could take NM 159 from Mogollon to NM 59/61 Beaverhead Ranger Station area; 61 S to NM 35 (Skirting the Gila Wilderness) near Lake Roberts. One would have to have plenty of fuel, food & water, there is none to be had along there. Except at Lake Roberts & Glenwood.

Lake Roberts is on the way to the Gila Clift Dwelling Nat'l Mon't (out from Silver City). Back in a ways, surrounded by Gila Wilderness. Camping by the Mon't, also by Gila Hot Springs area. Couple Forest CGs by Lake Roberts are nice. Mesa CG and Upper End CG

On one of the Forks of the Gila River on the way to the Cliff Dwellings is the very neat Grapevine Campground & the nearby Forks Campground both just short of Doc Campbell's Trading Post & Gila Hot Springs. Grapevine __________ Forks & Grapevine

South of the Lake Roberts, Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway or NM Rte. 152 - Into Silver City is a neat drive, with a nice viewing area into an open pit copper mine. The other direction is the road to Emory Pass with great vistias at the top. On the east side of Emory Pass there is Kingston; a neat ghost town, but one which still has people living in it and building new homes as well. Hillsboro is just down the mountain from Kingston as well. It is one of New Mexico's Ghost Towns with people still living there. But Lake Valley is not too far from and south of Hillsboro and it has almost no one living there anymore. On the western side of Emory Pass down at the "bottom" of the decent is a neat distinctive ridge with a very western descriptive metaphor of a name, the Devil's Backbone. A few campgrounds and areas to hike down in the "valley" along with a stream. Such as Lower Gallinas Campground, Upper Gallinas Campground, Wright's Cabin Campground and Iron Creek Campground which is in the middle of this recreational corridor spanning from the Mimbres Valley to Hillsboro, along NM Hwy 152 a great drive, very scenic.

We have always enjoyed the Uniqueness of camping close or in the rocks at City of Rocks State Park. Very Unique Place about 30 miles from Deming, NM just off US 180. About 30 miles south of Silver City.

CampsitePhotos- City of Rocks

North of Silver City, just off US 180 at Glenwood, The CatWalk Trail is very neat to see. The Ghost Town of Mogollon is not far from there as well.

Near the Mogollon Rim, Show Low has a Community Campground ( ShowLowLake ) off AZ 260 (turn by the Wal-Mart, if my memory is right)...a small lake, & flooded creek, should be fishable. There's a state park near there as well, more north of Show Low, I believe Fool Hollow. Nat'l Forest campground along Route 269 Pinetop-Lakeside area. We used it to overnight there in 2010.

Colorado Nat'l Mon't by Grand Junction..has a nice small campground (no hookup or showers very Scenic. Just south there is Siverton & Ouray to Durango drive the Million Dollar Hwy. Ridgway State Park is just down from Ouray. It would make a nice base camp.
:C Sights & Sites.

Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound.
http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/camping

I've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ Ditto

We camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.

US 550 from Montrose to Durango: Very nice drive, very steep & somewhat curvy in places after Quray. Have used it a few times. The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton.

Durango/Silverton Train

There is also the Cumbres Toltec Steam Train run from & to Chama, NM & Antonito, CO. It is a neat one. Heron Lake State Park, Chama, Train Photos

In '97, going from Aspen to Leadville Area, we found & camped by Twin Lakes at a forest service campground. A very nice campground, beautiful Lakes, nice canoeing on them.

Twin Lakes Campgrounds: Dexter ** Lake View ** Parry Peak ** Twin Peaks ** White Star
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/si.htm
I believe we stayed at White Star:
GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 9,200 ft.

The campground, one of five in the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, is
composed of three loops - Valley, Ridge and Sage. The Sage Loop
is very open with little to no shade, long level parking aprons
and closest to the Twin Lakes Reservoir. Ridge Loop is above the
reservoir among mature Ponderosa pine. Some sites have a view of
the reservoir with shorter parking aprons. The Valley Loop is a
fragrant combination of sage understory and Ponderosa overstory
with some very long parking aprons and no wheelchair friendly
vault. Twin Lakes, CO is on the National Register of Historic
Places. It is an interesting day trip and a good place for the
cook's night out. Firewood is available for a fee.

Follow CO 82 from Twin Lakes area to Independence Pass, a very neat & scenic area. This will take you to Aspen as well. Not easy to get RVs by one section of the road, one lane with a boulder blocking the way. But we got our C-Class MH by towing a Geo Metro with a 17' canoe on the Metro's roof. Didn't loose the mirror either. A few were on the ground there however.

Also a bit East of your Stated Area of Interest, Santa Fe has a lot of neat things to see & do. Just in case you make it over that way: Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't -A Trip Report last summer.

More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded & ABQ.

More on the Sante Fe Area Plus. And Campgrounds in Santa Fe.

Flagstaff - Gallup - Grants- Albuquerque - Santa Fe - Plus

[RZAR66]

I'm also going following this post as we are heading to the Four Corners area in July. Looking forward to Mesa Verde and other areas as well.

[kerry4951]

We too are in the process of planning a trip to the same areas, covering the 4 states that you mention. I will be following this post. Thanks for posting.
I just watched Burger Land on TV the other night. One of the places he recommends is BODE'S General Store in Abiquiu, N.M. for their famous Green Chili Cheeseburger. Abiquiu will be in your stomping area, the north west section of NM.