Brent_and_Gina
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Re: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
Busskipper wrote: Brent andGina wrote: ................................................................. I think I agree with you 100%. We are in no rush. We'll be coming from a friends house in Colorado Springs to Moab. We will stay there until we feel we're ready to go. At 3 weeks in, we'll just head back from wherever we are. I like it! So that will pose an entirely different Question - "What Route will you take out and Back?" Suggested Route As in Colorado it will be a Beautiful - although a little Late - Drive with the Aspen having Turned. With stops in Buena Vista/Collegiates/Leadville/Salida/Twin Lakes/Independence Pass - Then Driving past Gunnison/Crested Butte/Montrose - then possibly Ouray/Telluride/Silverton - before heading over to Moab. If at all possible try to leave a little earlier - so as to enjoy the Aspen before they all fall off - you will not regret it. The trip back will likely bring you back on RT 160 with even more to enjoy on the drive back to the Springs - Cortez/Durango/Pagosa Springs/Great sand Dunes/Salida - Map back Keep an eye on the weather - as the passes often get just a little October Snow - usually wet and melted shortly after it falls on the Warm Black Highway. This will be a Great Trip - It would really be nice if you Posted a Few Pic's as you make your way, then we can all enjoy it :) Best of Luck, We are almost going on the suggested route. Instead, we're going 50 from Pueblo. On the way back, we'll drop down to 40 directly back to Little Rock where we're from. The Colorado Springs stop is to visit a fellow Air Force friend. I will try and remember to post some pics. I'm terrible doing it for family on Facebook so I need to step up in that regard.696Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
2gypsies wrote: I highly recommend going to each national park's web site and exploring it thoroughly as to what they recommend to do within the park. Here is Arch's in Moab: https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm In addition to the national park there are so many other things to see and do within a close range of the park. If you're hikers there are unlimited opportunities. In Arches the Fiery Furnace ranger-led hike is very unique and awesome but you'll need reservations. That's how you really 'see' the parks - do things in them even if it's the easy hikes. Ranger activities are also worthwhile. For Moab you could take the Colorado River evening cruise, rent a Jeep or go on a Jeep tour, drive up to LaSal Mountain, tour both Canyonlands NP sections and lots of other things. Google the town itself for ideas. For Bryce the best experience is to get down within the fairyland spires and do a hike. There are also horse rides down there. Just walking along the rim won't give you the full and best picture. Outside the park in both directions are lots of beautiful things to see along Hwy 12. In Escalante hike a slot canyon like Peek-A-Boo Canyon - short but beautiful. Stop at the Visitor Center for ideas. Calf Creek Falls and Kodachrome State Park are worth exploring. Since you're retired try to plan this trip in April or September. These are some hot places in the summer. We leave in less than 2 weeks.696Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
agesilaus wrote: Don't flitter around, spend more time in one major park. You will get a lot more out of it. We've been just about all those places multiple times over the years. Often spending 5-8 days a stop. And we still haven't seen all we want to see. I think I agree with you 100%. We are in no rush. We'll be coming from a friends house in Colorado Springs to Moab. We will stay there until we feel we're ready to go. At 3 weeks in, we'll just head back from wherever we are. I like it!698Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
2gypsies wrote: Brent and Gina wrote: Moab - Use RV Park Reviews web site for any of these. We don't know your price range. Capitol Reef National Park - Stay in Torrey Bryce Canyon National Park - Ruby's Zion National Park - Stay in Springdale North Rim of Grand Canyon National Parkin Jacob Lake, AZ or Kanab, Utah Lake Powell - Stay in Page. Glen Canyon Nat'l Rec Area has a full service c.g. Monument Valley - Drive to Monument Valley - Stay in Gouldings RV and take their tour from there. Don't drive your truck to tour. The CGs in red are very helpful by the way!696Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
2gypsies wrote: Brent and Gina wrote: Moab - Use RV Park Reviews web site for any of these. We don't know your price range. Capitol Reef National Park - Stay in Torrey Bryce Canyon National Park - Ruby's Zion National Park - Stay in Springdale North Rim of Grand Canyon National Parkin Jacob Lake, AZ or Kanab, Utah Lake Powell - Stay in Page. Glen Canyon Nat'l Rec Area has a full service c.g. Monument Valley - Drive to Monument Valley - Stay in Gouldings RV and take their tour from there. Don't drive your truck to tour. These parks have too long of distance to have base camps. How often would you drive back and forth to visit just one? I wish I knew enough of each park to dedicate time. I'm still doing research and will likely have several options. Right now, I'm thinking 3 to 4 days in Moab driving to 2 or 3 spots a day. Maybe 1. Then, on to another base camp, stay 3 or 4 days and see several others. Keep in mind, this is just starting to take shape. I've looked at some caravan itineraries and they generally don't spend more than 2 days in any one location. I figured some on RV.net may have travel thoughts similar to us and would simply say something like "We stayed at such and such and from there, we saw these 3 parks in 4 days there." I can research the various Google, RV Park Reviews, Good Sams, Recreation.gov, etc, but that's outside of this forum. There is no need to restrict campgrounds or anything else based on price. Thanks so much.696Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
A little clarification. I'm working on the "things to see" and they are NOT firm yet, but here is what I have so far starting in Moab. The "circle" seems pretty straight-forward on the maps I've seen as circle-ish. If not, please let me know for my planning purposes. We're going counter-clockwise on it tentatively like this: Moab Capitol Reef National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Zion National Park North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park Lake Powell Monument Valley - Drive to Monument Valley I've got a LOT of sub-sights in these main areas, but I'm looking for campgrounds that support electric and water as must-haves. We don't want to pack up the 5th wheel and move it constantly so we'd like to base in areas and, if necessary, drive a little further. We are retired and take extra time when we travel and have learned over the past 8 years that this is our preferred style--base and see the surrounding area. Campground comfort with water and electric essential. So, what's discussed so far. agesilaus - I don't see us going south (clockwise) from Moab so Monticello won't be traveled likely. Cortez a definitely possibility towards the very end. Busskipper - I'm sorry, but campgrounds are definitely part of an overall trip for us. We've stayed at some dumps and it's a huge distraction and bummer when we look back. For example, when we stayed in a parking lot basically in Santa Rosa, CA to do some wine tours. Sites are great, tours are great, campgrounds are great, getting out of the house is great, local cuisine is great and they all add up to an experience. Our campgrounds in the Badlands and Custer State Park--awesome. It's so important to us not to constantly move that we pack in extra time and sacrifice sights if necessary knowing we can go back. I very much understand the move, move, move style and we see it often when we're on the road. Sometimes, we take an entire day or two and just relax at the campground and grill out steaks sleeping in late the next day, maybe do Walmart to restock or eat out. Hey, it's our style. Respect all around. Busskipper, we caught snow/ice in Yellowstone and we certainly try and stay away from it! Thanks all and please keep 'em coming! :)143Views0likes0CommentsGrand Circle Counter-Clockwise (Sep 24 - Oct 19)
Gina and I are doing the Grand Circle counter-clockwise starting basically in Moab and ending roughly in the four corners area. We are wanting to "base" from a campground that has electric and water minimum and stay at each stop 3-5 days (guess). If there's not a campground with sewer, we'd like the park to have a dump station. I'm working out the "sights to see" separately and have inputs from folks here on that too, but am also open to must-not-miss places to dine AND those "known to you only" secret spots if you want to share. So, I'd love to hear your suggestions of 3 or 4 "base" locations on the circle in beautiful campgrounds. Would even love suggestions on how you did it if it worked well for you (itinerary). We don't mind traveling 50 or 75 miles to reach the sites. We thank you very much for your experience and time. Brent2.3KViews0likes21CommentsRe: Steep Grades Colorado Springs to Moab
JAC1982 wrote: OP, my husband is like you, he does NOT like switchbacks or narrow roads even with guard rails. Even driving over dams makes him really nervous. He grew up in Wyoming and has lived either there or here in CO with the exception of a few years in AZ. He doesn't even like doing it in a car. So it's not just an issue of him "not being used to it", it's a genuine fear. That being said, we do I-70 to the Fruita area once a year and he does just fine with it. It has huge shoulders for much of it and lots of truck traffic, so if you're nervous, just hop in the right lane with them and take it easy. The windiest/narrowest part is Glenwood Canyon but the speed limit is lowered there and it's still 2 lanes each way (except during construction). IMO, the worst part is on I-70 near Genesee/Lookout Mountain, heading East. The stuff around Silverthorne/tunnel is easier than that last drop down into Denver. Thanks! Have you guys taken 50 before? I'm leaning towards 50.548Views0likes0CommentsRe: Steep Grades Colorado Springs to Moab
Thom02099 wrote: 2gypsies wrote: Even I-70 has extremely steep grades from Denver west. I'd recommend I-25 to CO 50 to Grand Junction. You'll have Monarch Pass which is a steep downhill but it's not narrow and it's over with fast. :) Absolutely gorgeous drive and lots to stop for along the way. You could also take NM 550 just north of Albuquerque to NM 64 to AZ160 or at Shiprock, NM pick up 491 north to Cortez then 491 to UT 191 north. These suggestions. Monarch Pass is not a difficult pass by Colorado standards, as there's climb lanes going westbound. There's no steep drop offs, no lack of guard rails either. A fear of heights is not to be marginalized. Kudos to you for taking ownership of your fear and still looking for ways to travel while minimizing any risk. I think that, if you follow 2gypsies suggestion, you'll look back on it and say "that wasn't so bad after all". By the way, we passed through Loveland on our way to Yellowstone in 2012. A fantastic looking place. Wife always said if we move, it'll be there!548Views0likes0Comments
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