Tips? N Arizona, NM, CO road trip

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Planning a road trip for April. Maybe some camping along the way, but mostly just to see the sights. Glen Canyon dam, Shiprock (those Tony Hillerman Jim Chee mysteries were some of my Mom’s faves), sightsee through the Navajo and Hopi nations, a couple nice hotel nights in Taos. Then come back the northern route thru Colorado. Southern Rockies near Montrose supposed to be really pretty, even tho they had a bad fire last summer. Any trail tips? Spots near Taos? Thanks in advance, crew!

(PS: Looking to break up the drive there with a stay around Farmington, and around Montrose on the way back. But open to alternative recommendations.)

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[FoCoBronc]

Looks like a great well planned trip! Been on parts of it. Ojo Caliente Hot springs near Taos are nice. Looks like you are taking the creed/lake city route to montrose. Never did that but heard great things. If you take the Salina route over monarch, both Buena vista and Salina are nice mt towns, along w Gunnison.

 

[CalvinT]

Looks like a great trip. Watch for this sign when heading east on US 160. I have fun asking people where this picture was taken.

 

[Q1svt]

Looks like a great trip. Watch for this sign when heading east on US 191. I have fun asking people where this picture was taken.

… since US 191 is a main N/S highway, and CO is straight ahead N/E corner of Utah

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

For about $95 per person, you can get a Navajo-guided tour of Lower Antelope canyon, which is pretty cool. You do have to be fully mobile and reasonably limber for some sections of it. Unique experience for us and worth it.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

For about $95 per person, you can get a Navajo-guided tour of Lower Antelope canyon, which is pretty cool. You do have to fully mobile and reasonably limber for some sections of it. Unique experience for us and worth it.

Wow! Amazing! Thanks.

 

[CalvinT]

… since US 191 is a main N/S highway, and CO is straight ahead N/E corner of Utah

I entered the wrong highway in my original post, it was taken on US 160. I've corrected my post.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

I entered the wrong highway in my original post, it was taken on US 160. I've corrected my post.

Junction on the 160E and the 41N?

 

[Q1svt]

I entered the wrong highway in my original post, it was taken on US 160. I've corrected my post.

I was just going to pull out my AAA maps.

... lol, I figured it was a trick question like if you go due south of Detroit MI what the first county do you hit? There is another one about the Mississippi flowing west .. and Davenport Iowa.

But you still got me, think four corners based on view, but straight would be NM ... [I'll wait a while before looking on maps, to see what others think]

Planning a road trip for late April.

I am watching your post for ideas tooooo. Wanted to attend Moah Rodeo trying to figure out the loop. With the North Rim Lodge gone ... I'm lost.

Thanks for posting

 

[CalvinT]

Junction on the 160E and the 41N?

You'll see it if I understand your proposed route.

I don't want to say where, give a those who love a puzzle a chance to think about this.

I took it about 40 miles from a McDonald's where I saw a lot of international tourists. I think the sign was put up for tourists who weren't familiar with American geography.

 

[5280Bronco]

Planning a road trip for late April. Maybe some camping along the way, but mostly just to see the sights. Glen Canyon dam, Shiprock (those Tony Hillerman Jim Chee mysteries were some of my Mom’s faves), sightsee through the Navajo and Hopi nations, a couple nice hotel nights in Taos. Then come back the northern route thru Colorado. Southern Rockies near Montrose supposed to be really pretty, even tho they had a bad fire last summer. Any trail tips? Spots near Taos? Thanks in advance, crew!

(PS: Looking to break up the drive there with a stay around Farmington, and around Montrose on the way back. But open to alternative recommendations.)

Have fun! Should be an amazing trip!

Shiprock is pretty cool to see. We stopped there on the way out to Chaco Canyon. Another amazing place.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

Almost forgot about Montezuma Castle. Reputed to be about 900 years old. You can’t climb up to it but it’s interesting to see and it’s a short walk from the parking area. Right off of Rt 17 near Sedona.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Almost forgot about Montezuma Castle. Reputed to be about 900 years old. You can’t climb up to it but it’s interesting to see and it’s a short walk from the parking area. Right off of Rt 17 near Sedona.

Super cool. I like the Sedona area, but this trip will be a bit farther north, skirting the AZ/NM northern border on the way there and back. Shiprock I’m looking forward to. My mom loved those Jim Chee detective novels.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Just one quick comment on the Colorado part of the trip. It's been a very low snow year, but I still would not expect to be able to do much in the way of trails at elevation without snow concerns this early in the year. In a typical season you need to be concerned with cover till at least late June to early July.

It could be a few weeks early this year since our snow pack really sucks in the Southwest, but April is early .

 

[chubbs742]

Here are some western Colorado tips:

Stop at Black Canyon National Park near Montrose. It's a very short detour and if you're on a time crunch you can be in and out in a couple hours. It's never busy. Hike the short trail at the end of the park if you have time.

Get a beer and a chicken sandwich at Pomona in Montrose.

If you want to do some wheeling then you can go north of Montrose to peach valley OHV area. Take Wave Rd up, get a nice peak into the canyon, take eagle down. It's a short technical route but my Badsquatch handles it fine. Don't go if it's wet, that mud hardens into concrete. That whole area is an interesting spot to explore in the adobes. The closer you get to the canyon the less dead everything seems.

Consider a day trip down to Ouray CO. Incredible passes there but they will likely be closed. You may be able to head into Yankee boy basin though.

Check out the Colorado National Monument near grand junction. It's incredible.

If you're looking for anything more particular to do in the area, PM me.

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