Tips? N Arizona, NM, CO road trip

[Taltyman]

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 .

Agree. Maybe consider Owl Creek pass or Last Dollar road. Chance they could be open. Too early for much else. Black Canyon of the Gunnison park was closed due to fire. Not sure if and when it re-opens. Million Dollar Hwy Red Mountain pass could even be iffy. Soak in the Ouray Hot Springs pool.

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[Charley]

Only South Rim of Black Canyon will be closed. North Rim is currently listed to be opened.

East of Cortez is Mesa Verde NP. Stayed at the lodge, in the morning wild horses were wandering around the lodge grounds.

 

[dgorsett]

Sadly Black Canyon at Gunnison is closed. Huge fire last summer (lightning). Probably part of the storms that kicked off the Grand Canyon fires.

Bad info, the Park is open, campground and some roads/trails closed, but generally open.

 

[dgorsett]

Also, outbound route update: Instead of spending the night in Farmington, NM (which doesn’t seem to have much charm, from my research), I think we’re going to bend north towards Cortez, CO and go east thru Mancos and Durango, and stay somewhere up there, before bending south at Pagosa Springs, towards Los Alamos. Then we jog NE to Toas, where we’ll stay for a couple nights. Anyone have any experience on CO rte 84 or NM rte 64?

Good idea, skipping Farmington....

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Good idea, skipping Farmington....

Ha! Thanks brother. What’s your take on driving HWY 50 between Gunnison and Grand Junction (on my return route). In good shape if we get decent weather?

 

[dgorsett]

Ha! Thanks brother. What’s your take on driving HWY 50 between Gunnison and Grand Junction (on my return route). In good shape if we get decent weather?

Oh yeah, that'll be great. Check out the canyon at Cimaron and Black Canyon NP and swing down towards Ouray do Dallas Divide, Telluride and Dolores.

I would recommendWest Dallas or Last Dollar Road, but they're likely to be muddy that time of year and you DO NOT WANT TO BE ON EITHER MUDDY.

 

[dgorsett]

Oh yeah, that'll be great. Check out the canyon at Cimaron and Black Canyon NP and swing down towards Ouray do Dallas Divide, Telluride and Dolores.

I would recommendWest Dallas or Last Dollar Road, but they're likely to be muddy that time of year and you DO NOT WANT TO BE ON EITHER MUDDY.

Or come through Grand Junction (my town) Colorado National Monument, like a low key Canyonlands

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Or come through Grand Junction (my town) Colorado National Monument, like a low key Canyonlands

I think we very well might come thru and stay overnight in Grand Junction, April 3rd, as a last stop before our return leg to Cedar City. Hopefully the nice weather holds!

 

[Darin]

You didn’t ask, so the following is worth every cent you paid for it:


At the risk of adding a few hours (ok, probably a day — and just a thought, so feel free to ignore):
+ At Tuba City take 264 across, dogleg to Coal Mine Canyon (beautiful and some nice hiking, if you want), back to 264 and across to the Hopi Mesas. Get out and stretch your legs. Continue east on 264 to 191.
+ Go north on 191, stop at Canyon de Chelly. Guided hikes through the canyon are great, but you can also hike down to “White house Ruins” without a guide, and the drive (and pullouts) along the rim are beautiful. Pleasant campground there and a lodge (that looks equally pleasant).
+ Head up 191 back to 160, go east and you’re back on your original route. Or, because I am a sucker for a lesser traveled roads (“Blue Highways” is a great read, by the way), prefer to take 64 east across to 12, south to 134, then east across to 491, and then north up to Shiprock. Here you could pick up your original route.

Again, just my 2¢ (I seem to be on a penny kick today).

 

[Ironcreek]

Farmington itself mayn’t offer much but has Shiprock (about 40miles) also Bisti Wilderness (about 30 miles) and Chaco Canyon (80-miles south) all worth visiting.

 

[dgorsett]

Farmington itself mayn’t offer much but has Shiprock (about 40miles) also Bisti Wilderness (about 30 miles) and Chaco Canyon (80-miles south) all worth visiting.

And even right in town there is Aztec and Salmon ruins, worth a stop.

 

[Taltyman]

Good idea, skipping Farmington....

If get time get a frosted mug of root beer at A&W map

 

[Taltyman]

If you ever watched John Wayne in True Grit then Owl Creek pass takes you by the meadow where they had the shoot out. The True Grit restaurant in Ridgway is cool. The lifts/gondolas in Telluride are free and pet friendly. But the parking in Telluride sucks big time.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Slight route revision. Heading SE from Cedar City, UT > Page, AZ > Shiprock, NM and then bending north and staying overnight in Mancos, CO (red) > From Mancos > Durango > Pagosa Springs then south towards Los Alamos, NM, and staying 2 nights at a nice boutique hotel in Taos, NM (yellow), From Taos we go north towards Saguache, then bending NW towards Gunnison > Montrose > Grand Junction. One night there (green) on the way home to Cedar. Not planning too much off-road drives, but just seeing the sights and scouting for future trips. SO much out here. VERY warm out here now so I’m thinking the chance of any winter weather is dropping fast.

 

[FoCoBronc]

Looks even better than initial plan. Your hitting (IMHO) some of the best of the west. And yeah, this warm weather kinda opens more options. Have fun and share impressions…

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