anyone have campground ideas

Going shopping for extra wives? 😉

haha.. extra?? one is enough for me.

Definitely Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP are musts…

Zion is looking up at everything, while Bryce is looking down upon all.
Bryce is a freak of nature, and do plan on time to hike thru the crevasses.
And since your up high on ridges, watch out for lightning, as storms come up fast.

Near Moab, the Arches come to mind.
Haven’t camped there, so can’t help you with that one.

"Zion is looking up at everything, while Bryce is looking down upon all."

Excellent descriptions, E.D.
If you're getting that close, Andy, I'd go to Death Valley.
Probably out of your way, but I love that area.

I remember driving on 90 (?) through the Valley and seeing what might have been a sign at least half a mile down the road and getting excited. A car would pass us every 20 minutes or so coming the other way and we'd say "What the heck is all this traffic?.

Don

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, about an hour from Zion & a little north of Kanab.

we camped in the Manti-La Sal Nat'l Forest about 12 years ago in June. It's just an hour or so south of Moab. More low-key than the Nat. PArks. Beautiful Alpine meadows and hiking.

Your also not too far from Telluride CO and can stay in the Town Park within walking distance to Downtown and the Free Gondola that takes you up the mountain and to the ski area village.

As mentioned, Zion & Bryce are must-see though we went in the winter.

Swing a little to the South and hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is totaly different from the South Rim.:-)

Be sure to visit the 4 Corners Monument, and if you have time, visit Mesa Verde NP in the SW corner of Colorado.:-)

Another neat place near the Colorado Utah Border is Dinosaur National Monument.:-)

I could spend months exploring the 4 state area of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

anyone have campground ideas>Southwest

SWMBO and I were just talking last night about taking a trip to the grand canyon. She's been, but not I.

I haven't been to the South west yet and was hoping for some pointers, too.

I assume that flying into Phoenix is the thing to do. If we took a week and rented a small VW camper type thing what would some of you suggest for must see experiences? And first of all you have to know that $75 for the skywalk is not on my list.

I don't like crowds, and cities, but would prefer something unique and memorable. I'm not sure if Moab is on the list, or is that to far to drive on a short trip?

Thanks for the post Andy, and I hope this isn't hijacking it!

Don

Arizona

While you are in the Phoenix area, I highly recomend visiting Frank Lloyd Wrights Tallesin West. They have a very interesting tour. Also drive the Apache Trail up by Apache Lake. There are many National Parks and Monuments in Northern Arizonia, but they can be very crowded during the summer. Of course the Grand Canyon is the hot attraction, but there are many oterh worthwile places to visit. You could easly spend a month going from pard to park.

We went to Organ Pipe and Saugro, in Southern Arizonia, several years ago. It was very interesting, but there was a lot a tension about the border back then and I understand that it has esclated now.

Arizona

thanks Steve!

You could easily spend a year in any one of the subject states, and still not see everything you would like to.

Some parks and/or attractions don't warrant much than a day, but others would require weeks or months to fully appreciate.

In my (ever so humble) opinion, some of the “neatest” country and most memorable sights, sounds, and experiences, are not to be found in the National Parks (too many people), but in the vast reaches of the Public Lands still extant in the West. By all means visit the National Parks & Monuments, but I would plan on “camping” in the National Forests, State Parks, and BLM administered lands as much as possible.

Carry EXTRA gas, water, and ammo.

🙂
Loyal

keep it coming!! already have a spot at the campground 10 minute walk to the south rim! Wife and I have been there, but not the kids.

anyone have campground ideas>loyal

In my (ever so humble) opinion, some of the “neatest” country and most memorable sights, sounds, and experiences, are not to be found in the National Parks (too many people), but in the vast reaches of the Public Lands still extant in the West.

That's what I've been told by my old buddy, a former GLO surveyor from years ago.

Is there any chance you could email me some info on out of the way places?

Thanks,
Don

As mentioned you can't get that close to the Grand Canyon and not at least pass by.

I would also recommend a little NP in Eastern Nevada called Great Basin N.P. it is located east of Ely, NV on the state line with Utah. It is in the middle of nowhere. There some caves and some really great scenic overviews. They have trails that take you to the top of Wheeler Peak (+14000') and good a one to the old glacier at +12000' (melted now).

I spent a lot of time in this region during my college days. You could spent a year there not see enough. So many little nooks and crannies to see.

One of the best trips I took was to the North Rim of Grand Canyon, but we went to one of the remote camp sites on the west side. Took all day in capable 4x4s. Really fun and remote, but do not go this route alone...

Don,

Loyal is spot on about MANY out of the way places. Maybe I'm biased to my region, but I can think of several places that from a "serenity/peaceful" point of view, would be far better than many of the popular national parks.

If you were to make it a multiday stay, there are several places, with services, that would allow you to make easy day side trips with 1 hour drive times.

anyone have campground ideas>Joe-Nathan

Would you drop me an email and tell me about some of those spots, Please?
(email in profile is good)
Don

If you go to the Grand Canyon, you have to .....

If you go to the Grand Canyon, you have to at least hike down into the canyon part way. 95% of the visitors never take one step below the rim, so at least take a 20 minute walk down the Kaibab Trail to Ooo-Ah Point. It is breathtaking and the moderate western-style trail with switchbacks is really not that difficult to climb back up.

My wife and I hiked down to the Colorado River and stayed at Phantom Ranch. It was not that expensive but I'm not sure I'd like to hike all the way down except in winter. We hiked it in January and they required ice creepers at the top. When we got to the bottom it was 80 degrees.

Back to Moab area: We camped at some great free camping on the road from Moab up to Dead Horse Point. It was on the right when you got to the top of a long hill. We had a whole huge canyon to ourselves.

I could also spend months in the 4 corners area....

Arches is beautiful and great hiking. Lots of huge arches. Dead Horse Point is lovely, and little visited. Bryce is fantastic, but lots of people. Zion, Capital Reef, and on and on.

Driving anywhere in that area will leave you oohing and ashing. It is great vacation land. Stunning scenery.

I'm pretty excited to see the kids' reaction. (12 and 9) they haven't seen anything like the Grand Canyon... Kelly and I hiked quite a ways down the south trail years ago and camped at the jellystone campgrounds nearby. haven't been back since.