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Old 01-21-2016, 10:00 AM   #1
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Southwest CO, UT, AZ July 2016 advice sought?

I'm able to get away from work for the entire month of July this year, not sure when I will see a window like this again. My wife would really like to see the Grand Canyon and a few other places in the Southwest. We live in New Jersey, so our first few days will be a mad dash out West, which I am ok with. A few of the places I'd like to hit up on our way or return are:

Steamboat Springs, CO - Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Ouray, CO - Ouray Hot Springs
Estes Park, CO - Rocky Mountain, N.P.

Moab, UT - Arches, N.P.

Page, AZ - Antelope Canyon
Arizona - Grand Canyon, N.P. (South Rim)
Arizona - Glen Canyon Dam

Mesa Verde, CO - Mesa Verde, N.P.
Colorado - Great Sands Dunes N.P. & Preserve.

Am I missing anything worth a quick look? Probably 1 1/2 days in most locations.

I've been to Arches and Mesa Verde about 18 years ago in late June, early July. If I recall correctly I stayed in a motel. I know daytime temperatures will be hot, but how about the nights? Should I count on my refrigerator not being able to keep up? Not a fan of reservations, but could I possibly be shutout of a "private" campgrounds because on the time of year? Any campgrounds worth noting on my map? We like to try an grab a swim late in the day. Big selling point for my 12 year old daughter.

This trip will be pretty much a loop, with the Grand Canyon being the most Western stop. Not sure if we should start a Southern route or Northern route first on this loop?

Would love your two cents on anything worth seeing or tips and advice on how to handle this with my Escape in tow?

Or should I just go park it in the Outer Banks of N.C. For the month of July?

-Vinny
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Old 01-21-2016, 11:15 AM   #2
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You are headed to my favorite part of the US. I can't make recommendations for places to swim, but I do suggest staying in some of the area State parks. Check out Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin & Dead Horse Point state parks in Utah. Even if you don't camp there, Goosenecks State Park north of Monument Valley is worth a visit. In the Moab area (near Arches) Canyonlands National Park is also a beautiful area. The Islands in the Sky section is not too far from Dead Horse Point SP.

If you are interested in photography, at Antelope Canyon take the photographer's tour. More time & more opportunities to take photos without a bunch of people in them. I have a page that has some suggestions for photographers here.

Depending on the amount of time you have, a visit to Zion National Park is worth a day or two. If the Narrows hike is open, it is a unusual opportunity - you hike in a river through beautiful cliffs.

There is so much more, depending on your likes. I have been in the area many times - if you go to my web page & do a search using the Google search box on the main page, you can find photos & some information about my visits to the area.
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Old 01-21-2016, 02:27 PM   #3
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I'd hightail it out thru Colorado on I70 and hit Rocky MountainNP on the way. Then onto Utah for the Grand Circle- http://utah.com/national-parks/grand-circle, afterwards head north up to Wyoming and hit Tetons and Devils Tower then start home thru Mt Rushmore and stop in BadlandsNP on way home.
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Old 01-21-2016, 02:34 PM   #4
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I'll concur with Jon. So many beautiful places in the desert southwest and the Canyonlands. Be aware, places like Arches and Zion fill up sometimes many months in advance. We have had good luck in the BLM sites all over the southern Utah area. We also like many of the smaller state parks like Kodachrome Basin. Love Bryce too.
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Old 01-21-2016, 03:04 PM   #5
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We love the Grand Lake side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Less crowded and slower paced than the Estes Park side. Plus, the moose tend to be seen more on the west side of the park. There is a great forest service campground--Stillwater--which is on Lake Granby near Grand Lake.

Also, Pikes Peak is a must see and that will also take you near/through Garden of the Gods. Both are in the Colorado Springs area. We typically stay in Woodland Park which is up the mountain from the Springs and take day trips from there.

Also, Great Sand Dunes is wonderful!
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Old 01-21-2016, 03:10 PM   #6
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Your trip touches many of the places we love. During summer of 2014, we spent three weeks in July staying in National and State Parks throughout the SW USA. We enjoyed every park that we stayed at including Arches NP, Dead Horse Point SP, Kodachrome SP, Zion NP, Grand Canyon North Rim NP, and Mesa Verde NP, amongst a few others. Was scorching hot in the desert during the mid summer, but we had electricity at about 1/2 of the places we stayed to run the A/C, and our fridge worked flawlessly on propane during the entire trip. Even on those nights without power, our 19' Escape was fairly comfortable inside with the Max-fan providing ventilation and airflow.
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Old 01-21-2016, 03:17 PM   #7
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Too much to do for 3 weeks but others worth a look, Zion, Bryce, Kodachrome, Capital Reef, drive the Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway. If you like animals, the Best Friends compound in Kanab was outstanding.
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Old 01-21-2016, 05:30 PM   #8
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Too much to do for 3 weeks but others worth a look, Zion, Bryce, Kodachrome, Capital Reef, drive the Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway. If you like animals, the Best Friends compound in Kanab was outstanding.
If you do the Moki Dugway (while some have, I wouldn't pull my trailer up the Dugway - too washboarded, at least the two times I've been there), be sure to drive out to Muley Point at the top of the Dugway. Driving up the Dugway, it will be a dirt road on your left a little after you are back on the pavement. Go all the way to the end for a beautiful, almost 360° view of the area, including Monument Valley.
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Old 01-21-2016, 06:25 PM   #9
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We've been there many times but a great memory is a stop on the river at Mexican Hat, UT and lunch or dinner at the San Juan Inn.
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Old 01-21-2016, 06:52 PM   #10
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Lots of great ideas here. Many that have been mentioned I visited while on a field study in college. I can't wait to retire and really see everything, 15 more years to go.

Vermilye have to drank from, "Matrimony Spring?" Refreshing source IMHO.
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Old 01-21-2016, 06:56 PM   #11
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Moki Dugway, what's not to love We were a little apprehensive about going up it but ended up enjoying it.

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Old 01-21-2016, 06:58 PM   #12
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It's been a long time, but favorite memories from our tent days: the Zion Narrows hike (mentioned by Jon above); the hike to Delicate Arch, especially nearing the arch; hiking down into the Bryce Canyon formations - once on a full moon night. Southern Utah is other worldly…Glenn.
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Old 01-21-2016, 07:37 PM   #13
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We've been there many times but a great memory is a stop on the river at Mexican Hat, UT and lunch or dinner at the San Juan Inn.
We were heading to a week backpack trip to the Anasazi ruins just north of Mexican Hat in the BLM canyons. We stopped there for lunch and by the time we reached the trailhead I was so food poisoned from lunch that we limped into Blanding UT and spent first 12 hours you know what and 48 more hours nearly unconscious before I was back in this world. Like Chipotle it's kinda a Clint Eastwood thing "You feel lucky," but we've never stopped in MH again. Probly wouldn't be a problem now, but we can't lose the memory.
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Old 01-21-2016, 07:46 PM   #14
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I would not go across the country in a hurry and then see everything I could see in a hurry. That is the way some travel, but I would just go to the Grand Canyon and a couple of other places and spend a little time at them, instead of in and out. And save the rest for another trip. It's your trip though. Whatever seems fine to you.
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Old 01-21-2016, 07:48 PM   #15
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There is so much to see, just in Utah, that's you'll just have to pick the spots you most want to see, and then plan to go back for the rest. Capital Reef is a favorite of ours as it is less crowded and offers a big variety of terrains to see.
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Old 01-21-2016, 07:52 PM   #16
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We were heading to a week backpack trip to the Anasazi ruins just north of Mexican Hat in the BLM canyons. We stopped there for lunch and by the time we reached the trailhead I was so food poisoned from lunch that we limped into Blanding UT and spent first 12 hours you know what and 48 more hours nearly unconscious before I was back in this world. Like Chipotle it's kinda a Clint Eastwood thing "You feel lucky," but we've never stopped in MH again. Probly wouldn't be a problem now, but we can't lose the memory.
I said it was memorable, something you'll never forget!

We like to get a cold brewski and a Navajo taco. Good grub and great scenery.
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Old 01-21-2016, 09:57 PM   #17
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A month out of New Jersey is really like 3 weeks in CO/UT factoring in to/fro. Since Grand Canyon seems a must see then I can offer a good boondocks site. On the road from Williams,AZ there is a spot on the right just after the state park on the left a mile or so from I-40. We were where you want to go just before & after labor day and it was tight at the campgrounds. Plan on "staging" prior. For example we boondocks about an hour or so east of capitol reef on hwy 12 up on the aspens. got to capitol reef early next day and it was full shortly afterwards.

Ouray is nice...Rigeway SP is a good spot to unwind & reorganize...laundry, etc. From there you can go to Gunnison via montrose then up to crested butte and oh be joyful. Steve in Texas gave us that tip. Liked it so much we cruised over kebler pass down to paonia, back to Rigeway then to telluride, then back to crested butte.

A cool book to read prior to going to Utah is Finding Everett Ruess. He was 20 year old who wandered the 4 corners for several years back in the 1920's.
Canyon de Chelle is very worthwhile and a place less traveled compared to many of the other well known sites. The natives live in the valley and there is an interesting history. you can walk in at the white house trail.
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Old 01-21-2016, 10:12 PM   #18
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You want to give a 12 yr old the most awesome swimming experience take a night or two at Glenwood Springs, CO. Worlds largest hot springs pool, and where Doc Holiday died in the TB sanitarium. You will need res to get in the RV parks in the area, but well worth it. It's not far to Moab after leaving Glenwood.
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Old 01-22-2016, 07:41 AM   #19
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Consider the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's never crowded and because it's higher elevation, the North Rim is forested and comfortably cool. The scenery driving in an out from Page, AZ is beautiful!
We were there about six years ago and walked up to the reservation counter at 9:00 AM. An hour later our 12 year old granddaughter was riding a mule down into the canyon! We didn't need reservations!
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Old 01-22-2016, 08:56 AM   #20
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Southwest

As mentioned, you want to see the Grand Canyon, for swimming, the Ouray pool is great, naturally hot and the Glenwood Springs pool is a don't miss either. At Glenwood you can camp at the park at No Name exit off I-70. That park allows you to back up to the Colorado River and watch the boaters go by or the trains on the other side of the river. If you have bicycles the path along I-70 is one of the most scenic of bike paths.
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