New Mexico and Colorado Mar -May

[lnanne]

We are currently near Truth or Consequences NM and want to head north to gradually make our way to WA state in June. Our plan was to move north trying to stay 60-70 and not get snow. We need help with these two states especially!

We'll be back to both states in the future (we hope!) so we just need recommendations on "don't miss" places or events along a recommended path as we head north. Not sure whether to stay central or go east or west. Want to avoid gnarly mountains in the MH and use the car for those drives.

We prefer to stay in state parks, national parks or boondock. Our ideal is to park in beautiful places near unique cities and/or near easy and beautiful hiking and road biking places. We like to mix it up to go into town one day and stay out in nature another.

The only place we think we want to do this trip is Rocky Mountain NP. But not sure if we'll be there too early for the weather.

Thank you so much for your help!!

PS If there are roads we should avoid in a motorhome along a likely path, we'd love to hear about those!

[plasma800]

I don't have all the answers, I'm sure others will chime in, but I'm planning a trip to Colorado right now. Our plan was to head straight up 25 to RMNP and stay In Estes or Winding River Resort Camping

It appears to me that there are state parks at every major stop along the way.
Trinidad, Colorado Springs, Denver, Loveland, Fort Collins.

If for any reason you decided to go to the western part of the state, This post # 16 http://www.irv2.com/forums/f42/grand...o-91280-2.html describes a route from Durango to Grand Junction (well the post actually shows it in reverse, but it would work both ways), then I70 back across the Mountains if you wanted to.

From what I understand, 550 in Western CO is a knuckle-biter for a stretch.

[twogypsies]

There are many, many awesome routes you can take - IF you get off the interstates. Your RV is very capable of traveling secondary roads. If you can, purchase online the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers' which is extremely helpful.

Keep a watch on the weather constantly as you're still too early to really explore many of the good areas.

An easy way to plan your route would be to get a road atlas with all the states and highlight a route you know would be good for you to drive with the RV. Do some research on the roads. Then plan your stops along the route.

From where you are right now I'd head for the Santa Fe and Taos areas to explore. Just north of Albuquerque is Cochiti Corp of Engineer park with nice campgrounds. Closeby is Kasha-Katuwe Nat'l Monument (Tent Rocks) which is a very unique place. Bandelier Nat'l Monument and it's cliff dwellings is also very interesting. There's a campground there. Up along Hwy 84 is Abiquiqu Corp of Engineer campground. It's the stomping grounds of renowned painter, Georgia O'Keefe with beautiful scenery surrounding it. Taking 84 north to Pagosa Springs, CO you could do some long soaks in the immaculate pools of varying temperatures overlooking the river. Very Nice.

We could toss out hundreds of great places to stop and have you going in zigzags and circles. Pick your route first would be my recommendation. March & April are still too early for Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park. The trails will still be covered with snow but seeing the snow on the mountains would be very pretty.

Here's some weather information for Rocky. All national parks have a wonderful website similar to this one with lots of good information on things to do, road conditions, special alerts, camping and weather.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/weather.htm

[Jake21]

Some places that come to mind:
Santa Fe: Black Canyon Campground. Should be no problem with your rig (assuming you are in your Baystar). Good hiking and biking. You are int he woods but just a few minutes to Santa Fe. Possible snow so might be a little cold for you.

Abiquiu’s Riana campground.

Now depending if you want to head to the front range or stay West at this point
Navajo resv near Durango., then up to Moab or East to Cheyenne Mountain SP outside of Colorado Springs and then mosey north or up to Denver and then West on 70.

Just watch the weather. I can be more specific when I know your route. All these places have great riding.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by lnanne

We are currently near Truth or Consequences NM and want to head north to gradually make our way to WA state in June. Our plan was to move north trying to stay 60-70 and not get snow. We need help with these two states especially!

We'll be back to both states in the future (we hope!) so we just need recommendations on "don't miss" places or events along a recommended path as we head north. Not sure whether to stay central or go east or west. Want to avoid gnarly mountains in the MH and use the car for those drives.

We prefer to stay in state parks, national parks or boondock. Our ideal is to park in beautiful places near unique cities and/or near easy and beautiful hiking and road biking places. We like to mix it up to go into town one day and stay out in nature another.

The only place we think we want to do this trip is Rocky Mountain NP. But not sure if we'll be there too early for the weather.

Thank you so much for your help!!

PS If there are roads we should avoid in a motorhome along a likely path, we'd love to hear about those!

Don't really have time to give you a total trip BUT IMHO think Utah not Colorado - Last year we flew out to do Trail Ridge on Memorial day - NO GO - still had 17' driffs on Trail Ridge - yes 17'!!!!!!!

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.nc6JnKf4P0E

Will check back in later,

[ArmandV]

One place I would recommend stopping at is Monument Valley, which straddles the Utah and Arizona border. Good roads and great scenery!

[lnanne]

We really appreciate everyone's thoughts!

We like the idea of Santa Fe and up to Taos so I think we'll plan on that next. I assume we should stop around Albuquerque. So any help for those three areas would be so appreciated.

The reason we were choosing CO is we've already been to UT and plan to come back and hit eastern UT next year. CO is close to us now so it seemed to make sense to head north through it before turning west.

However, if CO is not recommended for May, then turning to UT this year might be the plan.

Not sure when we'd make it back to CO so we'd really like to do some of it now if May is not snowy. Since we're in the Pacific NW in the summers to see family, does that mean we'd never see CO?!! I assume September would be ok? But not sure what year we'd plan for that (leaving the NW earlier than usual). We're so close now!

Thanks again! We're capturing and researching all your suggestions!

[lnanne]

Originally Posted by Busskipper

Don't really have time to give you a total trip BUT IMHO think Utah not Colorado - Last year we flew out to do Trail Ridge on Memorial day - NO GO - still had 17' driffs on Trail Ridge - yes 17'!!!!!!!

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.nc6JnKf4P0E

Will check back in later,

It's taking us multiple times to learn this lesson. We ran into that last year as we headed north in May. Several National Parks closed for snow! Really don't want to visit them in the summer but may have to if we want to experience them more fully!

[Jake21]

Also check out Angel Fire and Red River. Some good state parks in the are and near Red River, lots of road side places to boondock along the river. The road biking is wonderful in the area. The road is a little tight between Taos and Angel Fire for road biking. It is great from Angel Fire to Red River and Red River to Questa and Questa South to Taos.

Keep an eye on the forecasts. Snow is possible before Mother’s day, but at the lower elevations it will melt pretty fast on the roads.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by lnanne

We are currently near Truth or Consequences NM and want to head north to gradually make our way to WA state in June. Our plan was to move north trying to stay 60-70 and not get snow. We need help with these two states especially!

We'll be back to both states in the future (we hope!) so we just need recommendations on "don't miss" places or events along a recommended path as we head north. Not sure whether to stay central or go east or west. Want to avoid gnarly mountains in the MH and use the car for those drives.

We prefer to stay in state parks, national parks or boondock. Our ideal is to park in beautiful places near unique cities and/or near easy and beautiful hiking and road biking places. We like to mix it up to go into town one day and stay out in nature another.

The only place we think we want to do this trip is Rocky Mountain NP. But not sure if we'll be there too early for the weather.

Thank you so much for your help!!

PS If there are roads we should avoid in a motorhome along a likely path, we'd love to hear about those!

Originally Posted by Busskipper

Don't really have time to give you a total trip BUT IMHO think Utah not Colorado - Last year we flew out to do Trail Ridge on Memorial day - NO GO - still had 17' driffs on Trail Ridge - yes 17'!!!!!!!

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.nc6JnKf4P0E

Will check back in later,

Originally Posted by lnanne

It's taking us multiple times to learn this lesson.

We ran into that last year as we headed north in May.

Several National Parks closed for snow!

Really don't want to visit them in the summer but may have to

if we want to experience them more fully!

Just getting back to you on Colorado - use the CDOT webcams to help you out - Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation

If the National Parks are what you are after - think Sand Dunes NP and Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Snow is not normally a spring issue for long on those two. Might even sneak into the new Browns Canyon NM outside of Buena Vista.

As has been said the issue is the Biggest storms tend to come in the Spring, usually after the warm weather has come, seems to always kill the spring Flowers in the foothills

Peak to Peak can be Good - Golden And Denver are usually OK except for the times it is actually snowing, If you think about it it's in Colorado's best interest to keep the roads to all the Ski Resorts opens and safe as they are big revenue boosters. So if you are good with a little Inconvenience then go for it.

Keep in Mind the High Passes are the issues as the rest will melt of evaporate within ady or less.

So IMHO if you are OK with a day or two of having to layover for a storm, then go for it. One other issue is the RV Parks are usually just starting to Open (May15th +). Elevation is your guide lower Valleys are normally OK, going over a Pass might just require some - Luck or Skill - It is a big state and again IMHO there is a lot to see and do all year Long.

Best of luck - let us know more and we'll see if we can suggest more.

....

..

[bwanna2016]

as you continue north out of new mexico, there is san luis swa campground. 15 miles west of great sand dunes national park. free 30/50 amp service, free camping, covered picnic table, fire ring. 28 day time limit. was very well maintained last fall and quiet.downside- no water, but you can drive into the national park for water and dump station. great area. 20 miles north is the sand dunes swimming pool and rv park. hot springs and large pool. great stop for a soak.

[Waiter21]

The most desolate main road in the United States has got to be US-60 between Socorro, NM and Show Low, AZ

You'll find the VLA (Very Large Array) radio telescopes there, and a really great place to stay, Pie Town RV park..

If you stay on US 60 to Pheonix, there is a long descent and climb between Show Low and Globe. Its negotiable, but lot of switchbacks and slow travel..

[lnanne]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. I've made notes on all the suggestions, if not for this trip, then the next!

We are at Cochiti Lake (great suggestion thank you!) and plan to head to...

Bandelier
Los Alamos
Taos area
Chama
Durango
Cortez to Ridgeway (to avoid 550 in the MH) but we'll explore it with our toad
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Grand Junction
Dinosaur NM

We decided to do RMNP and White Sands on a future trip.

I know there are probably so many places along the way to suggest and we appreciate you taking the time and energy to share them with us! It really helps knowing the places to camp and see that meant a lot to you!

[bwanna2016]

valley of fire near Carrizozo,n.m. lave flows. blm campground with full power and water. dump station on site. all paved. $7.00 / nite with senior pass. petroglyphs about an hour south. angel peak, n.m. blm land. mini grand canyon. Navajo lake state park.