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Betr2Trvl · 04-18-2018, 11:21 AM

Good, bad or other thoughts, on these segments of our summer trip. Tiffn 31SA gasser with a Cherokee toad.

Tropic UT (Bryce) to Torrey UT (Captial Reef) via:
UT 12 - read a lot about 12, and it seems a reasonable, certainly not leisurely though, route to take to us.

Torrey to Monument Valley via:
UT 24 to Hanksville and pick up UT 95 south

Then either:
UT 261 looks like it may be a bit of a challenge in one place in particular
Or is it better to go further over to
US 191

Down to US163 into Monument Valley

Monument Valley to Mancos, CO (Mesa Verde) via:

US163 back up to
US 191 south to
US 160 into Cortez then over to Mancos
Don't really plan to make a quick stop at 4 corners given what we've read, but.......

Thoughts, comments, recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

BarryG20 · 04-18-2018, 03:53 PM

Hwy 12 is fine. A few hills but they are fairly short a few hairpin turns as well but no problem rvs travel it everyday as do a few big trucks delivering to Escalante etc A bit narrower than some like in places.

24 is also no problem again a few steep hills but short and a few sharp turns

95 is good road a couple of good hills with a couple of curveys thrown in specifically as you drop down to lake Powell at the Dirty Devil River.

261 is an awesome road and no problem except for one stretch, the cliff face going from the top of Cedar Mesa to the valley floor. The Moki Dugway which is at the southern end so you don't want to drive to it then decide you dont or cant get down it. Toad no problem but not towing it. Motor home maybe if small enough. It is very steep, it is gravel and it has quite a few hairpin turns, drops over 1000 feet in about 3 miles, 11% grade. Would save a lot of miles but probably not going to work for you.

Going back up to 191 will certainly work but you might look at 162 may save some miles and iirc it is decent road.

US 160 is fine road no problem to Mancos and beyond if going farther east.

If you have the time (in the toad) the view from the top of the Moki dugway is awesome and even better if you go out to Muley Point. Fantastic hiking opportunities up on top of Cedar Mesa as well as Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park where you could drop the RV and take the toad up the Moki or you could leave it at Monument Valley, also Valley of the Gods road same thing it is right there as well.

Busskipper · 04-18-2018, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betr2Trvl

Good, bad or other thoughts, on these segments of our summer trip. Tiffn 31SA gasser with a Cherokee toad.

Tropic UT (Bryce) to Torrey UT (Captial Reef) via:
UT 12 - read a lot about 12, and it seems a reasonable, certainly not leisurely though, route to take to us.

OK- first thing, do you enjoy driving the RV? If so you will likely Love RT 12 - one of the many Beautiful drives in Utah - Take time to look into the many State parks you will be near - Kodachrome - Escalante - Goblins are all worth the time and effort to see, I'd recommend all three.

Torrey to Monument Valley via:
UT 24 to Hanksville and pick up UT 95 south

Then either:
UT 261 looks like it may be a bit of a challenge in one place in particular
Or is it better to go further over to
US 191

Down to US163 into Monument Valley

Well you lost me on this one, if I were giving you advice it would be to try to see Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly and the Slot Canyons along with the North Rim and Lake Powell as you headed to Bryce, just would make more sense to me. Then when you leave Capital Reef - head over to Moab then slide into Colorado to Catch some of the San Juans as you head to Mesa Verde, But that's just me.

Monument Valley to Mancos, CO (Mesa Verde) via:

US163 back up to
US 191 south to
US 160 into Cortez then over to Mancos
Don't really plan to make a quick stop at 4 corners given what we've read, but.......

Thoughts, comments, recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

Think you need to give us a little more info so as to really understand the Mission here - IMHO most of the roads will be fine so spend more time locating more sites as you travel and less time Worrying about the Routes.

JMHO,

Best of Luck,

Betr2Trvl · 04-18-2018, 05:38 PM

Barry, thanks.

I think it would be wise in our part to skip 261........ Sounds like some great spots to see if we can make some side trips in the Jeep, and I've just been told Goosenecks is on our agenda.

I had looked at 162, but thought it might not be viable, and the other route gets us close to 4 corners, but we'll now cosider either when the time comes

Busskipper, I was counting on you seeing this as well!

Some clarification on the trip. This part is over 2 months, with no destination stops less than 4 nights, some a week or more. We did the Moab area as well as Carbondale, Breck, Colorado Springs, and RMNP summer 2016.

Coming up from Prescott, to the Grand Canyon, to Page, and then to Tropic. We'll take a take a (long) day trip or two to Zion from Tropic, but not going to deal with Zion any more than that......

Then the areas above, doing the big loop from Tropic to Capital Reef, back down to Monument Valley and then over to Mesa Verde.

From there, back around Cortez to Priest Gulch, over to Ouray (skipping 550 in the RV) and then to Crede and onto Pagosa Springs (got your input on the O-C-PS route earlier) and then ending up in Santa Fe.

Regards!

twogypsies · 04-18-2018, 10:29 PM

Hwy 12 is a beautiful drive and many RVers drive it. You might want to spend a night in Escalante so you can take your toad and explore the area instead of driving straight through. Your Jeep will thank you!!

Just before getting into Torrey is Singletree Nat'l Forest campground on the right.... big, nice sites.

Hanksville to Monument Valley: Take 95 to 191 to 163. You definitely do not want to take 261 which is Moki Dugway - it's gravel and extremely steep with curves.

If you're going from the Grand Canyon to Page you'll pass right by a similar view as at the Goosenecks. It's a big parking space just outside of Page. No need to go to Goosenecks.

If you like animals it would be well worth a stop in Kanab to visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary - a no-kill facility. It's in an awesome scenic area and the tour is great. Check on the tour times before going. Coral Sands State Park is nearby to stay and the colored sands are gorgeous to see. Or there are RV parks at Springdale, Mt. Carmel and Glendale. Kanab RV Corral is in Kanab.