Four Corner area trip planning

[chin_k]

We are going to visit the Bisti Badland / Da-Na-Zin Wilderness in March or early April, and I wonder if there is anything around that we should see? We will be heading there from Anza Borrego in California. We probably will skip the Four Corners, however, unless it has other thing beside the geographic curiosity.

We probably will go there on I-10, and go visit the White Sands National Park, then head north to Albuquerque. I were not able to visit the Trinity site, so I am trying to see if I can do it this time, but the chance is pretty slime again.

[Kirah]

What are your interests? And how far out of your way do you want to go?

If you're hitting White Sands, I also really enjoyed camping up in Lincoln National Forest - there's a Forest Service campground up near Cloudcroft with level sites you could put a Chinook on, but no power or dump. And ... it could be chilly that time of year. But it's lovely driving, reminds me a lot of the Black Hills, with pine-covered hills and cattle in the valleys. There's a petroglyphs site at Three Rivers (north of Alamogordo) that's worth seeing, but it only takes up a couple hours, at most.

Hatch, of chili pepper fame, is up I-25 just north of Las Cruces. Heading a bit further up 25, there's Bosque del Apache NWR, which is a major watering hole for migrating birds, and has been on my wish list for ages.

Going a lot further, the whole four corners area is has scattered Anasazi cliff dwellings, though I think some of the most accessible are probably up at Mesa Verde. I loved Hovenweep, too, which was quieter but required more hiking. I think most of the major parks in the four corners area have some kind of Anasazi structures. Taos has mission-style architecture to gawk at, and plenty of arts and crafts shopping - it's a cute town, but may be waaaaay out of your way

[Blue~Go]

I wonder if Rooney will see this and post some ideas - he's a New Mexican.

You've probably already considered altitude, but if not, just keep it in mind. Most of NM is over 3,000' and some areas are much higher. March/April isn't winter, but weather can be variable. Spring can be a bit windy and unpredictable in the desert. Nothing menacing but just something to keep in mind.

[chin_k]

Thank you both, for the info. Taos is a bit too far east for us this time. I completely forgot about Mesa Verde. Was thinking about visiting there, and now I think is a good time to finally do it since it is so near to the Four Corners.

About the altitude, do any of you need to adjust the gen set? I was having some problem at the Nort Rim of Grand Canyon last year, and I got the gen to work after tinkering around with the alt. adj., but do not think that was really the reason. It was around 8,000 ft. I guess I will have more experience the more trip I do.

[pdemarest]

If you haven't done it yet you should go to Monument Valley. Goulding's Motel, RV Park, grocery, gift shop and restaurant are directly across the street from the entrance to the Monument Valley Tribal park, which charges a small entrance fee for their museum and access to a dirt road (totally passable in our rigs) that goes out among the rock formations. Also nearby are the San Juan Goosenecks - an overlook of a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river and surrounding canyon.

Paul

[A Rooney]

Blue,as usual day late (or more) and a dollar short (definitely more).parked here at haystack Mt Blm site after a 5 week 6k+ outing....I have no excuse for not visiting here more...since I am so late to here I will only respond to the comment about the 3 rivers petroglyphs site in southern New Mexico which is one the hidden treasures of the Southwest with 20,000 + petroglyphs from the influencial Mogollon culture (jornado branch totally hypothetical labels Archeologist employ in this case Haury & lehmer mid 20th) I have visited here 4 times and spent Days not hours and Everytime I see something new.Further North and east I spent several days at Blackwater Draw,where in the 30's they found distinct lithic spear points embedded in Mammoth bones that go back something like 12k years (Clovis points Clovis culture) the site is run by the local University who left a junk of Megafauna bones insite and covered the. Excavation with a metal building ...which allows you to walkin and stand a couple feet from early human history.I spent the whole day there sitting by Tommy who is local knapper who has been knapping for 40 years(still learning) and was kind enough in his 80 yes to show Rooney(who felt young) that everything he thought he knew about chipping Flint was wrong... yes I am wrong but I have my chinook,and hey I am happy traveling,and still willing and able to learn a new trick,What's that they say about old dogs? Woof woof Rooney 2001 premier

[chin_k]

Actually, Rooney, you are early, not late. Reason being that I postponed the trip to later, due to other events that prompt us to change our plan. We visited the various wild flower blooms, and took some hiking trips around more local area.

Thank you all for the suggestions. It is still in our to-do list, and will definitely check out most of them.

[A Rooney]

Gasp, early you say ? Ok so let's get thinking! Let's start at the four corners for years people paid good money to stand at the spot that Utah New Mexico Arizona and Colorado come together boys that was fun! However a year or two back they decided the spot was off which is almost as rediculous as paying to stand at an arbitrary spot....moving forward or backwards depending on where you start or consider 4 cornerish,North rim is definitely less touristy than the south and the road to Page Arizona is a nice and less traveled which I prefer but you may not.Page has Antelope Canyon which requires a Navajo guide or tour...google images of it and you will see why Rooney says its impossible to take anything but awesome photos there.from there you have choices but I recommend driving over to Kayenta and then Monument valley as suggested then back down to Canyon de Chelly which is by Chinle you can stay at the campground,then take the rim drive and walk down to white house ruins or take a jeep or horseback ride there.Then south to ganado and the historic Hubbel trading post,then down to painted desert petrified forest NP,then visit Zuni pueblo and el Moro rock where Spanish Conquistadors left their name carved...alternatively you could go from monument valley to bluff Utah or over to Mesa verde up to hovenweep then over to pagosa springs or down to Antonito Colorado and take the antique train ride that's all within the traditional 4 corner area except perhaps the north rim,all of the Utah canyonlands like Zion Bryce and arches might be your Huckleberry....I usually string 2 or three of these on a trip to do all at one moment might be very overwhelming.Example I recently got back from Big Bend National park in Texas,and texted amazing photos to someone Wow 'scenic' they said...my reply "yes but after 300 miles driving thru the park that scenic stuff gets boring" so find your place that gives you that Epiphany and my advice is Quit while you're ahead after like Scarlett says Tommorow is another Day...Rooney

[chin_k]

Very good suggestions, Rooney, since we just been to the North Rim, Page, and the Slot Canyon a few months ago. I posted a infrared image of the Chinook among trees when we camped near North Rim. We really enjoyed it very much. There are several points of interest that I am never heard of, and I guess it is good that we can do some more research in next few month before heading out. Thank you very much for your pointers.

[Astrodokk]

"However a year or two back they decided the spot was off which is almost as rediculous as paying to stand at an arbitrary spot."

Sounds like when I was at the Equator and the monument was where everyone was. But there was a small sign stating that the real spot was a few hundred feet away in some ravine that had trash and overgrowth.