Western Parks Road Trip

[Midwest Michael]

Of course. Compatibility is number one concern. That's why the "team" was carefully selected. Every time you see an "I" in my posts you should take it as a "we" :)

When I see things like this, I think you need to be extra concerned. It's the people who say we are great friends who would never have an issue who tend to be at greatest risk when conflict comes up.

The fact is, you're going to be crammed together with 3 other people in a car - sleeping together in a tent - for a month, and from the sounds of it, you only plan to have one person driving. If there is one thing I can guarantee is that, at some point during your trip, you will have conflict. It is much better to prepared for it now, and lay out how you will deal with it, than have problems on the trip that fester because you didn't have a plan.

[Pujsek]

I have experience with traveling and I know how these things go. I can almost place a bet that the conflict will happen sometime in the second half of the third week :) This things just can't be avoided (maybe when you're traveling with your better half, but that's something I haven't yet done so I don't know and I also doubt it).

[Harry Kline]

Hi, and welcome to the RTA Forum.

First, if you want to see redwoods, Muir Woods is only about an hour north of SFO. As stated by others, coastal redwoods are different from Sequoias, but they are equally impressive, and it might save you a long side trip to Sequoia National Park, if that were the only thing you wanted to see in that area.

Since you plan on Monument Valley and Natural Bridges, make sure you take Route 261 between the two to drive the Moki Dugway, one of my favorite stretches of road. If you're really adventurous, go out to Muley Point for a neat overlook of the Goosenecks on the San Juan River, too. It is dirt road from the top of Moki Dugway, but it is a great view from there.

[Southwest Dave]

I concur, the trip up the Moki Dugway is quite spectacular and you could take a short side trip to Goosenecks State park on the way. The one thing I would add is that taking your rental off paved highways such as the road to Muley point, would be in violation of your rental contract and if any damage was done or you needed a tow, it would be at your expense.

Top of the Moki dugway.


and part way down.

[Pujsek]

and it might save you a long side trip to Sequoia National Park, if that were the only thing you wanted to see in that area.

It's not the only thing we wanted to see but we have to start making cuts somewhere. I don't want to cram way too many things in the itinerary.

Since you plan on Monument Valley and Natural Bridges, make sure you take Route 261 between the two to drive the Moki Dugway, one of my favorite stretches of road. If you're really adventurous, go out to Muley Point for a neat overlook of the Goosenecks on the San Juan River, too. It is dirt road from the top of Moki Dugway, but it is a great view from there.

Isn't the Moki Dugway unpaved? I'm looking at it on street view and all I see is dirt.

[Midwest Michael]

Moki Dugway is unpaved. Dave's pictures above should give you a good idea of what it's like.

While it's not paved, it is still considered a state highway and it's well maintained. It's a bit of a grey area when it comes to rental car restrictions, but I don't think it's likely that you'd have any problems. Dave's pictures were taken while he drove it in an rental RV.

I have also driven out towards Mulie Point, as Harry suggested, and while I completely agree that it takes you to some amazing viewpoints, that is a harsh, washboard, gravel road that I wouldn't risk driving it in a rental.

[Harry Kline]

Isn't the Moki Dugway unpaved? I'm looking at it on street view and all I see is dirt.

You are correct, it is only partially paved, but it is well maintained, and I've never had any problem driving it. I wouldn't hesitate to drive over it in a rental vehicle for the mile or so that it entails, if that's what worries you. Now, the road to Muley Point might be a different matter, as Dave pointed out.

[Pujsek]

It looks to good to pass. I think it will find its way on the itinerary.

This is our plan (without a timeline for now and the destinations aren't meant as the only over night points) at the moment (it has taken a bit of a twist):

San Francisco to Yosemite
Yosemite to Death Valley (Tioga Pass)
Death Valley to Zion (Valley of Fire)
Zion to Monument Valley (North Rim, Glen Canyon Dam)
Monument Valley to Canyonlands (Gooseneck's State Park, Natural Bridges, Arches)
Canyonlands to Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak to El Malpais
El Malpais to South Rim (Painted Desert, Sedona)
South Rim to Mojave National Preserve
Mojave to Sequoia (Joshua Tree)
Sequoia to San Francisco

Any thoughts?

We left out Grand Teton and Yellowstone because we don't want to spend only two to three days there and I don't think we will have more time.

[Southwest Dave]

With the time you have for planning your trip could possibly take a lot of twists and turns as you go. I think you could make time for Yellowstone and the Tetons but if you do [have]decided to put it on the back burner for another trip then you have many options heading west also. From Arches and Canyonlands towards Pikes peak you could head to Mesa Verde NP and then drive the spectacular 'Million dollar Highway' [aka US550] through the mountain towns of Silverton ad Ouray and drive US50 past Black canyon, through Currecanti Nat Rec area and over Monarch pass to Poncha Springs. Near Pikes Peak is Cave of the Winds and Garden of the Gods. From Pikes peak south you could visit Great sand dunes NP.

There are a million and one other options, you could include Rocky mountain NP for example, so I guess it's a case of keep working at it and keep asking.

[Harry Kline]

I looked at your itinerary and found a few places that might appeal to you more, and a few that you might not have known about. I would recommend that you replace El Malpais with two other attractions in the same area, but much more accessible and interesting. Look at Banderas Volcano and Ice Cave and El Morro. Both are on the road that goes past El Malpais, and both have good hikes and close up views.

On your way from Colorado Springs to Albuquerque, near the town of Raton, NM on I-25, try to visit Capulin Volcano National Monument. You can drive up to the rim and then walk into the crater and around the entire rim - Really neat and great views from there.