Denver through Four corners loop.

[Kestrel]

Well, we visited in August 2007 and Estes Park was packed to bursting point but within the park itself, it was very easy to lose the crowds.

Sure there's other traffic around and you're not going to get the visitor centres or other popular tourist strolls to yourself but, as you can see from the photos in the piece linked to above, anywhere else and you're soon completely on your own.

Peter

Tourist traffic in RMNP does drop off quite a bit after Labor Day. You still get weekend visitors from Front Range towns, but it's far less crowded than the summer season. Especially during the middle of the week. The downside is there is more risk that weather will keep you from visiting some areas of the park. Trail Ridge Road is closed after the first big snow following Labor Day and that sometimes happens early in September.

Like most National Parks, if you do visit during high season, get out early in the day and stay late. Few park visitors get out early and most head back to town in the late afternoon. The popular spots can be almost empty before 9 AM or after 6 PM.

Other Colorado attractions, such as Mesa Verde close down some of their tours at the end of the summer.

[Midwest Michael]

My last trip to the area was a couple years ago, in early to mid July (I remember watching the All-Star game at a bar in Alamosa, Co while camping near Sand Dunes). I remember seeing some other people at the visitor centers and at some of the other major viewpoint, but RMNP didn't feel crowded. We were able to pull up to a campsite in the National Park just south of Estes Park and find a spot quite easily on a Sunday Afternoon.

One of the things I've found with most national parks, even the very very busy ones, if you wander just a little ways off the beaten paths, you can find a quiet space very quickly.

[UKCraig]

Well that's reassuring to hear... maybe it goes up the list a bit again :p I figure though I was spoiled in Oz and NZ and it will take some getting used to again to visit those places closer to home

[Lifemagician]

.......... I figure though I was spoiled in Oz and NZ ..........

Even when it takes $70 to fill the car??

Lifey

[UKCraig]

You've been to the UK recently, right? At 2.6 (I think it was when I was there) Aussies bucks to the Pound that is an absolute bargain.

[Southwest Dave]

Day 6 Onwards to Utah

Having arrived late last night in the dark I was pleasantly surprised when I popped my head out the door this morning. Although still chilly the skies were blue and the morning sun on the lake just yards away was a welcome sight for weary eyes.





Colorado National Monument is in the background, and because of our revised route yesterday we didn't get to go there as planned, so over breakfast we decided to head for the Monument before continuing to Utah and Arches NP. Before leaving we strolled down to the banks of the Colorado river and wandered around this lovely park which is only minutes away from I 70.

The Colorado NM is often left in the shadows when the likes of Arches, Canyonlands and Black canyon National parks are mentioned in this area, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The 23 mile long Rim rock drive offers great views of towering red rocks through the canyons and across the plateaus as it winds it's way up to rim.





Independence rock, where American climbers hoist the United States flag on July 4th. This tradition was started in 1911 when John Otto [ the first caretaker of the NM] made the first climb.



Looking along the canyon.



At one of the viewpoint area's, the Canyon walls produce a delayed but very clear echo, this had 4 adults acting like kid's for a while, making strange noises and giggling away. Yep, we are easily pleased ! I am sure you could spend a lot of time here, but if like us you don't have much, it's a short detour off I 70 and the Rim drive is spectacular, so if you have 3 or 4 hours when in the neighbourhood............

As we left it wasn't long before we were on I-70, so for now it's goodbye Colorado, Hello Utah. Soon after we were coming off Interstate onto the 6 through Cisco and taking the scenic route down 128 through Castle valley. We thought Cisco might be a good place to get supplies and would save us having to go to Moab tonight, heading straight to the campground instead. We rattled our fillings loose as we headed along the 6 [We will have to inspect the china set later] and arrived in Cisco.

Cisco city limits!



And it was off to Moab for supplies!

We had a fantastic drive along UT 128 as it wound it's way through the canyon, for large parts following the natural path of the Colorado river. We decided to stop for a bite to eat by the river, the temperature was close to 80F [a far cry from Leadville] and it was in a beautiful setting, just us and the world.





After our lunch we head into Moab, fill up with gas and get some supplies before heading back up to Arches NP where our pre booked campsite awaits. As we enter the park we steadily climb up the road as the sun begins to set and it stirs memories of our previous trip to red rock country. The wonderful colors cast by the sunlight are fantastic, the Yellows and reds contrasting between the dark shadows are forever changing as we make our way to the campground at the far end of the park.





Because of our revised schedule we have arrived later than planned and as a result we decided to try and add another night to our stay here. This should also give us time to visit Canyonlands, a place we wanted to go but unsure whether time would allow.
We spoke to the campground attendant [who fortunately was doing his rounds as we drove up the road to our site] and managed to secure a pitch the following night on the "first come first served" basis. We then settled onto our campsite amongst the moonlit shadows of the red rocks and lit the campfire and set about our 'home cooked' evening meal while enjoying a couple of beers.

Looks more like Halloween !


Night, night.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I loved that detour to Cisco for supplies... great photos and great story-telling.

Mark

[UKCraig]

Loving the latest update -- and you should send that last photo to Cruise America!

[Southwest Dave]

Arches and Canyonlands.

The campground is in a great setting amongst the red rocks with sand and plants between each site, and one of the nicest I have been to ! Although we had secured another night here we still had to move sites as the one we were on had already been booked out for tonight, so we decided to get up early[ish] and hike from the campground so that we could return in time to vacate the site by 10.30am.

The Trial to Broken Arch starts at the campground and it was nice to leave the RV where it was and go exploring. On route we took a detour to an Arch that was sign posted, but not on the map and the name escapes me. It appears to be a new one in the making, as you cannot walk right through it, but there is daylight between it and the rock that is behind it.



It's a lovely Trail that is marked out by 'Cairns', little piles of stones to guide you. They come in handy to, as it seemed to be a lesser used trial and at times was confusing.





It was a beautiful morning with blue sky's and it was comfortably warm at 8am. A wonderful, quiet, sandy Trail, we had only seen one other couple as we approached Broken Arch.



We continued our walk to Sand dune arch where you walk through a narrow rock cut with thick golden sands beneath your feet, a wonderful spot.





This led us to another remote trial up through a canyon overlooking the Campground as we made our way back on a circular walk. It was now 11am so we had a quick 'cuppa' in the RV and worked out our plan for the day.



We decided Canyonlands was on the agenda and the best thing to do is head there now, so it was off we went. We admired the views as we drove out of Arches to the 191 and a short trip North, untill we turned onto the 313 towards the 'Islands in the sky' section of Canyonlands.

We continued on the Grandview point Rd along the top of the Mesa, at this point it was wide and flat, offering no clues as to what lay ahead.

As we arrived at the Grand view point parking lot it was a few short steps before all was revealed. Amazing !The Mesa sits 1200ft above the Plateau you see below and the canyon below that where the Colorado has cut a path is a further 1000ft deep, quite remarkable.


To try and give you an idea of scale, in the above photo the light bit of ground you can see near the rounded part of the canyon edge is seen here being tackled by some off roaders using 24x zoom lens.


You can take the mile [or so] hike to the end of the 'Island in the sky' mesa and we did so. The views were amazing and we took many pictures along the way, pointing out various land marks to each other. When we reached the end of the trial, instantaneously the chatting, pointing and camera clicking stopped we were awestruck, each of us sat on a rock and just admired the view for a while, soaking it all in.

Below is the confluence of Green river and the Colorado and the view goes on for miles and miles, totally unspoilt. There is not one 'blot' on the landscape to be seen and for a while I am lost in time sharing the same view that the earliest settlers here had seen. Quite possibly their thoughts also as I wondered what secrets the "New world over yonder" had to reveal. I got caught in a bit of a trance again thinking about it, here are some pics I finally took although they can't get anywhere close to giving the credit this place deserves.





We wandered back to the RV for lunch, enjoying more great views to the other side of the Mesa where the Green river runs through before heading back towards Arches. We had considered turning off to Dead Horse point but the clock was against us, we did however make a couple of stops on the way.

Mesa Arch with 'Washer woman rock' in the background.





And then we stopped at the 'Shafer trial viewpoint'. Look carefully and you can see an SUV driving down.



I want to drive that so bad, it hurts ! Not suitable for a 30ft RV and not enough time to rent a jeep, so it will have to keep for another day and goes on my 'bucket list'.

Getting back to Arches late afternoon gave us the opportunity to enjoy a sunset so we made our way to the upper "Delicate Arch" viewpoint Trial and walked to the edge of the rim opposite the Arch. On arrival the skies were turning dark and it looked as though we were not going to get the sunset we had hoped for, but the view was fantastic as we made our way there.



As the sun broke through the clouds retreated but re-gathered into a large black mass and threatened to retaliate. It was quite some sight!



Having been here for 45 mins or so, we decided to 'sound the retreat' before we got a soaking. As we made our way back the evening sun made the colors look wonderful.


We head back to the campground and our new site for the night, where we once again enjoy a meal and a couple of beers before turning in for the night. Fortunately those clouds didn't follow us and we had a quiet, relaxed evening. The perfect end to a perfect day !

[Mark Sedenquist]

Dave,

Superb coverage of Arches and Canyonlands! Wow, this is too cool!

Mark