Driving Gila,NM to Grand Canyon, then Albequerque
Jun 8th, 2016, 07:45 AM
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Driving Gila,NM to Grand Canyon, then Albequerque
We are driving from Gila, NM (stargazing during New Moon) to Grand Canyon and leaving via Albuquerque,NM. It's our first trip out west and we want to see/do as much as possible without killing ourselves. We plan one night in Flagstaff or Sedona (Lowell Observatory) and would like to see South and North Rims, possibly Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend. It looks like we should also spend a night or two in Albuquerque too? July vacation with Weds.-Mon full days, flying out on a Tuesday afternoon.
Any advice on itinerary would be much appreciated.
Any advice on itinerary would be much appreciated.
Jun 8th, 2016, 08:04 AM
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So you have six days? Where are you flying into? I live in Las Cruces, NM so I am familiar with the Gila Wilderness and this whole area. I can give a lot of advice but I am wondering about how you chose this particular combo of places.
Jun 8th, 2016, 08:25 AM
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We are flying in/out of Albuquerque and wanted to do the stargazing and Grand Canyon. We chose Silver City for a stargazing place to stay and are working our way around. 
Carlsbad wasn't even a thought, until now.
Carlsbad wasn't even a thought, until now.
Jun 8th, 2016, 08:56 AM
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You may want to consider making this a New Mexico only vacation. There is enough to do just in this state that you could see it all in 60 days, let alone six. Here are some ideas:
The day you fly into ABQ, go to Old Town and explore and in the evening take the Sandia Tram to the top of the mountain for a fantasic sunset and views of the city. There is a restaurant at the top if you want to have a drink or dinner although the reviews are mixed for their food.
You could also do this itinerary on the last evening of your trip and go to Old Town on Tuesday morning before you head to the airport if this works better with when your flight gets into ABQ. There are many other options in ABQ but these are two of my favorites that I always do with guests.
I will give some general ideas for the rest of your trip that you could do without the Grand Canyon. If you are set on Grand Canyon, I can help with that as well but you would be spending one of your six days just getting there and then you have the drive back as well. If you head south from ABQ, you can take the Socorro exit which is about an hour south and head West on Rte. 60 to the Very Large Array. If you are not familiar, Google it! Then you can continue to Datil and take Rte 12 to Rte 180. I don't know a lot about Route 12, it looks like two lanes so might be a slow drive but the Gilas are like that anyway. Maybe someone else can help with that idea. Once you get to Rte. 180, you can look at the Mogollon and Glenwood areas which are ghost town areas and also the CatWalk Canyon, which is a really cool hike. Be careful of the weather since July is Monsoon season and thunderstorms build up everyday. Catwalk Canyon in Glenwood can be inaccessible if there has been a lot of rain. From there you would be close to Silver City for your other star gazing plans. This plan from ABQ could be done in a day. The next day you could drive from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. It is a very scenic drive and the Dwellings are wonderful to see and learn about. Take Rte. 15 both to and from, it is easiest and shortest back to Silver City and you will get plenty of views and winding roads to satisfy. If you want to see some of AZ, the next day you can head back on Rte 180 but this time take it across to AZ near Springerville and head north to Holbrook, AZ. This might be the fourth day of your trip depending. When you get to Holbrook, AZ, you are about three hours from the Grand Canyon, just in case! But you would be pushing it to fit that in with this plan. It is possible but you would head back to ABQ from the Grand Canyon on Day 5 and you could see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way back to ABQ. The other option on day four would be to head back towards ABQ from Holbrook, see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way and then head up north from ABQ to Santa Fe. That would give you the rest of Day 4 in Santa Fe and the next day there. Santa Fe is one of my favorite places in the world and there is so much to see and do that you would only be getting a taste. If you choose this option, you can drive back to ABQ via the Turquoise Trail as long as you leave early on Tuesday depending on what time flight leaves. Let me know if you have more questions if this helps. This is just one of so many possibilities. I have been coming to New Mexico since 2000 and now I live here! And I still have not seen and done everything there is to do.
The day you fly into ABQ, go to Old Town and explore and in the evening take the Sandia Tram to the top of the mountain for a fantasic sunset and views of the city. There is a restaurant at the top if you want to have a drink or dinner although the reviews are mixed for their food.
You could also do this itinerary on the last evening of your trip and go to Old Town on Tuesday morning before you head to the airport if this works better with when your flight gets into ABQ. There are many other options in ABQ but these are two of my favorites that I always do with guests.
I will give some general ideas for the rest of your trip that you could do without the Grand Canyon. If you are set on Grand Canyon, I can help with that as well but you would be spending one of your six days just getting there and then you have the drive back as well. If you head south from ABQ, you can take the Socorro exit which is about an hour south and head West on Rte. 60 to the Very Large Array. If you are not familiar, Google it! Then you can continue to Datil and take Rte 12 to Rte 180. I don't know a lot about Route 12, it looks like two lanes so might be a slow drive but the Gilas are like that anyway. Maybe someone else can help with that idea. Once you get to Rte. 180, you can look at the Mogollon and Glenwood areas which are ghost town areas and also the CatWalk Canyon, which is a really cool hike. Be careful of the weather since July is Monsoon season and thunderstorms build up everyday. Catwalk Canyon in Glenwood can be inaccessible if there has been a lot of rain. From there you would be close to Silver City for your other star gazing plans. This plan from ABQ could be done in a day. The next day you could drive from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. It is a very scenic drive and the Dwellings are wonderful to see and learn about. Take Rte. 15 both to and from, it is easiest and shortest back to Silver City and you will get plenty of views and winding roads to satisfy. If you want to see some of AZ, the next day you can head back on Rte 180 but this time take it across to AZ near Springerville and head north to Holbrook, AZ. This might be the fourth day of your trip depending. When you get to Holbrook, AZ, you are about three hours from the Grand Canyon, just in case! But you would be pushing it to fit that in with this plan. It is possible but you would head back to ABQ from the Grand Canyon on Day 5 and you could see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way back to ABQ. The other option on day four would be to head back towards ABQ from Holbrook, see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way and then head up north from ABQ to Santa Fe. That would give you the rest of Day 4 in Santa Fe and the next day there. Santa Fe is one of my favorite places in the world and there is so much to see and do that you would only be getting a taste. If you choose this option, you can drive back to ABQ via the Turquoise Trail as long as you leave early on Tuesday depending on what time flight leaves. Let me know if you have more questions if this helps. This is just one of so many possibilities. I have been coming to New Mexico since 2000 and now I live here! And I still have not seen and done everything there is to do.
Jun 8th, 2016, 08:59 AM
#7
I'm not the expert that jet519 and DebitNM are (live in CA but have toured around parts of the SW several times) . . .
but I really think you are trying to squeeze in too much. It is essentially a full day's drive from Albuquerque to the South Rim and a full day back. (I know you aren't driving it straight through) So in 'real life' 2 days of your 6 will just be transit to the GC and back
but I really think you are trying to squeeze in too much. It is essentially a full day's drive from Albuquerque to the South Rim and a full day back. (I know you aren't driving it straight through) So in 'real life' 2 days of your 6 will just be transit to the GC and back
Jun 8th, 2016, 09:05 AM
#8
Do some calculations of driving times and reboot the plan accordingly, deciding how long you want to spend in the car and what might be best to eliminate based on more time at your chosen destinations. Right now you're all over the map with not enough time for such ambitious plans. I suggest you go west and north from Albuquerque or south, not both.
Jun 8th, 2016, 02:16 PM
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I like jet519's ideas. The road from Silver City to Gila Cliff Dwellings is indeed scenic and the dwellings are very interesting. Look for animals, we saw our first elk in the area.
We do tend to do marathon trips and have gone from Albuquerque to Grand Canyon with stops along the way at Painted Desert/Petrified Forest.
If you get into Albuquerque before noon, I would head either to GC or down to Silver City and spend the first night along the route, depending on which works best for the star gazing. You'll be doing a loop in any case so which is first depends on what works for you.
We do tend to do marathon trips and have gone from Albuquerque to Grand Canyon with stops along the way at Painted Desert/Petrified Forest.
If you get into Albuquerque before noon, I would head either to GC or down to Silver City and spend the first night along the route, depending on which works best for the star gazing. You'll be doing a loop in any case so which is first depends on what works for you.
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