We are thinking of renting a Westphalia Camper Van in New Mexico or Utah and traveling around the Southwest for 8-10 days. We are looking for ideas on where to go. Good camping and hiking spots are high on our list. The less traveled spots the better. Thanks.

Boy, that sounds great! Here's a list of places in the vicinity that I've camped and hiked. I can't speak much for New Mexico, haven't camped there, but Hovenweep National Monument is a good place in southeast Utah, as is Squaw Flat in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. In southwest Colorado, I'd recommend the Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde, and the South Mineral Area just northwest of Silverton, Colorado. I also liked Tucker Ponds, a National Forest Campground just east of Wolf Creek Pass, in southern Colorado.

Thanks - any thoughts on Arizona?

My favorite car camping spot in Arizona has been in the Kaibab National Forest, just north of the Grand Canyon North Rim. This was the first time my husband and I knew that camping was allowed in national forests outside of established campgrounds. The NF rules approximate the following: park and pitch your tent out of sight of main roads, don't camp where it says not to camp, follow rules about fire restrictions, camp at least 200 feet from any water source (closer messes up wildlife trying to get a drink), and "don't leave a mess". With this information, you can camp in many parts of the southwest without paying any fees, and you have gorgeous views as well as privacy.

If you want a real out of the way place few people visit with a spectacular view, go to Toroweap Point also called Tuweap which is in a secluded section of Grand Canyon National Park approx. 60 miles off AZ389 just west of Fredonia. Look for a very small sign indicating your turn. The gravel road is not difficult to drive just far. At the end of the road there is a dry campground (no fee). Plan on spending the night. No lights for miles gives greatest star show you could want. Get up before sunrise and go to the overlook (no guardrails or signs) and watch the sun turn the sandstone walls a glowing orange/red. The other direction have a distant view looking down on Lava Falls.
Be sure you have plenty of water and a good spare - you may need it. For more info check out http://www.goamericanwest.com/arizon...n/tuweap.shtml.
In Utah try the Hole-in-Rock Rd which runs for approx. 65 miles off UT 12 just E of Escalante. There are a number of dayhikes off this gravel road including Devils Garden (hoodoos) and three slot canyons, Peekaboo,Spooky and Brimstone. Check out http://www.americansouthwest.net/slo...ch/canyon.html. The road eventually ends up where pioneers made their way through the rock and across the river. Utah 12 is a beautiful highway to take and links several of the national parks in the state.

This is great information - thanks.

I second Hovenweep National Monumnent, Utah. There were only two campers there the night we spent there.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico. We didn't spend the night there but I wish we had.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizon is great and it's FREE!

Depending on the time of the year, Squaw flats in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands (Utah) does fill up, but then it's not a very big campground and you have one of my favorite views within waking distance.

Fisher Towers on Hwy 128 just east of Moab, Utah

Gobblins State Park on Hwy 24 north of Hanksville, Utah

Fruit Campground in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Natural Bridges National Monument campground in Utah.

Just south of the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon is Ten-X in the national forest. It's a great campground.

Utahtea

Campgrounds often fill up by mid-day so suggest you travel early and get camp site before hiking, etc. Take water and a good cooler with ice - it won't last long but you can shop every other day or so. I also like Chaco Canyon (NM), Moorfield at Mesa Verde and Navajo Nat'l Monument (just off US160 & AZ 564 in AZ). Showers in park campgrounds are scarce (Moorfield has commercial ones close in 'Village Center') so plan to spend a day now & then in town campground to get clean.