Driving from Mesa Verde to Grand Canyon
 

Hi all,

We will be driving from Mesa Verde to the South Rim in May next year. We plan to see the Four Corners, but what else would you recommend on the way? Monument Valley? Could we tour it from the car in a few hours, or should we plan to spend the night along the way? We will be traveling with my parents so we'll be limited to sightseeing by car or short hikes. I'll also have my 15 & 11 year old boys so let me know of anything that might appeal to teenagers!

Thanks,

Karen

ttt

Some advice:

1) Unless someone just HAS to go there, skip the Four Corners Monument. It almost defines the term, "tourist trap," where what you pay is FAR more than the experience is worth.

2) There are some pretty amazing natural wonders you can visit between these two area. Canyon de Chelly. Petrified Forest NM. Meteor Crater. MV would be my recommendation, however.

3) Monument Valley requires about a half day to really visit, even if you don't get a guide. Because it's so far off the beaten path (one of its attractions, basically), it's not something you just stop by for a few hours. When you get there, you can either hire a guide or pay an admission fee to drive on a dirt road (and see less). The road is drivable by any passenger car (4WD is NOT required). Don't worry about hiking there; visitors are ABSOLUTELY prohibited from walking more than 100 meters from the road.

4) There's not much between these two sites EXCEPT beautiful scenery, so your teen-agers make fake being bored.

Having just driven this, personally, I'd just get to the Grand Canyon as fast as you can. You will see some amazing scenery along the way but I didn't see anything I wanted to stop and spend time visiting. Now, the Grand Canyon is another story. I'd want more time there.

Absolutely skip the four corners. Being there is as exciting as seeing it on a map.

Absolutely drive through Monument
Valley and shop a little at the roadside
stands beofre continuing on to
Grand Canyon.

We went to Canyon de Chelly, and it is wonderful. A completelydifferent look at cliff dwellers. There is a Navajo village somewhere in there and it is a good stop.

There are ruins all along that route, but Mesa Verde would be enough for me. Take your time in Colorado, then drive on to the Grand Canyon. Both will be highlights of your travels. The north rim is a personal favorite because there are less people, but it ordinarily opens in late May or early June.

I know lots of people really like it and go for this type of thing, but I have to concur about skipping the "official" Four Corners Monument. It is very anticlimatic and you do have to pay to see it. It will take 5 minutes to do and see. There are many vendors there, that is about it.

You can see much of the 4 state area from the top of Lookout Point in Mesa Verde NP and also from many of the pullouts along the way.

If you are there and Wetherill Mesa Road is open, do that. Less people and really nice ruins.

Deb

I wouldn't skip the 4 Corners. While it is nothing, we couldn't resist, and were glad we went out of our way to do it.

I would hit Monument Valley, but just north of that is Valley of the Gods, Moki Dugway, and Goosenecks of the San Juan. You can do all three in a pretty short time, as they are all within 10 miles of each other.

I would drive North and see Lake Powell, then see the North Rim instead of the South. Either way, though would be good.

We did the 4 corners this summer along with Mesa Verde. It snowed on us. below is a link to my pictures. look under Mesa Verde.

http://www.photoworks.com/members/Spirobulldog

I think, for a 'first timer', the south rim is the better choice. You view the main canyon from the SR while the NR only allows you a view of a side canyon.

I also like the NR better for the relaxed atmosphere (less people) and forested rim. Of course I've been to the SR more times than I can count and am a bit jaded.

Thanks for all the replies. You've given me some great information!

We'll definitely do MV and I'll probably cave in and do Four Corners too. The tackier and touristy something is the better my kids like it. It doesn't look like it's that far out of the way.

Spiro, your pictures are great. I'm going to show them to my parents when they come over for our "trip planning" meeting.

Thanks,

Karen

Be sure to make reservations for the Monument Valley area far in advance. The choices are limited.

peter has some good pics of the area, maybe he'll link them, or you click on his name and find them. He and Debit have been to the area several times and know it better than I do. but sometimes it is good to get a touristy feel also. He is probably right, you will see more at the south rim. but either way would be good.

Sadly, I have no images of the south rim since it has been so long since I was there. I grew up in the Phoenix area and a visit to the south rim of Grand Canyon was required every time a relative visited us from "back east".

Here's a link to image from our visit to the north rim:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/utah04&page=13

Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley images start on this page with a quick stop at Natural Bridges thrown. The Moki Dugway washed out so we missed that.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/utah_03&page=16


Mesa Verde, a place I can't get enough of starts on this page:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/co_and_nm_05&page=3

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful adventure. The Colorado Plateau is a magical place.

It looks like the links will only get you to the gallery. You'll have to click to the correct page on your own.

Thanks for the pictures, Peter. They are wonderful. The rainbow at Valley of the Gods gave me goosebumps!

Spiro, you talked me into the zipline adventure in Durango. How strenuous was it? My parents are in good shape but that'll be at the beginning of the trip so I don't want them out of commission for a week afterwards! How far in advance does it book up?

Has anyone heard anything about "The View", the new hotel inside Monument Valley? Website says they are booked already for next June but I thought I might keep trying to get a cancellation.

Thanks,

Karen

The hotel wasn't anywhere near finished when we were there in June. I don't think it was finished framing yet.

Absolutely do the Zipline. My wife is not very athletic and she loved it. It is only scary the first zip. They are almost too cautious. Very good first class operation. They only take 30 people per day, so it does book up. It is the #1 rated "thing to do" in the entire USA on tripadvisor.com. you could read some reviews there. It definately rates as one of the top things we have ever done.

we were in MV last week and they were still working on The View. the locals say it will open soon, but no one really seemed to know. We stayed at Gouldings and loved it. we were too late to get a room but thanks to Spirobulldog's advice we had a cabin in the camp ground and that was just fine. It was so nice to be right in the valley for the night.
We did a horseback ride that was wonderful, the teenagers might like it but doesn't sound like it would be for your parents.

Be sure and do Balcony House with your boys. It is the most adventurous house tour. This one goes up the side of a cliff, thru a small tunnel, and requires going up a couple of good size ladders. Petroglyph Point hike is the best one in Mesa Verde, but it is 4 or 5 miles the best I remember. I think there is an Alpine Slide in Durango area. That is something that would be fun for everyone. I have riden a couple of them, but not the one in Durango. I think it is at the ski area there.

Yes, Balcony House would be great fun for the boys but not your parents. Here's a shot of the ladder you climb to get up to the ruin.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/50016032


And here I am on my first visit to balcony house in the early 1960s. I'm the one with the canteen at right front. Balcony house hasn't changed a bit.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/50088558