Mesa Verde or Walnut Canyon/Canyon de Chelly?
 

I need advice for a future trip. We (mom, dad, 10 and 9 year olds) are going to spend about a week in the SW (driving from Ohio) in summer of 2001. We want spend about 2 days at the Grand Canyon, 2 days at Bryce, and have a few other days to decide what to do with. Mesa Verde in Colorado looks really interesting, but sure is a long way from anything! Would either Walnut Canyon or Canyon de Chelly National Monuments be a good substitution, or is it worth the drive to Mesa Verde? Can anyone who has been to all three give me your opinion? Thanks.

Sara, that's a tough decision. They're both worth seeing. If I had to choose one, I'd go with Mesa Verde. It's truly one of the world's great sites and your children are at the right age to really enjoy the visit. Definitely stay overnight on the property or nearby Durango. <BR>Just mark down on your future calendar to visit Canyon de Chelly and Walnut Canyon. They are certainly worth seeing. <BR>While you're in the area, you should try to stop at Monument Valley, which is also incredible. If you go there, stay at Goulding's Lodge, which overlooks the valley. And while there, make sure you get up early to watch the sunrise over the monuments, a tryly thrilling site. <BR>If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

I've only been to Mesa Verde and went when I was 15 years old but it gets my vote. Not only is the entire park area and canyon quite beautiful, the cliff dwellings are incredible, mysterious and fascinating, especially for kids of that age. There's also a wonderful a small museum on site dedicated to artifacts of the Anasazi Indians who once occupied the cliff dwellings. We were there for one long afternoon and I regretted that my father's insistence on "keeping to the schedule" prevented us from staying longer.

I've been to all three and they are all fabulous. The combination of Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly gets my vote. Most definitely stay at Goulding's at Monument Valley... and in Canyon de Chelly, stay at Thunderbird...tours leave from both these locations and are marvelous. I assume you are going to travel during the summer and it will be very hot during the day, cool off a bit at night.

I have seen both and I would go back to Mesa Verde in a flash. I would revisit Canyon de Chelly only if it was on my route. But, a good friend of ours was a Ranger at Mesa Verde and she gave us a very thorough tour on her off day, or, where we had to go with a tour group, she made sure that we went with the Rangers that knew their stuff about the ruins. <BR>De Chelly is mostly sandstone walls that go up straight. Mesa Verde is a collection of cliff dwellings and canyons. But, this is of course a personal preference.

This fall we looped through Yellowstone Mesa Verda Grand Canyon back to the coast and up (5,000) miles. Mesa Verda just blew me away. After 3 days there, Grand Canyon was just a big hole in the ground. By the way the drive along the south rim via Vegas to Reno was the longest 6 weeks of my life. It is just me, I am not used to 8 hour days of interstate.

Mesa Verde is a little more accessible than Canyon de Chelly. Make sure you buy site tickets at the tourist office not far from the entrance. Definitely stay in Durango. It has something for everyone. If you have an Entertainment Book, see if the Strater Hotel is available (call ahead). They have ghosts. And take an inexpensive raft trip on the river.

I would vote for Mesa Verde. Our family spent the entire summer travelling the country a few years ago. We actually went out of our way to go to Mesa Verde after meeting many people along the way who said it is a can't miss. <BR>We loved Durango. We couldn't spend much time there, but would love to go back another time. <BR>My family also got a kick out of "The Four Corners", which is along the route between Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde (I think). It is just a tacky little tourist area where you can stand with one foot in four different states. <BR>Have fun, don't try to pack too much into your trip (a mistake which we made)

Sara, If you take the Forum's advice and see Mesa Verde (good choice!) and stay in Durango, try to fit in a day on the steam train from Durango to Silverton. It's one of the best in the country and travels along a route you don't get to see from your car. A great way to take in the sceanry without having to watch the road. If you don't want to travel that far east from MV, there are places to stay in Cortez, but really nothing to do aside from seeing MV. <BR>Have you considered seeing some other sights in AZ after you see the Grand Canyon? There are a lot of good things to see just south and east of the canyon that wouldn't take you so far afield as Mesa Verde if you only have one week.

I took the train from Durango to Silverton - once. On the way up, I was bored stiff because to me it looked like I was down in a hole and could only see canyon walls. On the way back, I took a nap -- such as it was with all the jouncing. <BR> <BR>So if you opt to go up on the train, take the bus back, if that is still an option, or try to arrange a ride out of Silverton to whereever you want to go. <BR> <BR>There was one good view when the train goes along a shelf of rock blasted out of the face of the cliff and you look straight down to the river. That was sort of interesting. But other than that, you can see the mountains better from the road, particularly if it is a sunny day. I hate to sound so negative about this, but my wife ad 14 year old son felt the same way. <BR> <BR>You can catch the mock gunfight in Silverton without riding the train. <BR> <BR>If you want a real thrill, go to Ouray and hire a jeep driver to take you over the mountain to Telluride. That one is an eye popper -- even scary! The old prospectors did not call it "To H*** you ride" for nothing. Depending upon the time of year, Yankee Boy Basin, which is on the route to Telluride when you go "over the top" is alive with wildflowers. Quite showy and the mountains are impressive. Beats the heck out of riding in a hole.

I would rethink the 2 days at the Grand Canyon. I'd only spend one unless if you have something spectacular like rafting or a hellicopter ride in mind. <BR> <BR>There is just too many other things to do instead of the old canyon drive. Mesa Verde is definitely one of those things, and is worth it. I've done so many of the sites in that area yet de Chelly is not one of them. Had family friends who went horse back riding there and loved it, but I don't think it looked any where near as spectacular as Mesa Verde was. <BR> <BR>At a minimum I'd suggest using some time saved at Grand Canyon to do more than Bryce. As great as all the sites are, GC, Bryce, Zion, Mesa Verde, Montezuma's Castle, Monument Valley, etc. by far as a 10 year old my favorite was Arches. The soft stone has loads of holes for little fingers to grab hold and climb. My brother and I spent hours just in the campground climbing the formations. <BR> <BR>

Amen on Bryce. And Arches NP is a fun place, particularly the walk out to <BR>Delicate Arch. There is a lot of wonderful natural formations to see in that red rock country. And one not mentioned is Natural Bridges National Monument. We went down to the creek on shelf trails, ladders, steep scrambles. <BR>My wife and I were grubbing around like kids getting their clothes dirty. <BR>Good for a half day of fun exploring the creek bottom and scrambling about like a native. But don't go if climbing long ladders is not your thing.