new mexico/rocky mountains
 

Planning on going to NM area, Albuquerque/Santa Fe/Taos, in June and thinking of also going to the Rocky Mountains. I have 12 days, is this doable?

How will you get from NM to CO?

What do you want to do in each area?

Can you be a bit more specific...

Very do-able. I did 5 days in New Mexico. You can really do Albuquerque & Santa Fe in 1 day each and spend 1 more day driving through the state on the scenic route. You'll have plenty of time left for the rest of your trip. By the way I recommend going to Santo Domingo Pueblo - it's right between SF & Albuquerque and is really the most traditional pueblo (but check first to make sure you can get in - they close the pueblo on certain feast days and at night).

North of ABQ, west of SF, is Bandelier National Monument, a fantastic place with ancient Native American dwellings, carved into the rock (really hardened volcanic ash) of the mountainside. Nice place to hike, pretty high in elevation.

I love Santa Fe and can't imagine spending just one day, especially with the time you have. Great wandering and museums, restaurants and attractions.

From the Taos area, it's not that far a drive (about 3 hours) to the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. It's a unique and very beautiful part of the state, with some incredible vistas of snow capped peaks towering over a picturesque valley. The Sand Dunes National Park is near Alamosa and well worth a visit - June is a great time before it gets unbearably hot in the summer. The town of San Luis was the first settlement in Colorado and there are other historical sites as well. With 12 days in your itinerary, you could easily detour for a night or two and take advantage of the proximity of this beautiful area, somewhat different than what you'll see in New Mexico.

Nice bit of info Jehnavi; too bad you also had to add a link to what appears to be a commericial website, that perhaps you own?

My usage is to consider the mts that surround Santa Fe and Taos "Rocky Mountains," although it is not clear to me whether the Sandias are considered Rockies, probably.

I am not sure if you are set on going to the Rocky Mountains. But I would consider going from ABQ to Santa Fe and Toas, and then driving to Durango, CO (at the foru corners of NM, CO, AZ and UT). Durango is very cool, is at the foot of the San Juan mountains (which go up to 14K ft.). 240 miles from Santa Fe, 220 from ABQ. Summer highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s at night. On the edge of the SAj Juan forest, w/canyons and a rail ride that runs thru the canyons. 30 miles from Mesa Verde NAtl. Park.

here is a good site to check out: http://www.durango.org/durango-area/overview.aspx

emd3 has really good advice; I am local and some of the best times can be had in the ABQ,SF, Taos, and Four Corners area.

Unless you have a compelling reason to go to Denver, I'd fly into ABQ and make a grand trip.

Chaco Canyon on the way to Durango, Aztec Ruins too are worth time. There is more than enough to fill 12 days just in our corner of heaven.

Before we try to change itinerary--

We really need to know what they want to see/do: galleries, shop, hike, native american sites,museums, etc etc. Without know that, it is hard to give a time frame on what is best use of days.