Anybody done a summer National Park tour?

[TEXLEX450]

Just bought my LX-450 a couple of months ago. In the process of baselining and also just got BFG 285's put on.

I hoping to get all maintenance done by first part of the summer. Taking longer as only have Saturday's in between everything else.

I want to plan a summer vacation national park tour.

Starting in Texas -> New Mexico -> AZ - grand canyon -> then on up into Utah to check out the Moab -> Colorado and back home to TX.

Just wondering if anyone had done a similar trip. Any suggestions / advice. Hoping to have 2-3 weeks for the trip!

Love this section of MUD. I would love to eventually build up to Alaska / Canada run.

 

[maniacv]

Heading all that way and missing out on Yosemite and Yellowstone??

 

[Rambrush]

Not Sure if you are heading up through Guadalupe Mountains towards Carlsbad Caverns but that area has some interesting side trips back in around Dog Canyon side.

Grand Canyon hopefully you are thinking North Rim and not south North is much better in my opinion.

Yosemite the Hetch Hetchy valley is pretty remote along the west side of the park lots of places to explore.

Mojave NP is also a very large and has alot of remote camping and 4x4 trails.

Used to work wildland fire for the NPS so been to several parks just never made it to Yellowstone.

But if you want Dinosaurs check out the Dinosaur NP in Utah/Colorado up to the Flaming Gorge Resevoir great areas again.

 

[Boone]

The Tetons just south of Yellowstone is worth it too, you can even use the same pass as Y. S. When i went i liked the tetons more. Great scenery and you dont have to deal with the same crowds.

 

[TEXLEX450]

my wife and I actually went to yellowstone and tetons last summer - but flew up and did the rental car thing.

This year I am hoping to actually drive up, camp out, and tour the states along the way

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

If you have kids, check out the Park Service' passport program. They can have their 'passport' stamped at each park. We did that a few years ago on our CA, NV, UT, CO, NB, SD, WY, MT, ID, WA, OR, CA loop. We also kicked the kids out and had them walk across each state line so they could say they walked to each state. I'd boot them out and say something like "I'll pick you up in Idaho"

Butt

 

[1tontoy]

YOU HAVE TO GO TO MESA VERDE.

Its way cool...just SW of Durango about 30 minutes.

 

[HWY22]

If you make it up to the Tetons and Yellowstone National Park, check us out - tetonadventuregear.com. We are based in Jackson Hole and we can hook you up with Autohome Roof Top tents, ARB refs, spotting scopes, bear sprays and local trail beta. This is the best way to enjoy Yellowstone's Lamar valley or camping at the Tetons. You are up off the ground, always have cold drinks and no soggy sandwiches. And if you are lucky enough to spot the Lamar wolf pack - you would be thankful that you have a spotting scope. We can also provide you with a GPS guide for both our parks. Drive anywhere and you will be kept informed and entertained.

 

[TEXLEX450]

Looks like it may actually be a Northern AZ and Southern UT trip. Still checking out some sights and looking into any OHV areas.

 

[Rambrush]

That should be more than enough to keep you busy exploring

 

[Eric Hohlfelder]

My family (wife and 6.5yr old daughter) flew to CO to pick up an 80 series we bought off this forum. I installed a RTT and we camped for 12 nights driving back. My goal was also to see Moab. We traveled to southern CO did the Great Sand Dunes NP. This was an amazing place. Bring/Rent or buy a plastic sled! We purchased a NP 1 year pass that got us into each of the 6 NP's. Also, as we home school, my daughter did the Jr Ranger programs at each park and received a badge from each one. Its not a gimmie either, she was quized by the rangers at each park. Mesa Verde was also well worth the trip. We did the Cliff Palace and the Balcony House. The Balcony house was a rush climbing up a 32 ft ladder behind my daughter. She did better than me I have to say. We then hit the Canyonlands NP, News Paper Rock. We wheeled out to the Colorado Overlook trail (beginer to intermediate at the end). Next we drove to Moab, and wheeled to Tusher Tunnel which was easy if you don't get lost. Arches NP was fun as well, with an easy wheeling run out to eye of the whale arch. We then headed back through CO and on to South Dakota but that sounds like a different trip for you. We traveled the last week of May and the UT desert was in bloom and temps were in the 70/80's during the day, but cold at night. If you want more info let me know. Have a great trip.

 

[landcruising]

Arches, canyon lands, bryce, zion and north rim, should be added to your list if in this area. I would plan at least a week to see these areas and some good hiking shoes.

 

[TEXLEX450]

planning on about 10 days. Looks like will be going in July. Will be driving from Texas thru NM then to Grand Canyon, up thru Canyon lands to Moab. Camping along the way.

Any suggestions / recommendations would be appreciated. Looks like some decent trails in Canyon lands and moab. Will have a fairly stock rig so can't do much other than intermediate trails.

 

[psfpilot]

If your plan still includes SW CO, the Ouray area has great scenic jeep trails, most of which are possible to drive in a stock 80. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is fun to visit as well.

 

[colofish]

planning on about 10 days. Looks like will be going in July. Will be driving from Texas thru NM then to Grand Canyon, up thru Canyon lands to Moab. Camping along the way.

Any suggestions / recommendations would be appreciated. Looks like some decent trails in Canyon lands and moab. Will have a fairly stock rig so can't do much other than intermediate trails.

Buy an annual pass at the first Park you go to. You can use it for any other Park you go to for a year.

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

Browse this website for other parks in NM, AZ. and Utah. Some of the smaller Parks have really cool Archeological and historical sites and may not be as crowded. There's some nice Parks and Indian Pueblos along I-40 wirth checking out, too. After the Grand Canyon in July, you'll probably want to get away from all the crowds.

Remember there's lot's of federal land other than National Parks out here that is worth exploring. Az. and Southern Utah will be hot by then (but you'll be used to it). You'll still be able to go lot's of places with a stock rig.

The local BLM offices along the way are pretty good about recommending places to see as well.

You'll prabably wish you had more than 10 days. I've been here over 10 years and still haven't seen half of what this area has to offer.

 

[TEXLEX450]

Thanks for the info guys. I had not heard of the America the beautiful pass. Very cool!

Just got my vacation times approved!!!! Now to figure out what all we can squeeze into a 10 day trip.

-Currently working on plans for rear storage. Will need a place for the camping gear and photo equip!

-Also looks like I will have to do a front axle rebuild before the trip. Birfs are leaking a little grease.

Would like to get a front ARB for a little highway protection and also hi-lift points. But may end up going the sliders route - which would give me rocker protection for some wheeling - and would also give me points to hi-lift off of.

- 5 month count down begins!

 

[Bogo]

For planning get a hold of a copy of John Fielder's "Best of Colorado". It is a travel book for photography in Colorado, plus it does a great job of telling you generally what is in an area. Hotel type stuff may be getting dated, but that's what the internet is for. The historical, sightseeing, and photography data is timeless.

 

[TEXLEX450]

Well, don't know if this trip is going to happen now. Wrecked my LX this week - so depending on how long the rebuild takes will determine if the summer vacation pans out.

Thanks for all the info. It will definitely come in handy - when we do decide to take the trip. If not this year hopefully next summer.

 

[TEXLEX450]

Got the LX pieced back together. So summer vacation plans are back on the table!

Hoping for first 2 weeks in July. Driving through New Mexico to the North Rim and then up to Arches and Moab.


Any suggestions on gear?

 

[HWY22]

Glad to know your rig is back in service. Just got back from an 8 day loop. Did capitol reef, bryce, page, south rim, red rocks LV, zion, back to Jackson.

You need a fridge, lots of water - july will be hot in Moab and Arches... Cool off in Bryce. Zion will be hot too... Go east to CO to cool off too... Enjoy!