New Mexico Road Trip

[davegonz]

We're taking off from Austin this Saturday and will visit/camp the following places.

Map of trip: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=1...K48s-ikvA8ygmbVEhjF61WnUS0abXQ&mra=ps&t=h&z=7

• Vist McDonald Observatory in West Texas and go to a Star Party
• Camp out at Fort Davis
• Visit Carlsbad Caverns
• Roswell (son wants to visit the UFO museum)
• Camping in Lincoln National Forest near Cloudcroft
• Visit the White Sands National Monument and Alamogordo area
• Visit Las Cruces (shop, eat)
• Camp at Cibola National Forest
• Albuquerque-Visit BioPark (zoo, aquarium), American Toyota (Cruiser Dan and Beno)
• Ride the Sandia Tramway and hike at the top
• Camp at Carson National Forest
• Visit Red River Area
• Palo Duro Canyon in TX
• Back to Austin

It will be my wife, my 10 year old son, and me in our 100 series. We'll be camping out in our roof top tent.

Please let me know if I'm missing anything or places I should avoid due to the fires.

 

[pappy]

How much time will you have in ABQ? If in addition to the Zoo you also visit the Botanic Garden and the Aquarium (all part of the BioPark) you might just get in free.

 

[davegonz]

We'll spend two days in ABQ. I'll add the BioPark to the list.

Thanks Pappy.

 

[alia176]

Maybe check out the VLA while you're close?

NRAO Very Large Array

Our forests are under State II so no camp fires unfortunately!

 

[davegonz]

Cool. Thanks Alia.

Yeah, we haven't been able to have camp fires in our area for a long time. This drought is kicking our ass here in Austin/Central Texas.

 

[davegonz]

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced hotel/motel near the BioPark/Zoo?

 

[pappy]

Dave,

There are several economy motels at the I-40/Coors off-ramp.

Day's Inn
Super 8
Econo Lodge
Motel 6
Hampton Inn
Quality Inn and Suites

If you want something a bit nicer, there is a Best Western (Rio Grande Inn) at I-40 and Rio Grande. Even more upscale from Rio Grande Inn is Hotel Albuquerque across the street. These two are close to Old Town.

All of the above are much less than 10 minutes from the Garden/AQ.

 

[jericho]

When your up in the Carson, check out the wild rivers rec area! Sounds like a great trip!

 

[kai38]

You can pass through Monticello Canyon work your way from there to the VLA pick up NM60 towards Sorroco & I25N to Albq,for a side trip.

 

[davegonz]

I'm now taking a Bantam T3-c trailer with the RTT mounted on top. Is that trail tight or would be OK with the trailer?

 

[kai38]

I'm now taking a Bantam T3-c trailer with the RTT mounted on top. Is that trail tight or would be OK with the trailer?

Monticello Canyon & the fire/forest roads on the otherside towards the VLA are easy enough for the trailer I've taken mine through many times.
When will you be in that area, maybe I can meet you and camp a night up there.

 

[davegonz]

We are planning on being in the Carson NF on the 5th.

 

[kai38]

We are planning on being in the Carson NF on the 5th.

Monticello is in the Cibelo NF "I" on your map.
Actually south of "I" on the map
Monticello NM - Google Maps

 

[davegonz]

Kai, we might not have enough time to trek through there on this trip.

Quick question. What is a good camp ground in the Carson National Forest? I see that some people like Columbine Canyon near Red River. Any other suggestions?

 

[patride71]

Posting up a pic for Dave....hitting the road from ATX.

NM bound...

 

[davegonz]

We got back into Austin around 11:00 pm last night. Tired from the long drive from Red River. We had a blast camping out and exploring New Mexico. The trailer and tent did well and we only hit the motel two of the 8 nights (Santa Fe and Albuquerque). I miss the cool nights in the mountains!

Bluff Springs camp site in the Lincoln National Forest (near Cloudcroft).

White Sands

I'll post more pics tonight.

I didn't get a chance to swing by American Toyota and see Dan and Beno on this trip. With the wife and kiddo, things don't exactly go as planned

 

[kai38]

Good campsite at Bluff Springs, its usually really crowded.
Looks like a good trip

 

[davegonz]

Yeah, we lucked out on a lot of the camp sites since we camped during the week. The last site, at Columbine Canyon camp ground near Red River, was crowded, but we lucked out and got the last spot. Man, I miss the mountains

 

[davegonz]

Kirk,
We ended up camping near (sort of) that trail you were talking about earlier in the thread. I think the camp site was called Water Canyon in between Socorro and Magdalena.

 

[pappy]

Water Canyon is one of my favorite places. I really like the Mags.