4 corners-Monument Valley

We have not gone on any longer trips in our RV for a while. In a couple of weeks, we (Tom, me and the two doggies) will take a RV trip from Reno, NV (where the RV is right now) to the Four Corners, Ut, CO, AZ, NM and Monument Valley, UT. We've never been in that area before.

Been thinking about going a slow, short route down from Gabbs, NV (in the RV listed below this message).

Thinking about trying the shortest route shown on Delorme maps, which will take more time, but we're not in a hurry. Have all month for this trip.

395 south to 50 east to 23, south to 361 south (Gabbs, NV) to 89 (Tonopah) to 375 east to Caliente, NV to a road with no name (anybody know about this road? Is it paved?) to Shivwits, Utah to St George Utah then 59/ 89 to 160.

Is it possible in a RV, or are some of these roads to avoid?

And does anybody have any other comments about the Monument Valley area or anything else on the way or near the destination?

I will have my Spot Messenger for any problems out of cell service area, which I assume will be common problem in some areas that we will be in. It can request a tow truck (they do tow RV's, motorcycles--almost anything) and also has a button for life threatening emergencies. Makes me worry less about being in the middle of nowhere.

I will find any info. helpful. If the above way is not a good idea, I will just go a more common route, but I like to explore new routes with less traveled roads. But I don't care for rough dirt roads, unless I am on my dirt bike.  With the RV, the better unpaved roads are okay with us.

Thanks,

Don,

Great & timely topic.  We're in the dreaming stages for a second trip out that way.

Monument Valley with an Indian Guide was the most memorable experience of our travels.  We're going back to experience Canyon de Chelly.

Search on Monument Valley & Canyon de Chelly & you're find lots of pictures & reports.

What you don't find are road reports.  I'll be reading your mail with interest.

Joel

joelmyer said:

What you don't find are road reports.  I'll be reading your mail with interest.

Joel

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We will go one direction and come back another. Perhaps we will get there by taking 50 to 6 to 70 to 191 and seeing Moab, Utah for the first time and after Monument Valley come back to Reno or SSF as mentioned in my other post. That way for sure will get us there without much unexpected trouble with poor roads, etc.


But we certainly will not come back the same way as getting there. And we can take our time coming back.

highly recommend you go to mesa verde national park when you are so close. it is a marvelous place. words can not describe it also do not miss valley of the gods. it is right next door to monument valley. if time permits the mokie dugway and gooseneck park are  worth the time

Y'all are fixin' to visit my backyard ! We're in Cortez which makes a dandy base for visiting the area. Monument Valley is a beautiful, spiritual spot that should be on everyone's bucket list. Be sure to stop at the Burger King in Kayenta and visit the Navajo Code Talker exhibit. There's a nice little campground at Navajo National Monument where you can overnight for free in the pinyon-juniper forest and visit Betatakin Ruins (hike the short trail to the overlook or take the ranger-guided tour down into the ruins).

Around Cortez you'll find Mesa Verde National Park - absolutely spectacular; Hovenweep National Monument - better than Mesa Verde, in my opinion; Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, run by BLM, lots of remote ruins and a great museum in Dolores. There are private campgrounds in the city, a campground at the Ute Casino 11 miles south of Cortez, and forest service campgrounds 10 miles up the road in the  San Juan forest.

Zip over to Durango (45 miles east) to ride the Durango-Silverton train or drive the San Juan Skyway from Cortez to Telluride, up and around to Ouray, down to Silverton then Durango and back to Cortez. Incredible scenery.

I've got lots more so holler if you want more info.

Wendy

Don Tom,
Nice to hear from you again.  You been kinda quiet.

Monument Valley is one of our most special places to visit ever. You will have 2 choices for closeby camping.  You can camp at Gouldings with full hook ups and be in a neat little rock walled canyon with grocery store and restaurant close by. OR and my preference, you can camp on  the Indian side of  Monument Valley.  It is dry camping for  $10 a night but the views out over the Monuments are as Wendy said, Spiritual. Indians give guided tours from there or you can take your own vehicle  over very rough rocky roads to see the views. Then you can drive back to Gouldings 5 miles? for the Indian Fry bread taco at the restaurant I mentioned.

Gooseneck State Park is worth a look see for the  view of what water can do to a canyon. One can actually boon dock there too.

I second what everyone said about Mesa Verde.  Take a couple of Ranger led tours.  You will learn  so much about ancient history.

Do a Forum search on Monument Valley,  as much has been said by many as we visited the place over and over.
Betty

Y'all are fixin' to visit my backyard !

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Wendy

When is the best time to visit?

Jay T

Google "slot canyons" and then drill down to the southern Ut area.  You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Escalante Monument; Grand Staircase; Steak at the run-down motel in Mexican Hat;

If you're really going "off-road"; I can send you some GPS tracks that are amazing.

JayT said:

Wendy  When is the best time to visit?  Jay T 

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I really like October although it can be getting a bit chilly then. September is also very nice although this year it doesn't look Mother Nature has any plans for our temperatures to cool down out of the 90s. Spring is nice until the pinyon gnats come out and then there are places you don't want to go. If you don't mind high temperatures in the 90s with lows in the 40s, June, July, and August are nice with everything open for the tourist season. I'm not fond of December-February since I no longer enjoy snow.

Wendy

beaverfever said:

highly recommend you go to mesa verde national park when you are so close. it is a marvelous place. words can not describe it also do not miss valley of the gods. it is right next door to monument valley. if time permits the mokie dugway and gooseneck park are  worth the time

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We will, most likely, visit them all. We have plenty of time.

-Don- SSF, CA

Betty Brewer said:

Don Tom,Nice to hear from you again.  You been kinda quiet.

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Yeah, I have been more busy in motorcycle forums lately.[quote author=Betty Brewer] Monument Valley is one of our most special places to visit ever. You will have 2 choices for closeby camping.  You can camp at Gouldings with full hook ups and be in a neat little rock walled canyon with grocery store and restaurant close by. OR and my preference, you can camp on  the Indian side of  Monument Valley.[/quote]Your preference or even my preference just ain't as important as the two doggies' preference that are coming with us. Which would be best for the doggies?[quote author=Betty Brewer]  It is dry camping for  $10 a night but the views out over the Monuments are as Wendy said, Spiritual. Indians give guided tours from there or you can take your own vehicle  over very rough rocky roads to see the views.[/quote]I will have my Suzuki DR200SE (street legal dirt bike) on the rear of my RV. I wonder if that can be used there on the rocky roads.[quote author=Betty Brewer]Then you can drive back to Gouldings 5 miles? for the Indian Fry bread taco at the restaurant I mentioned.

Gooseneck State Park is worth a look see for the  view of what water can do to a canyon. One can actually boon dock there too.

I second what everyone said about Mesa Verde.  Take a couple of Ranger led tours.  You will learn  so much about ancient history.

Do a Forum search on Monument Valley,  as much has been said by many as we visited the place over and over.
Betty[/quote]I have already done several such searches. And printed out some info., in case I cannot get on the internet while out there  (V W/L cell internet if not wireless). BTW, do most of the RV parks out that way have wireless internet?

Perhaps I will be on-line while out there, at least from some places.

Wendy said:

I really like October although it can be getting a bit chilly then. September is also very nice although this year it doesn't look Mother Nature has any plans for our temperatures to cool down out of the 90s. Spring is nice until the pinyon gnats come out and then there are places you don't want to go. If you don't mind high temperatures in the 90s with lows in the 40s, June, July, and August are nice with everything open for the tourist season. I'm not fond of December-February since I no longer enjoy snow.
Wendy

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I am trying to time this so it won't be too hot for the doggies and still have no chance of snow. Perhaps it might be too hot. But we can adjust our plans as necessary. But we plan on being in the 4 corners area around the middle of this month.

If it's hot and you're in hookup sites, the doggies will be fine. If it's warm at lower elevations, you can always go up into the cool mountains. Earliest snow I remember in Cortez was Sep 25 and it melted away by 10 am. Looking at the weather forecast, it looks it's actually starting to cool off. And mid-late September is great Aspen color time.

Wendy

I think your dirt bike will be fine on the roads but very dusty.
Betty

beaverfever said:

highly recommend you go to mesa verde national park when you are so close. it is a marvelous place. words can not describe it also do not miss valley of the gods. it is right next door to monument valley. if time permits the mokie dugway and gooseneck park are  worth the time

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Hmm - IMHO the Moki Dugway should be visited with your dirt bike, not the RV
I tried to video driving up, but by the time I had removed every hysterical scream my wife made there was very little left to watch. But great memories.

We once spent a whole month in the Four Corners area and still didn't see everything - gotta have some excuse to return! 

I second what everyone else said about the places.  They're all so interesting.  Monument Valley is just such a spectacular place.  Also take the Indian guided tour at Canyon de Chelly.

I read (maybe in Sunset?) about Kayenta having, not murals on the buildings, but photographs.  Haven't seen them as yet, but someone there ought to be able to point them out.

ArdraF

ArdraF said:

I read (maybe in Sunset?) about Kayenta having, not murals on the buildings, but photographs.  Haven't seen them as yet, but someone there ought to be able to point them out.

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? Never seen 'em. Will have to look next time we're there.

Wendy

beaverfever said:

highly recommend you go to mesa verde national park when you are so close. it is a marvelous place. words can not describe it also do not miss valley of the gods. it is right next door to monument valley. if time permits the mokie dugway and gooseneck park are  worth the time

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As others have said, be sure to do the Moki Dugway in your toad - not the road for a full sized RV, but an interesting experience.  If you do drive to the top of the Moki, be sure to drive the road to the tip of Muley Point.
Some photos from the area at 2011 Trip Day 30.

We did Moki Dugway in our 28-foot MH going downhill. I wouldn't do it in anything bigger. They have paved the corners so it's not quite as bad as doing hairpin curves on washboard gravel. You can put together a nice loop trip that includes Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, and Valley of the Gods. Set up a base at Monument Valley or Natural Bridges (small campground) or Blanding (commercial campgrounds and a nice Forest Service one just north).

Wendy

We did Moki Dugway in May in our toad going uphill.  The DW wasn't sure she wanted to do it until we saw a tour bus as big as a Prevost coming down.  See the attached photo.  DW figured if something that big could do it it must not be too bad.  On the way up we encountered a Class C motorhome, a livestock water tanker truck & a dirt bike all coming downhill in addition to the usual assortment of cars & SUVs. 

If you get to Mexican Hat you need to have dinner at the Swingin' Steak. 

Mike Wagner