Road trip report: Four Corners: NM-CO-UT-AZ-NM

[deadaheadub]

My trip was pretty awesome-literally! Such beautiful country!

I first went up through NM and visited Aztec Ruins, a cool Anasazi village site. Camped overlooking a dry inlet of Navajo Dam. Wouldn't recommend it.

Then up to Mesa Verde, where I had never visited before. Found some dispersed camping across the highway from the Park; nothing spectacular, but good spacing from other campers and very quiet aside from dim occasional noise from the highway at night.

On to Valley of the Gods. Wow. Beautiful country, LOTS of space for dispersed camping, in what is essentially a little Monument Valley. A couple nights here.

Then up to Goosenecks State Park. Spectacular views overlooking the San Juan far below. Very open terrain which I didn't find conducive to nice camping.

So I just continued on up Moki Dugway to Muleys Point. Again, spectacular views, and some trees so nicer for camping.

Then up to Natural Bridges NM. Found a nice spot to camp off 95,

then down through Mexican Hat to Monument Valley.

On to Bisti Badlands Nat Mon in NM.

Moonscape

Last night at Angel Peak back south of Bloomfield. Nice and quiet here as well.

It was a spectacular trip into incredible lands. Highly recommended.
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Grateful daily,
Ryan
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Past loves: '65 Bug, '70 Westy poptop, '64 Squareback project, '76 Westy tintop "Loose Lucy", '76 Westy tintop "Sharee"
Current:'84 Westy poptop "Ramblin' Rose- Rosie" w/ 2003 Subaru EJ25 conversion

[Abscate]

I love the way your Brown blends in. TYFS!
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[happy2CU]

great trip , I used to live in NM I miss it a lot, love Bisti/De-Na-Zin wilderness it's an amazing area. Big fan of Valley of the God and out by the Mokis Dugway, have you been to Canyon de Chelly in AZ before? if not you should on your next trip.

[coqcitywesty]

Awesomeness- thx for sharing. All of these places have been added to the bucket list. Great photos and insights.
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1991 Westfalia EJ251, 1972 Volvo 1800 ES

[deadaheadub]

[Ahwahnee]

Thanks for the report and memories of my prior camping adventures.

X2 on Canyon de Chelly. Hopefully it is still free to camp in the very nice campground there (lots of cottonwoods for shade). The park is run by the Navajo Nation who just can't get their head around the idea of charging people money to camp.

[bobhill8]

Thanks for killer pics. Wish it wasn't 2500 miles away from MA !!!
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[dobryan]

Beautiful. Perfect camo paint.
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[richparker]

Nice trip, thanks for sharing.

Where did you camp across from MVNP? The campgrounds are closed and it’s all private land. There’s one small spot up 34 Road on the right. Was that it?
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[deadaheadub]

[deadaheadub]

[shadetreemech]

Love the country up that way.

Nice pics.

Stayed at Cottonwood Campground at Canyon De Chelly in March 2019. Campsite was $14 a night.

Canyon De Chelly & Chaco Canyon:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726184&highlight=

Been into Cedar Mesa?

Dan
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'84 GL 1.9
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[deadaheadub]

[shadetreemech]

A good place to start:

https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/cedar-mesa-grand-gulch/index.html

Dan
_________________
'84 GL 1.9
'01 Volvo V70 T5
'88 Westy - "MZDRTHY"

[deadaheadub]

[joetiger]

Great report! Valley of the Gods is one of my favorite places. Wide, wide open.

Goosenecks is some pretty tough terrain and relentless wind, but so beautiful.

I can't wait to get out there again at the end of February. If you can handle the subfreezing nights and vicious wind, you have all of southern Utah to yourself.
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Joe T.

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[Schnippzle]

That scenery is amazing. Great trip report.
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[dabaron]