Taking a trip AZ-NM-CO-UT-AZ

[juliachaos]

I'm headed up to Summit County, CO in a couple weeks and have decided to drive up there instead of fly so that I can check out a few interesting destinations along the way. I've been asking various people advice about where the best places to go might be.

The first leg of my trip has me going through NM.. just curious if there is anything noteworthy near Santa Fe (in Santa Fe National Forest perhaps?) or in between there and Denver that would only take about 1-2 hours. The NM leg isn't important to me, though, so if anyone doesn't know of anything off the top of their head it's ok. I'm just curious if there's anything there cuz I may as well swing by it if there is.

Once I get to Summit Co., I think I've pretty well got myself covered on hikes until I leave for UT the next Saturday (July 3). I was planning on going to Arches and then Monument Valley but I've been told to spend more time at Arches and skip Monument Valley completely, possibly even hit Canyonlands if there's time. I'd be leaving Summit Co. early Saturday morning and wouldn't need to be back to Phoenix until Monday evening. Anyone else have any advice on this?

Finally, curious if anyone else might already be in the Arches/MV/Canyonlands area that weekend, as I am most likely going to be doing this solo. I'd have liked to make an event, but since I'm coming from CO and not AZ, you'd obviously be on your own for transportation.. =P

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions!

[Jim]

Lake Peak, maybe Sante Fe Baldy?

[nonot]

You can see nearly all of Arches in 10 hrs hiking, unless you plan on going canyoneering or driving all the way out to the Tower. Add a few hours maybe for the Fiery Furnace and photographing Delicate Arch at sunset and you could probably fill up 2 days.
You might want to do Corona Arch or Negro Bill Canyon which are nearby.

Canyonlands might be good, but I've never been there. It's definitely on my to-do list!

[RedRoxx44]

NM-- Little known Latir Peak Wilderness---short hike to Heart Lake.
Utah-- If you have a 4wd and time White Rim Loop is nice and some short hikes off that with views of the Green etc.
Needles entrance to Canyonlands down the road, Chesler Park etc is very nice. Going south toward Blanding or Bluff lots of short hike to ruins and petro/pictos in that general area also.

For my money and depending on time the drive from Hanksville over to Escalante is world class, and some nice hiking right off the road, lower and upper Calf Creek Falls, Boulder Mail trail, Escalante River etc. Then if you had a good vehicle go south from Escalante along the Smokey Mtn Road and drop in above Lake Powell near Big Water then to Page. Or go down Cottonwood Canyon road, Cottonwood canyon narrows, several unnamed short slots in area, the Castle, Hackberry canyon, Yellowrock and more. Dry weather road only.

[rwstorm]

It doesn't sound like you have the time to do it, but one of my favorite places up in northern New Mexico is the hike up Hermit Peak outside of Las Vegas. The trail starts right in the El Porvenir Campground and heads up to this 10,263 peak. If you need a place to spend the night on the way to Colorado, this is a good one. Plus you can soak in the hot springs by the United World College at Montezuma on the way out. Very pretty drive in there and the views from the peak off to the plains to the east are outstanding.

Another choice for just a quick hike if you are passing through is the Devisadaro Peak Loop hike that GPSJoe recently did. This one is just east of Taos along US64, which you can take along the southern part of the Enchanted Circle on over to Eagle Nest and Cimarron, eventually hooking up again with I-25 just south of Raton.

I just uploaded a photo set to my picasa web albums showing the hike to Hermit Peak, among other things. It is the album "New Mexico for Pam and Paul 2007."

[juliachaos]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Man I wish I had time to do them all. Got a pretty good idea of where I want to go now, with extra options if it turns out I have the time. Hmmm.. work won't mind if I take one more week off, right??? Haha..

@RWStorm
Thanks for sharing those pictures! Hermit Peak is going to be a must.. might have to change my schedule so I can get it in, but it looks fun! Also thought that mill looked cute so I might check that out too.

[gringoantonio]

Goblin Valley, north of Moab, is the wildest looking place I have ever seen, and a worthwhile detour. I won't even bother trying to describe it since my words won't do it justice. You'll have to google some images...

[juliachaos]

@gringoantonio
Thanks for that suggestion. The area looks fabulous! Unfortunately I can't work it in this trip, but with all the suggestions everyone has made for Utah, I'm convinced I need to come out again sometime just for UT destinations.