SW Desert Winter Trip - Destinations and Tips?

[aigel]

I am thinking about a road trip from LA through the SW desert. Wondering where I should go this time of the year - I have only been traveling this area in spring before.

I am flexible on the route but want to probably not go much further than NM and stay south for the best weather. Snow is fine, as long as it does not interfere with traveling (I have a 4x4 with chains) but I have no interest in skiing or other winter sports. Just sightseeing nature, taking in the road, stopping for some decent food and hikes would be fine.

What would you recommend I go see? Any off the beaten path attractions? Any places to stay at that are cool?

Thanks!

G

[Nostril Cheese]

Southwest Adventures - Tours from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park, Yosemite, and Death Valley!

Talk to my friend Aaron.

[Rich76_911s]

If you are into Native American History, Chaco Canyon, NM is a pretty cool place to visit. It is one of the few National Parks anymore that you can really get into ancient dwellings without having a Ranger breathing down your back. It is WAY out of the way though, and may be too far north for you.

The best time to go would be the winter solstice, so you could see how they perfectly aligned their buildings with true east & west, north & south, and how a marking in the great Kiva is perfectly brightened at exactly noon on the solstice.

I could be wrong on this, but I believe at it's peak it was the largest city in North America. They had dwellings 4 stories high, with over 700 rooms. The astronomy and architecture of the place are really amazing. And because so few people make it there, accessing the dwellings is not as limited as other places (ie Mesa Verde).

[Joeaksa]

Numerous places in Arizona are very nice this time of year.

[Rick Lee]

I'd like to check out Chaco Canyon. That's not too far out of the way, since Canyon de Chelly and Shiprock are right nearby. Though I-40 between Kingman and Winslow can be closed for snow at times in the winter.

[tevake]

If you go thru Kingman AZ. stop in to D'z diner on route 66 a step back to the 50s/60s.

Drive thru Jerome AZ. Cool mining history, on the way to Sedona there is a nice walk north of the Sedona into a small side canyon I don't remember the name but it made for a fun day hike.

Cheers Richard

PS 1+ on Chaco canyon, really interesting and not over run!

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Numerous places in Arizona are very nice this time of year.

Joe,

Care to elaborate? We could just swing by your house otherwise and you can show us around.

G

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by aigel

Joe,

Care to elaborate? We could just swing by your house otherwise and you can show us around.

G

Silly boy... if you are going to be like that, just stop by the hangar and could fly you around where-ever you want to go!

Let me think about it a while. Right now you have to see Sedona and the "Red Rocks" area and they usually have a train going from Williams up into the Canyon for Christmas time.

Joe

[aigel]

I'll start researching Chaco Cnyn. Sounds right up my alley.

Places I have been to already and don't want to return on this trip:
- Palm Springs
- Joshua Tree
- Salton Sea
- Valley of fire

Places I'd like to visit this trip:
- Death Valley
- Hover Dam
- Grand Canyon (South Rim)
- Santa Fe
- Vegas (just for one round of buffets and an evening at a show).

Keep your suggestions coming everyone - very helpful, especially dining suggestions and parks like you already have!!!

G

[Seahawk]

I've driven from Ridgecrest, Ca into Death Valley a number of times. Go through Trona up to Route 190. Very lonely road but beautiful. Pack accordingly.

You can pick you way through the Valley in any number of ways off 190.

I always like to drive up to Charleston Peak outside of Las Vegas. Great hiking but it will be chilly this time of year.

Outside of Las Vegas, to the northeast is a town called Caliente. Really neat old place and the drive on the Great Basin Hwy is excellent. The hotels there are average but inexpensive. There is a BLM office there that can give you directions to Delemar Dry Lake, way off the beaten path. Excellent day trip.

I have done flight test there and will be returning in March. The hiking there is incredible. Very serene and beautiful place. Lots o fold mines, etc. They rent quads in Caliente I think.

Easy drive to the north rim of the GC.

All of these suggestions are of course, snow dependent.

Much more, but enjoy!

[tevake]

If you do go to the south rim, try to stay at one of the lodges right there on the rim.
Then you will be able to enjoy some quiet time in the early morning before the hordes
start to crowd the rim.
I have a hard time getting the experience I'm looking for at beautiful nature places when jammed in shoulder to shoulder.

Cheers Richard

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by aigel

Places I'd like to visit this trip:
- Death Valley
- Hover Dam
- Grand Canyon (South Rim)
- Santa Fe
- Vegas (just for one round of buffets and an evening at a show).

Death Valley is super in the winter time. I rode my bike up to Mammoth Lakes via Death Valley a few years ago.

Hoover Dam ain't worth the miserable traffic jam you will ALWAYS sit in to get there and get back. Even the bypass they built hasn't helped on the AZ-bound route because the traffic still backs up before Boulder City. Just did that one last Sat. I've ridden my bike across Hoover Dam into AZ and then turned around and taken the Laughlin route because traffic was so bad. Hate the Dam.

North Rim is way, way better, but closed now. Best to hit it the day it opens again and there will be no crowds at all.

Went to Santa Fe again last Xmas. Very nice, chilly, but not worth more than a day.

I've had it with Vegas. I'll only ever go back there for Rush concerts. Driving there is pure hell all the time.

[aigel]

Thanks again guys -

The north rim is planned already for next fall on a road trip up to UT.

I have mixed feelings about LV too.

Thanks for the tip with the lodges on the South Rim. Is the South Rim largely weather dependent?

I will come prepared to weather a storm with food, sleeping bags and water. I will also check in with friends on a regular basis.

Not well equipped on the GPS side - may be a good investment for this trip.

G

[Rick Lee]

If you go to the S. Rim, consider spending a night in Williams, which is right on I-40, south of the park. I don't know how to tell which nights are really happening, but I've been there when it was really alive with a band playing the outdoor saloon and the German tourists really loving it. And I've been there when it was a ghost town. Can be pretty cool when it's hopping. And Bearizona is right at the north end of town before I-40.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by tevake

If you do go to the south rim, try to stay at one of the lodges right there on the rim.
Then you will be able to enjoy some quiet time in the early morning before the hordes
start to crowd the rim.
I have a hard time getting the experience I'm looking for at beautiful nature places when jammed in shoulder to shoulder.

Cheers Richard

Aigel, I highly recommend staying at least one night at the El Tovar. It's the only hotel right there on the rim.....the G canyon is a pitching wedge away. Get up early and you'll have the canyon to yourself for a few hours before the crowds.....cool!

Alex

[aigel]

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

Aigel, I highly recommend staying at least one night at the El Tovar. It's the only hotel right there on the rim.....the G canyon is a pitching wedge away. Get up early and you'll have the canyon to yourself for a few hours before the crowds.....cool!

Alex

Great tip - looks like it is booked solid!

I will try to see if they have any cancellations. Haven't checked it out in detail.

G

[jmaxwell]

If you do Chaco canyon, be aware that it is a good distance out in the desert, and the last time I was there, part of the access was via dirt road. The nearest larger town is Farmington, probably an hour or more north. Amazing stillness at times and the solstices, as mentioned earlier, can be magical. If you havent had your fill of Anasazi culture, the Aztec Ruins national Monument in Aztec is pretty interesting. They have a restored Great Kiva there. Growing up in the area, we sometimes had Boy Scout courts of honor in the Great Kiva which were memorable.

If you come up from I 40 on I25 then 550 through Albuquerque and Cuba, a good restaurant is El Bruno in Cuba.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by jmaxwell

If you do Chaco canyon, be aware that it is a good distance out in the desert, and the last time I was there, part of the access was via dirt road. The nearest larger town is Farmington, probably an hour or more north. Amazing stillness at times and the solstices, as mentioned earlier, can be magical. If you havent had your fill of Anasazi culture, the Aztec Ruins national Monument in Aztec is pretty interesting. They have a restored Great Kiva there. Growing up in the area, we sometimes had Boy Scout courts of honor in the Great Kiva which were memorable.

If you come up from I 40 on I25 then 550 through Albuquerque and Cuba, a good restaurant is El Bruno in Cuba.

Great and thanks for the heads up on the road. I have a 4x4, so if the weather is clear, without a lot of snow on the ground, it shouldn't be an issue. Still trying to see what elevation the place is. Looks pretty low in terms of the landscape.

G

[jmaxwell]

Should be around 5000Ft

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by aigel

Thanks again guys -

The north rim is planned already for next fall on a road trip up to UT.

I have mixed feelings about LV too.

Thanks for the tip with the lodges on the South Rim. Is the South Rim largely weather dependent?

I will come prepared to weather a storm with food, sleeping bags and water. I will also check in with friends on a regular basis.

Not well equipped on the GPS side - may be a good investment for this trip.

G

For next year.... the North Rim is great. Not sure what you might be driving but Hwy 89A that leaves there headed east is a great drivers road through the Kaibab Nat Forest. Also go to Zion Park while in the area.

Chaco is great but it is on the Navajo Rez so plan for very few amenities..

If going to Santa Fe after that if time permits you could go in the back way thru Los Alamos and on the way you will go by the Valles Caldera. Possibly slated to become the next US park if I understand correctly... either way great country but very remote back roads...

Enjoy