Good place for base camp at 4 corners

[garyp4951]

I'm in the planning stage for this trip from West TN, and was thinking about maybe Delores, Cortez, and Durango for Rv Parks.
I do want to drive the San Juan Skyway without my FW, and should I just see the west side first, and then move to see the east side.
Thanks for any tips.

[4runnerguy]

A little late to the party here, but been spending too much time skiing this year (finally!).

Mid May will probably be pretty early for some of the 4x4 trails. I know the counties do make an effort to plow them out, but how far they get will depend on what else happens this winter. I've been over some when the walls of snow were 10' to 15' high on the sides of the road at the pass.

For historic towns, I think Silverton is tops. Take a trip on up to Animas Forks at least. The train ride from Durango to Silverton is one of the top attractions around and is absolutely worth the full day and cost. Ouray is also a neat little town with a great hot springs pool nestled right in the mountains. Telluride is historic but has gotten so upscale it's hard to see it for what it was 100 years ago. Drive to the end of the road to get a view up to Bridal Veil Falls.

Mesa Verde is also worth the time. Do take one or more of the guided tours. The CG has FHU if you need them. Over by Dolores, check out the Anasazi Heritage Center. Really great little museum and they can steer you to other ruins in the area. A day trip to Hovenweep NM in UT to at least visit Square Tower will get you off the beaten path but some very interesting ruins.

[lewisr]

We stayed at Mesa Verde RV Resort(not Ancient Cedars/Mesa Verde RV Park). Very nice, quiet park a mile down the road from Mesa Verde National Park.

[fanrgs]

mittshel wrote:
Priest Gulch north of Delores is a beautiful park. It is along the Delores River. One of the nicest parks we have ever stayed at. We visited Mesa Verde and were not impressed at all. Betsy.

It's Dolores, not Delores, and is the Spanish word for "sorrow."

[mittshel]

Priest Gulch north of Delores is a beautiful park. It is along the Delores River. One of the nicest parks we have ever stayed at. We visited Mesa Verde and were not impressed at all. Betsy.

[agesilaus]

Black Bear pass is for the hardcore 4WD crowd with a vehicle fitted out for that sort of thing. Not a rental jeep.

[Thom02099]

garyp4951 wrote:
Thanks fanrgs, and Thom02099, thats just what I'm looking for. Priest Gulch RV Park north of Delores looks good also.
Thinking of a jeep rental in Ouray to Teluride or part of the Alpine Loop.

Two very different places to explore.

H E R E - Black Bear Pass are some videos on the challenge of Black Bear Pass, while is the route from US 550 at Red Mountain Pass to Telluride. As you will see, it is not for the faint of heart. There are, however, tours that one can book that take on the BBP.

H E R E - Alpine Loop are vids for the Alpine Loop -- far more doable, you could do it in your RAM, or rent a jeep.

Of the 2, the Alpine Loop is far less stressful. There are all sorts of warning signs as you approach BBP, giving ample time to turn around. If one takes appropriate time and caution on BBP, it's doable. One of the biggest problems is getting BEHIND someone who's overestimated their abilities and/or underestimated how difficult BBP is, and panic. Yes. It happens. :E

[garyp4951]

Thanks fanrgs, and Thom02099, thats just what I'm looking for. Priest Gulch RV Park north of Delores looks good also.
Thinking of a jeep rental in Ouray to Teluride or part of the Alpine Loop.

[Thom02099]

In Durango, there are two campgrounds to consider.

Lightner Creek Campground and Cabins is on the west side of town, set back off the highway, so no highway noise. In a bit of a valley with varied site sizes to accommodate a variety of rigs.

United Campground of Durango is on the north side of town, right off the highway. There are full hook up sites that are rather close together and are separated from another section by the Durango and Siverton RR. Yes, the train goes right through the park several times a day -- great photo ops.

In Ouray, if you decide to stay there, consider the KOA north of town. It is not your garden variety KOA, it's a great location and value. Also consider Ridgway State Park, a bit further north of Ouray, on the way to Telluride.

[fanrgs]

If you want some other ideas about camping in the Cortez-Dolores area, see my blog HERE.

I recommend staying in an electric hookup site at McPhee Recreation Complex if you can't get into Morefield. And DO NOT MISS the Anasazi Heritage Center just west of Dolores while you are in the area. It is the best museum in the Four Corners region. You can read more about both in my blog post.

[ependydad]

Kit Carson wrote:
We stayed one night at Ute Mountain Casino on our way home from Utah. Very nice park. Enjoyed the buffet for dinner and breakfast. Had a Pow-Wow going on that was very interesting.

We stayed there for a couple of nights as well. It was a decent stay and we would go back.

However, I would NOT do the buffet again- the casino reeks of cigarette smoke and even in the restaurant, it was hard to get away from the smell.

[garyp4951]

Busskipper, we have 3 to 4 weeks for this trip, and will be moving base to see each area like we did in Yellowstone, Tetons, and Black Hills, which were 3 weeks each.
I know one trip will not do it all, but will help define the areas we like the most for a return trip.
We like to start in mid May to avoid crowds, and don't mind cold weather, or snow, and like sights, history, short hikes, and good food.
Thank you, and others for the great info, and I really appreciate it.

[Busskipper]

Good place for base camp at 4 corners

garyp4951 wrote:

I'm in the planning stage for this trip from West TN, and was thinking about maybe Delores,

Cortez, and

Durango for Rv Parks.

I do want to

drive the San Juan Skyway without my FW, and should I just

see the west side first, and then move to see the

east side.

Thanks for any tips.

First thing is you are getting Great Advise so filter through it and decide what you are really after.

When I Hear/Think or Talk about the Four Corners area, it is the FOUR STATES not just the San Juans and Colorado.

Is Utah in your Plans - Arizona - New Mexico or is it just Colorado, my Guess, from the places Mentioned you are really only planning on the Colorado section of this trip - Pretty Much the San Juan's and Mesa Verde, so I might suggest a Big Loop.

How much time do You have? When might you be traveling? What are you searching for? What do you enjoy? If we had this info we might be able to point you in the right direction for YOU - not where we generally travel.

So I'll make some assumptions - 3 weeks - Summer - Looking for Great Memories and Scenery - Short hikes and a Little Photography maybe even a good stream🙂

When I think of the area there are areas/towns that stand out - some for camping - some for just being in - Mesa Verde National Park - Durango - Silverton - Ouray - Ridgway State Park/CG - Lake City - Creede - Pagosa Springs - Great Sand Dunes NP - 4X4 trails that you will never find anywhere else .............

Maybe something like THIS - MAP Not picking CampGrounds but just showing a route that might work for you, letting you at least drive by many of the areas that are Fun.

If more time is available you will be close to Buena Vista and the Collegiates - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - Crested Butte - Gunnison - and so much more.

So the Biggest TIP I might give is IMHO there are no wrong Choices - just really never enough time to see and do all that you might enjoy - so some tough choices - add more time (Lot's more Time) try to stay where you plan to visit - and limit the base camp to say 25-30 miles - as that will still be more than you can see - don't be afraid to just drive by/through areas so you are ready/aware/planning for the Next Trip - You will Never be Bored or run out of things to see and do (I've been driving/visiting/enjoying/exploring/seeing/re-visiting/planning for the next trip for 50 years) - I've only seen a small portion of it and have never been when I did not start to plan for the return trip.

Few people you may search on this forum who Know this area - Thom02099 - fanrgs - 4runnerguy - search or PM them for more info as they Know the areas you are looking at. Also remember that in the Mountains the snow will often hang around till the end of June in the Higher elevations so July is Heaven for Floral Color in the Alpine Meadows.

Stans Images might help determine where you might need to go - 🙂 - Stan Parker's Images of the USA

Hope this helps,

[harley-dave]

We spent a week in the Sundance RV park in Cortez this past summer. Very nice and lots of friendly people so we are planning on staying there again to see more of the area. Check rvparkreviews.com for reviews..
Dave

[agesilaus]

LOL I'm surprised you had a good stay at that Ute park given that Kit Carson is the name that Navahos and Utes use to scare their kids. "Be good or Kit Carson will come for you"......heh