Time for pre-winter vacation

[Texas Diesel]

Going to the Salt Flats via, Santa Fe, Durango, Salt Lake City, leaving Austin Oct 3rd. Any thing I need to see along the way? Any hints? We'll be towing the 5th wheel and be on the road for 10 days.



Any nice hidden campgrounds in Santa Fe area?



TIA

 

[Buffalo]

Vacation

Tejas Deezul, If you've never taken the train ride from Durango to Silverton, Co. , I think it is well worth it. It's an old steam locomotive and it runs along the Animas River, most of the way. It's an all-day trip. 9:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. They have a couple of trains per day. It's probably in the $50. 00+ range, but well worth the money, I think. One of the nicest trips i've ever been on. If you decide to go and the weather is nice, get a seat in the Gondola (outdoor) car. You will face out towards the side. Makes sightseeing a lot easier. The indoor cars are beautiful but, you are facing forward all the time. To see anything, you have to look to the side, out the windows. By the time you get back to Durango you will have to visit Dr. Crackenback, the Chiropractor, to get your neck straightened out. Hope this helps. Joe Fihn(Buffalo). Phoenix,Az.

 

[CROW]

Was in the Durango,CO. last month and the train trip from Durango to Silverton was $60. 00. Decided not to take it as I understand you only ride the train one way and go the other direction on a bus. The drive from Durango to Silverton is sorta fun. Silverton is neat. There is an Indian casino in Ignacio, 30 miles or so SE from Durango if you want to try your luck. Mesa Verde National Park is just W. of Durango and a neat place to visit. The campgrounds in Durango were quite a bit higher than where we stayed in Bayfield, CO. , 18 miles East. Diesel was 1. 69 all over the area from Albuquerque to Durango (wish I had an auxillary tank). Went thru Santa Fe, Chama, Pagosa Springs on the way, but came back via N. M. 550 from Bloomfield to Bernalillo. 550 is the best way to go by far unless you want to go to Santa Fe.

 

[mgonske]

D&SNGRR

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a wonderful experience. The normal approach is to ride the train up to Silverton, have lunch in town, and then ride it back. There is an option to bus back (which is much quicker), or to bus up and ride the train back. If you have a group, you can ride one-way and do your own shuttle, too.



Although seating is assigned, you can wander around between the coaches and the gondolas at will, as well as to the car with the snack bar.



If you have your significant other with you, a great option is to get tickets for the parlor car. That's the last car on the train, and is the one that is not accessible to other passengers. Seating is at cocktail tables, and the car includes a bar. There is also an observation platform at the rear of the car you can go out on, for a 180* view to both sides and the rear of the train. The parlor car is definitely a classy way to do it. It's been a while since I've been, so I don't remember the price difference (OK, I checked the website--$99 vs. $60 for the coaches/gondolas).

 

[BarryG]

Tejas:

If heading west out of Durango towards Cortez (mesa verde, by the way as you exit 160 to go to mesa verde there are a couple decent rv parks there not extremely beautiful but nice and clean) take hwy 666 to Monticello then head north to Canyonlands NP Needles District (they have a very scenic campground no water or elec hookups), then when you come out there head north on 191 to moab and check out Arches NP, Dead Horse Point SP and Canyonlands NP Island in the Sky District ( all of which have decent campgrounds not all have water or elec hookups). or head south at Monticello on 191 and take 95 west to Natural Bridges NM then on past Lake Powell northern end and on up to 24 to I 70 head east to 6 or west to 10 and go north to SLC. In Price there is CEU prehistoric museum that is pretty nice also.