Vacation assistance - Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona touring

Have booked up a three week motorhome touring holiday for September (I know its a while away but I like to be prepared!:lol.

Rough itinerary is:
Arrive Vegas 6 Sept
Pick up RV 7 Sep
Tour for 2 1/2 weeks
Return RV 27 Sept
2 Nights in Vegas relaxing
Fly home.

Thinking of doing a ring round the 4 states (very roughly Vegas,North rim Canyon, Durango, Las Cruces Tucson, Pheonix, Flagstaff, South rim Canyon, Vegas and wondering if anyone had any suggestions of "must photograph" destinations.

On the list already are Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Bryce NP, Zion NP, Kodachrome SP

Will edit the post with any additions.

Bryce and Zion National Parks in southern Utah are must-sees, and you could do those and Lake Powell/Glen Canyon Dam on the way to the North Rim. As a photographer, you might also want to see Kodachrome State Park, also in southern Utah (named because of the colours, not because it's a camera landmark).

Thanks Jon - those are now on the list!

Think I have posted this in the wrong place given the lack of responses.

If any mod happens by, could you please move it somewhere more appropriate?

Not sure where would be more appropriate. If you have any preferences, use the "Report this post" button to ask us to move it.

Thanks Jon.

Always good to plan early, it may take awhile for the right people to find this thread but when they do you will likely be swamped with ideas. I've traveled to the South West on two occasions and missed seeing most of the great places. It is a big area with so much to see and places to visit, seldom boring but time consuming for those that like the outdoor scenery and photography so planning far in advance is a must.
I traveled to New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico last March, took a Southern route at the time because of weather conditions. Members that live in the SW will be more able to tell you what to expect for the time you are traveling as for the weather and temperatures to expect.
When planning this last trip I asked for and received advice from this forum, also searched threads/photos posted from the past that gave me an idea of what I might like to see myself.
I'm an outdoor person,want to visit places with great scenery and wildlife, hate crowds, heavy traffic, dislike cities, so having said that I'll just mention a few places that I've enjoyed tremendously.
In New Mexico, the western half, all along Int 25 North to South and staying either on it or to the West.Favorite places I've been to, the drive on hwy 14 through Madrid. The Sandia Peak, Albuquerque area, Bosque del Apache. As of this time I've not been North of Alb far but have heard it is beautiful around Santa Fe and Taos.
In Arizona, Chiricahua Nat Mon,L.Montezuma, Dragoon Mts, Sabino Canyon, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert,Grand Canyon West,Sedona, Flagstaff. I did not spend much time in Sedona, although beautiful, too many people competing for a place to set up their tripod or hire a pink jeep to ride in so I moved on quickly.
Utah, I traveled I 15 to I 70 than East, this is a beautiful area and I missed most of the attractions because I was out of time. Should have allotted much more time for this area, big mistake on my part and must go back if I get the chance.
Colorado,anywhere West of Int 25, had one of my all time best vacation days in Georgetown. Also like Rocky Mtn Pk near Estes Park CO.
Nevada, I've drove from Laughlin to Las Vegas,stayed a night in Vegas, glad I got to experience it but sorry I have no desire to go back. Should have spent my time in Utah, somewhere like Moab.
Wishing you safe travel, enjoy your vacation to the SW U.S. and when some of the locals find this thread you will have many more ideas. If you have any questions on areas I've mentioned feel free to PM me and I will try to be of help.

I will try to give you some thoughts. I have a home in Arizona and California and kids in Vegas. Many of my must see places you can't get to in a motorhome. I have done many trips, but sometimes on my scooter, so was looking for roads to enjoy on the bike and then photography, or took my 4-wheel drive. My off road rigs are set up for relatively hardcore wheeling and exploration.

May I suggest as follows:
Vegas- check out red rock canyon which is just west of the strip. Then head north about one hour and spend a day exploring the Valley of Fire. It is always nice at first light.

Then up to Utah for the parks. I am not that big on them and have places off the beaten path that I enjoy. I would suggest Grafton, just south of Zion. They filmed the bike scene here for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Then off to kanab. Then over to Page and Lake Powell. many nice spots to see, but then I am off road.

Then I guess it is a choice--either hit the north rim or down to the south rim or off to Durango, CO. The narrow gauge to silverton provides nice scenery, and also is where they blew up the train in the above movie. I prefer to hit the trails around Silvertown, down to Ouray, over to Teluride and back through Ridgeway. Filmed True grit there.

Then work your way back down to Arizona, depending on if you have seen the Grand Canyon. Then down to Sedona, Prescott and Jerome. I am not big on Sedona itself, but some of the trails--away from the pink jeeps-- are very nice and scenic. I don't see Phoenix or Tucson as much to see, but I like Saquero Park, Bisby and Tombstone.

Then work your way back west to the Yuma area and see the prison and then North to my Favorite place, Lake Havasu. See the london bridge and take pics of the Sun setting over Califonia from the Island. Take the jet boat up through the gorge to Laughlin. You will see the most beautiful scenery and big horn sheep. I take my boat up there all the time and never get tired of the sights. Then work back towards Vegas and take a detour to Oatman. You can see some of my pics on my site. http://sscphoto.zenfol​io.com/

It will probably be hot, so always carry lots of water.

Cheers, Steve

Neil,

Your initial post is really rather vague - it's hard to give specific advice.

Suggest you pare down the destinations somewhat. Southern Utah is vast, and 2+ weeks really won't go as far as you might think. IMO, nothing south of Flagstaff is much worth visiting. Tucson in September is still hot and somewhat grim. Phoenix, even more so!

What sort of photography do you do? Willing to hike a mile or two? Any specific interests?

Geonerd wrote in post #15660322
Neil,

Your initial post is really rather vague - it's hard to give specific advice.

Suggest you pare down the destinations somewhat. Southern Utah is vast, and 2+ weeks really won't go as far as you might think. IMO, nothing south of Flagstaff is much worth visiting. Tucson in September is still hot and somewhat grim. Phoenix, even more so!

What sort of photography do you do? Willing to hike a mile or two? Any specific interests?

Generally landscapes and cityscapes. And I would consider a mile or two a stroll rather than a hike unless it involves climbing.

It is going to be a vacation with photographic opportunities rather than a photographic trip with vacation time.

One reason for doing the southern Arizona bit is to see friends that we have in Sierra Vista. I was in AZ in Sept 2001 so I am interested in redoing some of the stuff I did then (before I got into photography).

Remember open desert is memorable for me - we have nothing like it here in windy, wet and very green Scotland (our average temps in the height of summer are not exactly great - link)

One of the things I do prior to a road trip is spend a lot of time on Google Earth looking at photographs other people have uploaded. I have found lots of photo ops that are not your usual tourist stops this way.

Look up Kebler Pass here in Colorado. A wonderful fall drive. You will likely need to have another vehicle though...not sure about an RV there.

I haven't seen it mentioned yet, so here are a few from my list.
Valley of Fire - a must see and it's only an hour out of Vegas on the way to Zion
Zion NP
Bryce
Page Area - Lake Powell, Antelope Canyons. Horseshoe bend
Monument Valley - And possibly Valley of the Gods Nearby
Head Up to Moab, UT - Canyonlands NP, and Arches
SouthWestern Colorado - Particularly the million-dollar highway from Montrose to Durango.
I'm not really up on my New Mexico locations, so I'll let others comment on that

Other things to see in Arizona:
Meteor Crater
Canyon De Chelly
Grand Canyon (North and South Rim)
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon

Sounds like a great trip. I'm jealous, except for the fuel bill you're going to have...

I would spend definitely a bit of time in Northern New Mexico. Maybe after Durango, Silverton, Ouray (US 550) go south to Chama, Taos, Santa Fe. Drive the High Road south outta Taos. Maybe stop in at Bandolier. Don't miss Madrid.

OK, that makes sense.

Since you'll be in Sierra Vista for a day or two.

The western exposure of the Dragoon mountains is easy to reach via Middlemarch Rd, N of Tombstone. http://www.flickr.com/​photos/zoniedude1/7988​710472/ This area is great for sunsets.

Chiricahua Nat. Monument.

Las Cienegas Nat. Conservation Area. Fantastic rolling grasslands.
http://www.blm.gov …s/ncarea/lascie​negas.html

Several lovely canyons in the Huachuca mountains, just outside SV.

Early September should provide a good chance of monsoonal storms. Read up on lightning photo techniques!