Colorado State Parks #2 and Season Wrap Up

10 10 2023

After Chama and the Cumbres & Toltec train, we’ve returned to Cheyenne Mountain State Park enroute to Golden Gate State Park just west of Golden, CO.  Another favorite spot, this campground offers beautiful pine treed sites and miles of hiking trails all very convenient to the Denver metro area.

Following this outing, we’ve taken a break in the camping and jetted off to the UK to sail onboard the brand new Explora I luxury ship from Explora Journeys.  Our impressions of the ship are posted here: First Impressions Following 9 nights onboard, we enjoyed 3 nights in London catching up with good friends and seeing two West End shows, Mrs. Doubtfire and Crazy For You!

In late September, we’re back to Lake Pueblo State Park to enjoy the Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival in downtown Pueblo.  In early October, our last camping trip of the season is at Hecla Junction State Park which has become our traditional end of season trip.  As usual, fall colors  are beginning to show over the higher mountain elevations and along the canyon walls near the campground.  While in the Salida area, we explored Buffalo Pass Campground, a Federal campground just west of Saguache, CO.  This small rustic campground offers no services other than beautiful sites and pit toilets.  We’d like to return and spend a few days here next summer.

Hecla Junction, State Park

Buffalo Pass Campground, Site #19

Once again, we’ve winterized the rig and are patiently awaiting our winter/spring trip to Arizona and Texas.  More from somewhere in Arizona in mid-January…


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Chama, NM and Cumbres & Toltec Railroad

31 08 2023

After exploring 3 of our favorite Colorado State Parks, we spent 5 nights in an abbreviated stay in Cheyenne for Frontier Days.  We attended only 1 concert (compared to up to 6 in previous years) enjoyed the brews at the Accomplice Brewery, and wonderful dinner at the Rib and Chop house.  After Cheyenne we spend 3 nights at Boyd Lake State Park outside of Loveland visiting family in northern Colorado.

Old Dominion at Frontier Nights, Cheyenne Frontier Days

It’s been 4 years since we last visited Chama, and once again we’re parked at the Rio Chama RV part on the north side of town.  This park was recently sold, and from the looks of it – the new owners have a lot of deferred maintenance to deal with.  On the good side, this is a beautiful location along the Chama River, just next to the trestle bridge where the trains rumble in and out of town.  On the downside, many of the cottonwood trees have died or are dying and need to come out before one falls on an RV.  And, the old, possibly trusty back in the day WiFi, isn’t usable in it’s current state.

Cumbres & Toltec Historic Railroad, Chama, NM

Cumbres & Toltec Historic Railroad, Chama, NM

We’re parked in site N3, a very tight site that sits right next to highway 17, the main highway.  Last time we stayed in site #40, a huge long pull through site very close to the river.  We’d prefer to be back in that part of the park.

Rio Chama RV Park, Chama, NM

Our railway trip is everything you can imagine from the gorgeous scenery across Cumbres Pass, to stories and highlights from our guides and docents onboard.  The food hall at Osier station left a bit to be desired, but all in all a great day!  After returning to Chama we opt for some local BBQ at the Outlaw BBQ company.  We’d highly recommend the Outlaw.  The following evening we opt for “Local”, a pizza parlor that was in the middle of construction during our last visit.  If all you are looking for is pizza, Local does an good job.  All other items on their menu were out of stock, even the “Chef’s Specials” that were shown on the blackboard.

Following Chama we’re off to another favorite Colorado State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Golden, CO.  More from Golden Gate…


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Best of Colorado State Parks #1

25 06 2023

This year we decided to return to some of our favorite Colorado State Parks that we’ve stayed in over the years.  Reservations are nearly impossible to get at some of these more urban parks, but fortunately on exactly the 6 month reservation window, we were able to snag some great sites.  Thanks P&D for the online help!

Our first stop is Cheyenne Mountain, just outside of Colorado Springs.  In our list of “best”, this State Park certainly ranks in the top-10.  Beautiful views over Colorado Springs, excellent facilities, well maintained sites and miles and miles of hiking trails. And, it’s literally about a mile to entrance of the NORAD Installation deep within Cheyenne Mountain made famous by movies such as StarGate and War Games.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

NORAD from War Games

From Cheyenne Mountain we’re off to Mueller State Park.  Not as close to Colorado Springs, but still very busy – this park is located in the western shadow of Pikes Peak, between Divide and Cripple Creek. Campsites are Mueller are uniquely placed along the top of 4 mountain ridges.  With over 35 miles of trails in the park, there’s plenty of places to find beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Mueller State Park, site #35

Mueller State Park, site #40

Mueller State Park, site #41

After a great stay in Mueller, we’re off to Chatfield State Park outside of Denver.  Not necessarily one of our favorites, but this park provides easy access to all things that Denver offers.  Tonight it’s a Brother’s Osborn concert at Fiddlers Green.

Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village, CO

From Chatfield we’re headed home for a weekend, then up to Lake Pueblo State Park, then to Cheyenne for the 127th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, carnival and concerts.  More from Cheyenne…


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Home from Heber

17 06 2023

Sun Outdoors, Canyonland Gateway

After departing from our 7 night stay in Heber City, UT, we’re bound for Moab, UT.  We tried to stay at Dead Horse Point State Park, but as expected, no availability.  We also discussed dry camping on BLM land – there’s plenty in the area.  However, with forecast temps pushing into the 90’s each day, we opted for a 2 night stay at Sun Outdoors, Canyonland Gateway.

This park, along with 3 others in the Moab area are now under the Sun Outdoors name.  Sun Outdoors is aggressively acquiring parks & resorts all over the US – their website boasts 162 locations everywhere from Colorado to South Carolina.  This RV park looks relatively unchanged since our last visit several years ago, with about 70 sites, all gravel, most with full hookups.  The park Wi-Fi runs along about 5Mb.  It’s relatively easy to find open sky in the park and our StarLink provided 20Mb or better of streaming speeds.

Sun Outdoors, Canyonland Gateway, Moab, UT

Sun Outdoors, Canyonland Gateway, Moab, UT

Sun Outdoors, Canyonland Gateway, Moab, UT

After Moab we’re parked in Bayfield, CO at Outdoorsy Bayfield.  This is another recent park acquisition by Outdoorsy RV Rental company who has recently become interested in not only the RV rental business but also the RV park business.  So far, this RV park business appears to be fairly limited, but expected to grow.  In job postings, the Outdoorsy Destination Network is expected to expand to 50 locations by 2025 and 200 locations by 2028.  This small Bayfield park is set alongside Los Pinos River, with several ponds and meandering creeks through the property.  There are plenty of old cottonwood trees that need trimming or removed, but overall the grounds are lush, green and beautiful.

Outdoorsy RV Sites
Outdoorsy Luxury Tent Camping

Outdoorsy Bayfield, Bayfield, CO

From Bayfield, it’s a relatively short trip over Wolf Creek Pass, across the San Luis Valley and over La Veta Pass on our way home.  Our next trip is in a week, when we begin our “Best of Colorado State Parks” visits.  More from Cheyenne Mountain State Park where our ‘best of” begins…


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Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

15 06 2023

Welcome to Heber City, UT.

We last drove through Heber City back in 2016 while traveling between Jordanelle State Park and Vernal, UT. We’re currently parked in site #S9 at the Mountain Valley RV Resort.  We’re here for the next 7 nights along with about 70 other Montana RV Owners for our annual Western Regional gathering.  This is a beautiful park of about 100 sites separated into two “phases”, with families in Phase 1 and adults only in Phase 2.  Peak rates (April-November) run from about $65 to $90 per night.  Tack on sales tax and Utah transient room tax and you’re around $600 for our 7 night stay.  But, the facilities here are some of the best we’ve seen.  Two clubhouses with kitchen areas, beautiful fireplaces and pool tables.  3 outdoor pools & hot tubs.  Pickleball courts, a kids playground and dog run areas. The sites are all concrete, internal roadways are blacktop and there are trees, bushes and flowers everywhere you look.  With nearly daily rain showers while we’re here, everything is green, lush and in full bloom – gorgeous!

Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT

Our Montana clan has plenty of plans for our 7 nights here, from almost daily Happy Hour/ Hors D’oeuvres gatherings, an afternoon onboard the Heber Valley Railroad, daily Poker Walks, craft projects, a “Baggie Breakfast” and a Bingo/Cookie Munch party.  The RV resort is providing a Movie Night for us to enjoy, Keystone RV is bringing in dinner one night and we’ll conclude the week with a Pot Luck Dinner and White Elephant exchange.  But, these gatherings are more than just the fun – we also exchange tons of information about our travels, our rigs, and of course the coolest new floorplans and features released by the RV industry.

Heber Valley Railroad

Heber Valley Railroad

Heber Valley Railroad

From Heber City we’re headed to Bayfield, CO to meet up with friends for a few nights and then home.  Our first night out will be Sun Outdoors Canyonland Gateway RV park just north of Moab.  More from there…


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Off to Heber City, UT

11 06 2023

After a “close call” for Jury Duty, I’ve been released on Friday and we’re going to head out tomorrow.  The annual Western Regional Montana Owners Club rally starts next Wednesday in Heber City.  This is the same rally that we attended for the first time last June in Dolores, CO.  We’ve also met a smaller group of Montana Owners in Quartzite in January.

Gunnison KOA Journey

We’re going to visit friends in Montrose, but decide that nearly 5 hours is just a bit too far, so our first night is at the KOA Journey in Gunnison. This campground is more like a city park, lush green lawns, big trees and even a small fishing lake.  We’re parked in site #48 which provides a very long back-in site with full hookups right behind the office.  This site isn’t bad, but if the “Kottage” is occupied, you’ll share your patio area for their parking.  We’d prefer to be further around the circle, site # 26, 28 or 16, 18.

Moochdocking in Montrose

From Gunnison it’s a relatively easy trip over to Montrose, including passing through the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon Improvement Project.  In Montrose we enjoyed Colorado Boy Pizza and Beers on Sunday evening.  On Monday evening we joined additional friends for an informal dinner of wonderful salads, beans and hot-dogs!  Thanks M&D for letting us “camp” in your front yard.!

Green River State Park, Green River, Utah

From Montrose we’re headed to Green River State Park.  We’ve stayed at Green River before, and have always noted their mosquito problem apparently due to overwatering of the lush grass.  It’s not as bad in previous years, but the little nuisances are still obnoxious when walking through the grass or just after sunset.  We’re parked in site #26, basically just a wide spot in the main road with hookups on the wrong side.  Not optimal, but it’ll work for a quick overnight.  We’d also note that it appears that the park is adding 10-20 new tent sites and at least 1 new shower house.

After Green River, we’ll be in Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City for 7 nights.  More from Heber City…


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