We’re off to Oregon!

14 06 2024

We’re off to Oregon to join friends from the Montana Owners group in the small town of Westfir, OR, about 45 minutes southeast of Eugene.

We have 4 “1-nighters” planned, which means by the time we arrive in Oregon, we’ll be ready to pause and enjoy for a few days. Our first stop is in Durango, CO at the Oasis RV Resort. This is a favorite park, and we’ve spent several chilly nights here on our way south to Arizona in January and February.  Our next night is at Green River State Park where we’ve stayed numerous times.  Our 3rd night is at Great Salt Lake State Park.  This park of only 5 sites doesn’t garner great reviews, but we found our stay pleasant – with easy access, full hookups, quiet, dark nights and a good view out the back window.

Great Salt Lake State Park

Great Salt Lake State Park

After Salt Lake City, we’re parked at Village of the Trees RV Resort in Delco, ID.  Indeed an oasis along the Snake River, we first stayed in this park way back in 2016.  And, as luck would have it, we’re parked in the exact same site, #A9!

Village of Trees, Declo, ID

From Delco, ID we’re bound for Caldwell, ID, just west of Boise where we’ll spend a couple night catching up with a friend that just moved to Idaho from Colorado.  Abundant Life RV Park in Caldwell is a relatively new park, and offers great facilities and roomy sites in a convenient location.  We’d highly recommend this park!

Abundant Life RV Park, Caldwell, ID

Abundant Life RV Park, Caldwell, ID

After Caldwell, we’re headed to Bend, OR.  This is our longest segment so far, with nearly 6 hours on the road across what ends up be fairly boring eastern Oregon.  But, arriving in Bend, we’re glad to be here for 4 nights.  We’re parked right in town at Scandia RV & Mobile Park.  Its not new or fancy, but it’s very close to everything in Bend, and we have a nice private back-in site under huge pines.  We enjoy an afternoon wandering around the Old Mill District, check out downtown and of course the “required” beer samples at the famous Deschutes Brewery.

Scandia RV & Mobile Park, Bend, OR

Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

From Bend, we’re headed to Westfir, OR…more from the Willamette River Valley!

Welcome to Westfir, OR!


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Categories : Summer Camping 2024

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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Start of the Spring Road Trip, Durango & Monument Valley

14 01 2022

Just as last year, we’re parked at the Oasis RV Park in Durango.  However, unlike last year, it’s much colder and there’s more snow and ice through the park.  There are surprisingly quite a few RVs in the park this year. We’re parked in a pull-through, premium view site, #12 on the NW corner of the park. The site is mostly snow covered, except around the headed water faucet.  It gets sloppy and muddy during the days which are around 45 degrees, and then freezes solid in the overnight teens. We’d prefer one of the southern sites, back-in #19 – #22 or #25 or #26.

After visiting with friends on Saturday, we returned to a coolish trailer.  The problem became readily apparent, the furnace was failing to light.  Cranking up the fireplace and a small space heater, we managed to maintain an inside temperature of about 60 degrees overnight (after a low of 18!).  Spending a few hours looking at YouTube videos, we determined that the problem was most likely the sail switch.  With the exterior furnace cover removed, a quick continuity test concluded that the switch was indeed not closing. Removing the switch revealed little in the way of built-up dirt and dust.  However, after cleaning and reinstalling, the furnace fired the first time.  Problem solved, or at least averted for now.

Goulding’s RV, Monument Valley, UT

From Durango we’re headed to one of our favorite parks at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley, UT. From Monument Valley we’re headed to Williams, AZ.  More from the home of the Grand Canyon Railroad Company.


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2022

Changing Plans

29 01 2021

Lost Dutchman State Park

On January 14th, we departed on the 2021 Spring Road Trip.  The original plan was to make our way to Yuma, AZ as quickly as possible to enjoy 2 weeks in the (hopefully) warmest spot in the state.  However by early January, Yuma and the surrounding area of southern California began making headlines as the “worldwide hotspot of Covid”.  With nearly no available hospital beds and business once again shutting down, we decided that Yuma probably wasn’t the best choice.

Our first night out was in Durango, at the Oasis RV Park.  This former KOA is now related to the Oasis in Amarillo – and we found the park and sites very enjoyable.  We’d stay here again.

Our next night was at Goulding’s Lodge and RV Park in Monument Valley, Utah.  This is a favorite park, and we always enjoy our stays here.

Goulding’s Lodge and RV Park, Monument Valley, UT

Finally arriving in Arizona, we once again selected the Verde Ranch RV Resort for a 7 night stay.  Last time in Camp Verde we visited the Verde Brewing Company.  Unfortunately the brewery is still temporary closed due to the affects of Covid.  We enjoyed an afternoon in Sedona where we sampled beers at Oak Creek Brewery before a great lunch at Creekside American Bistro.

Sedona, AZ

In Camp Verde we visited Sedona View RV Resort, just 7 miles from Verde Ranch RV (and the noise of I-17) with great views of the Verde River Valley.  This might be a good option on the next trip to Camp Verde.

Sedona View RV Resort, Camp Verde, AZ

Just as winter makes a come back to Camp Verde, we’ve moved south to the Phoenix area.  Somehow, we managed to find 4 nights of no-services dry camping at Lost Dutchman, one of our favorite State Parks.  And, as rain and even some freezing temperatures mange to follow us to Phoenix, we’re able to upgrade all 4 nights to electric/water sites.  Unheard of – it must be due to either covid or weather related cancellations.

Snowy Superstitions, Lost Dutchman SP

From Lost Dutchman we’ll spend 3 nights at the Rancho Sonora Inn and RV Park in Florence, AZ. We’re in site #36, and friends in #17.  Both are very tight back-in sites.  PARK MAP Better options would be pull-throughs 8 or 9 or back-in sites 42-47.

Site #36, Rancho Sonora Inn and RV Park, Florence, AZ

While in Florence we visited several RV parks in the Casa Grande area – our favorite was Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort. PARK MAP

Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, Casa Grande

Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort, Casa Grande

After Florence we’re headed to Tucson for a week before returning to Apache Junction.  More from Tucson…

 


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2021

Lightner Creek Campground

19 08 2020

Lightner Creek Campground, Durango, CO

We’re parked in site #34 at Lightner Creek Campground, just outside of Durango.

SITE MAP

Our site is a “30 Amp Creek Site”, with full hookups.  With friends in #33, there’s plenty of room between and in back of both rigs.  Unfortunately Lightner Creek is dry this time of year, but the tall shade trees along the creek provide welcome shade to the afternoon sun.

Other than the full hookups, these sites are fairly rustic with level gravel/dirt back-in area and a picnic table but no pad or fire ring.  There’s a fair amount of deferred maintenance in the park from crumbling asphalt driveways to untrimmed trees.  But, the park did provide trash pick-up at each site – daily at 11AM sharp!

Lightner Creek Campground, site #34

We are configured “awning-to-awning” with a motor coach in site #35. There’s a semi-private wooden fence between the two sites, but it was as if you were in conversation with your neighbors, and their dogs lunged and barked loudly at the fence anytime we walked outside.

Lightner Creek Campground, site #35

Lightner Creek Campground, site #36, premium patio site

The pool and laundry room were open on an appointment basis, all other public amenities closed, dog park, shower house, office, camp store. The pool was cold – even though they advertise a “heated pool”. They told us they have switched to “solar power” (which seems to mean, we’re no longer heating it), but are doing nothing to retain the heat during the cold overnights.

Lightner Creek Campground

Lightner Creek is a nice location, but at a bit over $60/night, we don’t rate this campground as a good value.  Next time we’d probably check out other parks in the Durango area.


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Blue Spruce RV, Vallecito Lake, CO

23 09 2019

Red Mountain Pass

From Palisade it’s nearly a 5 hour trip south to Bayfield, near Vallecito Lake.  About half way along this route is the infamous Red Mountain Pass, the 11,000 foot pass between Ouray and Silverton.  The pass is awe inspiring in summer and must be nearly terrifying in winter!  Wikipedia characterizes the pass as “steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains. …travel south from Ouray to Silverton perches drivers on the vertiginous outside edge of the highway. Large RVs travel in both directions, which adds a degree of excitement (or danger) to people in cars”  It certainly was exciting!

Arriving at Vallecito Lake,  the Blue Spruce RV Park is a quiet, laid back park of about 100 sites carved into a tall, mature pine forest. We’re parked in site #40 along with friends in #43 and #97.  PARK MAP

Blue Spruce RV Park Site #43

Blue Spruce RV Park, Pull-Through sites


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Alpen Rose RV Park, Durango, CO

28 05 2017

Alpen Rose RV Park, Site #11

Good Morning from Durango!

After a quick overnight stop at San Luis Valley RV Campground in Villa Grove (read review), we’ve crossed Wolf Creek Pass and dropped into the San Juan River basin. Spectacular in fall colors, the San Juan valley is equally impressive now as snow melts and the lush greenness of springs takes over.

At Durango we turn north on highway 550 through town to Alpen Rose RV Park, about 2 miles north of town.  Set back off the highway, this 100 site park provides lots of amenities and beautiful views of the Las Animus river valley.  About half of the sites are in front of the main office/restaurant/shower house, laundry complex.  With few trees, these front sites offer full sunlight and most are configured back to back, with shared power, TV cable, water and sewer ports.  To the rear of the property sites #1-56 are mostly shaded under tall trees.  In the first row (sites #1-#12) the sites back up to a neighboring fence with plenty of privacy.  We’re parked in sites #11 & #12.  Not shown on the map is site #30, positioned between these two sites. All three sites are good, with #12 being the best with a huge grassy area between the site and the fishing pond.  The majority of the other sites here are configured back to back with a nice shared area between with grass and a couple of picnic tables.  For example, Sites #24 & #25 would be a good set-up for 2 rigs traveling together.  For pet owners there is a huge 2 acre pet run to the front of the property.  We took advantage of the on-site Chuck Wagon Breakfast one morning.  For about $7.50 you enjoy all you can eat pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and sausage patties.

On Saturday we’ve planned a visit to the SKA Brewery for a tour and tastings.  We enjoyed our beer experience so much we ended up at the Brew Pub & Kitchen downtown on College Drive for more beer and dinner.  On Sunday we’re off to Monument Valley, UT.  More from there…

 


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Categories : Summer Camping 2017