july 4th | Small Home

July 4th in Bryce Canyon National Park

1 07 2016

We’ve arrived in Bryce Canyon, and are set-up in the North Campground in sites 12, 13, 15 & 17. These are 4 of the only 13 reservable sites. The other 86 RV & tent sites are available first-come, first-served. There are non-threaded water faucets scattered around the campground, and a RV fill faucet at the dump station. Many of the sites are just wide spots in the road. The pull-through sites that we’re in are separated from the roadway with a small island – some containing trees that make slide positioning a real challenge. All sites are dry, generators are allowed in these A loop sites, but not allowed on all loops. There are bathrooms on each loop with running water and flush toilets. Showers and laundry facilities are available for a fee near the General Store which is at the far south end of the campground. CAMPGROUND MAP

We’re just a few steps from the trail that leads to the extensive Visitor Center. We’re also very near the Rim Trail which leads north toward the Fairyland area and to the south to Bryce Point. With only 3 days in the park, we manage to hike most of the Rim Trail as well as the very popular Queens Garden Trail into the canyon. There is plenty more to explore in Bryce, this will definitely need to be a return trip. AMPHITHEATER MAP

Our last night on the way back toward Denver is spent at island Acres, part of the James Robb Colorado River area. We’re in full hookup site #50, next to the river and furthest from I-70. But, even in this location the traffic is noisy – this campground is best for just a quick overnight.

: Bryce Canyon, North Campground Sites 13 & 12

: Bryce Canyon National Park

: Bryce Canyon National Park

: Bryce Canyon National Park

: Bryce Canyon National Park

: Bryce Canyon National Park

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Tags: bryce canyon, july 4th
Categories : Summer Camping 2016

Ridgway State Park

3 07 2015

Good Morning from Southwestern Colorado.

After 1 night in Montrose with good friends, we’re parked in site #115 in the Elk Ridge campground at Ridgway State Park. We’re a part of a group that will eventually total 15 people camping in sites #108 – #115. Set high on a ridge overlooking the reservoir, the D and E loop contain about 100 campsites. Nearer the lake, the Dakota Terraces campground provides about 80 sites in 3 loops. Lakeside near the marina is a boat ramp (with the required Invasive Species inspection) a small swim beach area and several day-use covered picnic tables. All of these facilities make up the Dutch Charlie area. Further south is the Dallas Creek area designed primarily for day-use with fishing areas and picnic tables. There are also about 80 full hookup campsites at the Pa-co-chu-puk area to the north, below the dam.

All of the Elk Ridge sites offer 20 and 30 amp electric hookups with conveniently located threaded water taps. Site #115 has many trees, great for privacy, but impossible for awning use. The roads throughout the campground are asphalt as are each sites parking area – some back-in, some pull-through. There is also a concrete apron with picnic table and fire ring. These aprons are placed at various locations, some on the left, some right and some rear. Not all the locations are ideal – our fire ring is directly outside the RV door and under a low hanging tree. With 15 campers, we used the large picnic table and fire ring area at site #113. The trees thinned out a bit toward site #108 where awning can be deployed fully. These 5 sites are well spread out and not always convenient for toting food or chairs between sites. A better alternative would have been to select sites around the inside of the loop end (such as #84-#113) or across from each other (#115-#112).

Best sites at Elk Ridge are those along the upper loop #165 – #184. Many of these sites offer great views off to the east with good privacy. On the lower loop the first campsite #80 provides beautiful lake views, but might be a bit short and narrow for some rigs.

We had a great July 4^th weekend at Ridgway and would like to return here again on another long weekend.

Site #84

Site #80

Site #184

Site #177

Site #168

Site #166

Site #165

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Tags: july 4th, montrose, ridgway state park
Categories : Summer Camping 2015

Hecla Junction, AHRA

30 06 2015

Happy Independence Day! We’re bound for Ridgway State Park in southwestern Colorado. Along the way, we’ve stopped at the newly renovated Hecla Junction campground – one of six campgrounds that make up the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, a Colorado State Park. Located just north of Salida and next to the rafting pull-out for Browns Canyon, the campground offers 23 campsites in a beautiful, riverside setting. Each site offers a parking area, a graveled tent pad and a fire pit/picnic table area. There’s a vault toilet in the center of the campground next to a accessible site (#8). Access to this campground is a bit daunting, just 2.4 miles off of highway 285, there’s a short section of 12% grade. But, with school buses pulling trailers of rafts in and out all day, the dirt road is in good shape, and oiled to keep the dust down. The entrance to the camping area is unique, you traverse the boat loading zone, across the cement apron before turning into the camp sites.

Sites #1-#12 are riverside sites. We’re parked in site #9, beyond which the access road gets a bit tight, and might provide a challenge for turning, especially if those higher numbered sites were occupied. Sites #7 and #9 would be optimal for a dual-site arrangement with #7 providing very easy access. Site #3 is a 49′ foot site providing some of the best river views in the campground. Site #4 also shares this good river view. Upper sites #21/#23 would provide highest privacy and good views. After visiting Railroad Bridge and Ruby Mountain a few years ago, this campground has become our new favorite among the AHRA sites.

Tomorrow we’ll head south to Poncha Springs, make the right hand turn over Monarch Pass and be in Montrose with good friends for 1 night before moving to Ridgway State Park. More from there…