anyone checking out fun stuff the week before heading into Telluride ?
we’re looking to explore new areas between vegas and Telluride over the week before we settle in to Town Park … we’re flying in from the east coast …
we (finally!) scored a permit to hike the Wave on the AZ / UT border, and we’re thinking about hiking slot canyons, state high points or other fun stuff on our way to Telluride … road tripping through Flagstaff > Taos > Telluride, or through southern Utah … we’ve hiked a bunch in nearby National Parks and other cool places, and would love to hear suggestions, especially off the beaten path hidden gems …
one friend might need to bail, so we might have an extra Town Park pass (and an extra spot on our Wave permit) … should know soon …
thought we’d post here to see if other Festivarians are up for getting out for fun stuff before heading in to Telluride … looking forward to heading back into that beautiful box canyon !
We just get to Telluride as early as possible. This year the 11th. We use those days to get in hikes and rides in the area.In all the years we’ve gone there’s still plenty of trails we haven’t done yet.We try to do at least one new trail every year, and redo some of our favorites.
If you haven’t been to Mesa Verde it’s totally worth it. And Chaco Canyon is supposed to be great, but I haven’t been yet.
What have you already done along that route? Bryce Canyon, Zion, etc? If you are going from Vegas to the Wave to Telluride, Flagstaff and Taos are pretty far out of the way. I would say hit up some stuff that’s a little more along rhe route. From Page you could head over and up past Monument Valley, stop by Goosenecks SP then head up the Moki Dugway and up and over to Natural Bridges and hike down to the river under the arches. Valley of the Gods is a great drive but assuming you will be in a rental car that’s probably out. If it’s dry you don’t really need 4 wheel drive but definitely nedd high clearance. House on Fire is a short hike and pretty cool. Hovenweep and Mesa Verde are both excellent and it’s a pretty drive from Hovenweep to Cortez.
Buckskin Gulch is at the same trailhead as the Wave and doesn’t need a permit. It’s a great slot canyon hike you can so out and back, just going as far as you want before you turn around.
There is also a lot of great hiking around Telluride. If you can get a spot you could ride the train from Durango to Silverton.
If you do go to Flagstaff you could drive down to Sedona. Bandelier is kinda on the way from Albuquerque to Taos and it really cool. Can stop in Pagosa Springs and have a soak in the hot springa on the edge of the river.
thanks ! we’ve hiked a bunch in nearby National Parks … haven’t been to Goosenecks or a few of the other places you mention, all sounds good !
our plans have shifted a bit, looks like my friend won’t be able to make the trip … if he is definitely out, then i’ll post his extra Town Park pass up for grabs …
looking forward to Festivating in that beautiful box canyon in a few weeks !
Goosenecks is a short visit. It’s similar to Horseshoe Bend of you have ever been there. You get to look down at the San Juan snaking through the canyon it’s cut out. You can walk (or drive) out to the pojnt, maybe a half mile or so, and get a few different viewpoints. If you go up the Moki Dugway, at the top there is a road that takes you to Muley Point. There is dispersed camping there and it"s a fantastic view. You can see the San Juan river and all the goosenecks and can see all the way to Monument Valley. The road out to the point isn’t paved but it’s a good road as long as it isn’t wet.
we’ve been trying for permits to the Wave for years … finally got lucky ! and just in time for a fun filled Telluride trek … hope you (and everyone) gets to visit there someday !