If you're unfamiliar with the area but an avid hiker, Bisti Badlands is an amazing area to check…read moreout on your own, so long as you've come prepared with GPS coordinates, maps, and parking advice. I have no affiliation with it, but we used Firefall Photography's website for excellent resources on all of that, including pinpoints for the north/south parking areas. As experienced hikers (Grand Canyon, Utah parks, Himalayas, etc.), we know our limitations, including the fact that our GPS apps often make quirky jumps in extremely remote areas, so we tried to pick and choose our priorities, ultimately deciding that we could manage the Bisti portion by ourselves. (We did the De-Na-Zin side the following day, with a guide. We had limited time to explore and didn't want to waste it false-navigating to permitted parking sites or major landmarks on our own, especially in monsoon season, so we signed up for the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah tour offered by Navajo Wilderness Adventures for that area -- absolutely wonderful!) On our independent day at Bisti, we arrived around 3 p.m., and a few sprinkles started just after 7 p.m., cutting off our desire to stay into the golden/blue hours, but it's worth visiting no matter the time of day. Since we had only one sunrise moment to spend there, we decided to end at Wings, despite having read that the Eggs don't photograph well in brighter light, and we were pleased with that choice in the end, since we had "near sunset" at the gorgeous hill of wings. Overall, in just under five hours, we made it from the Eggs to the Wings and hit nearly every major formation in between, including the Rock Garden, petrified wood, Hoodoo City, Vanilla Hoodoos, Manta Ray, and more. We found that some of our GPS points didn't quite match the Firefall map (including at the Beige Hoodoos and Manta Ray), but going armed with general AllTrails locations, Firefall and AllTrails maps, Gaia, and a tiny print map with photos made it all come together, allowing us plenty of time to photograph the landscape from vantages up, down, and all around. The relatively flat terrain made our nine miles of hiking relatively simple (but do avoid it after rain where possible), and it was a fantastic journey -- such mesmerizing formations and astounding landscape!

This is one of my favorite places I have ever been to! I took a tour through Navajo tours and he…read moredid an excellent job showing us the great rock formations and the petrified wood. It is a little remote and had little service, so be aware!

Had a great experience picking up my access pass! Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. I…read moreappreciated that I was able to bring in my printed file to pick up a pass in person.

The most enchanting National Forest I've visited in 2021. I hiked to the Rainbow Hot Springs. The…read moreRainbow Hot Springs is a 10 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs. Also located in the San Juan National Forest. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties!! They have plenty of campgrounds (with friendly campground hosts) and nearby Horseback Riding opportunities. I came here with a good friend of mine, as we visited South Fork, CO. The weather was perfect in May of 2021 and I needed a Chilly Mini for my neck. We spotted some gorgeous waterfalls and really unique plants. San Juan appeared to have had a forest fire in the last 5 years, because we definitely witnessed some aftermath. Lots of old, dead and burned down tree trunks. The trail is fairly easy, a little rocky, but such a great cardio workout for your calves. We spotted some wonderful rivers that kept my friend and I very cool.

I unfortunately didn't have time to go on a guided tour of Canyon de Chelly (it's located in the…read moreNavajo Nation, so you need to have a licensed tour guide to enter the majority of the Canyon), but I visited the welcome center, both the north and south rim drives, and hiked the White House Trail. The welcome center is staffed with NPS rangers and volunteers. There's a small gift shop and museum area with exhibits. There's also a hogan outside and you can ask the ranger to give a hogan talk and even enter it. The rim drives are gorgeous, although dusk and dawn really bring out the colors. The canyon rims are quite sheer which is different from a lot of other canyons. Pueblos can be seen from several lookouts, so bring binoculars. There tends to be people selling artwork and jewelry at the lookouts, so if you're interested, bring cash. The White House Trail is the only publicly accessible trail without a guide. It starts at the lookout, and you can see the structure from the parking lot, or decide to hike down to get a closer look (it's fenced off with a chain link fence to avoid people not respecting it). The hike is 2.5 miles round trip with little shade (although does have two cool tunnels), so bring water.

Canyon de Chelly is an amazing place. Whether you are passing through and get a chance to spend an…read morehour or 2 driving the North or South roads, it's worth it! It might not get any of the recognition of its big sister the Grand Canyon, but it is beautiful nonetheless! I'll also take the quietness and much smaller crowds. The South Road gives you great views for the afternoons, and the North Road gives you great morning views as the sun comes up. Either way there are some great viewpoints that are very different on each road. There are plenty of trails at the Outlook points, but you can really just make your own trail by walking wherever you can and want as long as you are careful. I take my pups and in some areas actually let them loose because we are the only ones around and because I trust my pups to not fall off the edge.

My brother, dad and I had an amazing experience at Chaco Culture National Historic site. We felt…read morevery fortunate to be able to visit such a magical place. I wont go into details, but it is worth the trip to come see this place at-least once in your lifetime and feel the energy that is here. We came in through the south rim off the 57. It is about a good 20 mile drive on a rough dirt road. I would not recommend driving here in any low profile vehicles or when it is raining because you will get stuck in the mud. Make sure your tires are good. Some patches are very rough and you will literally need to drive around 15mph. Once you reach near the visitor center there is paved road again. The loop is all paved and individual parking sites with restrooms are located in every site and will lead you on the trails. The hikes are moderate, but look out for snakes. The visiting section has a gift shop, really nice restrooms and they will provide all the info you may need. Entrance fee was only $25.

Just a heads up came here in January. I did not expect it would be snow covered fields and roads…read more The road leading up to this place no matter where you're coming from Highway 40 or Highway 25, eventually turns into a dirt road. Because it was frozen with snow on top our drive was pretty slow - 35 mph. I cannot imagine if it was a rainy day, all that mud. Don't come here if you don't have high suspension or at least an all-wheel-drive vehicle. We came here and had less than an hour left. The Ranger said we can drive the loop and see as many buildings as we can but we weren't able to see the large Pueblo. Still, it was worth it. Pictures turned out amazing. I did the junior ranger program booklet as fast as I could and I have to say it's one of the harder ones I've encountered if you were to finish the whole entire thing. I would come back here again, except when there's no snow that way you get to see way more of the architecture.

Such a beautiful monument. You probably should go with a local as they don't really have public…read moreinstructors on how to get there. Very nice up close and the area is clean. Something you can only appreciate if you see it yourself.

Shiprock is definitely a sight to behold. I suggest going either at Sunrise or sunset for the most…read moredramatic reflection and setting. Please be respectful this is Navajo indigenous land do not trespass. If you wish to have a tour please reach out to someone prior and make arrangements. Do not fly drones illegally this is disrespectful this is a spiritual tribal Monument. The closest viewing is directly from the road and it is unencumbered be sure to drive past it and you get an even better View.

$10 day pass fee for paddle boarding. Not a lot of amenities on the weekend. Cleaner than expected…read more Will be back!

Mancos is about a 7 hour drive for us, and that itself is an exhausting trip. Luckily for me, and…read morefor anyone who decides to check this baby out, there are camping huts everywhere!! My favorite part of this trip for me was the laaaarggggeeee, expanding lake. It's very romantic to take your sweetie out for a walk and circle around that lake. There is lots of wildlife, so I suggest you don't carry a jar of honey, or you'll die. Nothing much to say, but it's definitely better than everyday activities. Hiking and Boating is a gift that doesn't happen everyday unless you're lucky enough to have that access. I love it, and hope to come back a second time. Otherwise, I do have crappy cellphone signal here.

We just returned from an outstanding multi-generational, vacation at The Majestic Dude Ranch in…read moreColorado. Every member of the family from the oldest (83) to the youngest (4) had a wonderful time. It was a a five star experience, and we all want to go back!

In 1989 my wife and I took our kids there. We had the BEST time. I just drove by there. It was the…read moreLake Mancos Dude Ranch at that time. I understand a young ranch hand bought it from the original owner. He has made it better! I'm sure anyone would have a great time there.

This is a large lake reservoir! There are great campgrounds and facilities surrounding the lake…read more There is also a marina with fun activities and rentals with a store and seasonal cafe. There are also some hiking trails connecting the campground areas to the lake. Much if the lake is surrounded by steep cliffs and there aren't , currently, many sandy beach areas, due to the water level dropping, but it is still a nice place to visit!

Cotton Wood camp ground is where we stay when we go to Navajo State park. Plenty of camping spots…read moreto choose from just make sure you make reservations first before going up. San Juan river is within walking distance from the camp ground. Never had a bad stay here. Bathrooms are always clean and the park is also kept clean of trash.

Durango was never on my radar until my fellow hikers recommended it. It is a quaint city and this…read moreriver trail is nice for a stroll or a 9+ mile bike ride. It is mostly in good condition with about 20 percent with cracks that will give you a jolt. The final down river section has two modest inclines. Nice crossovers over wooden bridges. No bathrooms. Thank goodness for Albertson's right off the trail. Parking around Downtown is metered. About five-six blocks away from the river is free street parking. The white water launch park (in one of the photos) has a parking lot with a steam engine locomotive. Free or not I am unsure. Placards along the trail to note the development of the city. Stop for lunch in one of the many options on Main St.

Beautiful trail. A must-see if visiting or living in Durango. This trail is long so we started at…read morethe main point where there is a park with swings and benches.

One of the most underrated national parks! Rich in history, this park offers an incredible glimpse…read moreinto the past. Seeing the ancient cliff dwellings in person is an unforgettable experience they're remarkably well preserved and stand as a testament to the people who lived here centuries ago. We visited over Memorial Day weekend, and the weather couldn't have been better. The drive to the park is beautiful, with stunning scenic views along the way that make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. If you want to tour the cliff dwellings, be sure to make a reservation in advance, as they can fill up quickly. The visitor center is modern, informative, and very well maintained. We also hiked the Petroglyph Point Trail, and the surrounding rock formations and views made it a memorable experience. Overall, this is a fascinating national park that's often overlooked but absolutely worth visiting. We'd love to come back again someday it's definitely a must-visit!

All National Parks are amazing, but it's rare to find one that has such a a fascinating…read moreanthropological history as well as incredible views and landscapes. We visited in Late June, and although it was warm, the heat was very bearable. Definitely recommend registering for a tour (don't wait - they fill up quickly!) while planning your visit so you can get a better understanding of and a close up look at the cliff dwellings. Also, be aware that some of the tours are strenuous so read the descriptions before making your choices. I knew what they were before heading to Mesa Verde, but experiencing it first hand and getting to walk on in the ancient dwellings really made it come alive for me. The scenic drive was incredible as well. So many beautiful vistas and historical stops along the drive. We were here for one full day and saw quite a bit - Cliff Palace, Balcony House (Both guided tours - check the website before booking since you need to account for travel time in between), and scenic drive with stops along the way. Loved it here!