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!

The park was beautiful and a lot of history. The park has an RV park and plenty of restrooms…read moreduring the 20 miles through the park. One way in and out.

Mesa Verde National park is a location where you will be able to connect with our ancestors through…read morean echo of time. The way they lived, what they built, what they left behind is a reminder of what we have forgotten. Through these trips and sites that we are fortunate to experience we can honor their memory and continue the journey changed.

There are so many structures standing here! The loop hike was well marked, with the first portion…read more(going counterclockwise) taking you past the structures along the rim of the canyon, and the second portion descending and ascending the canyon back to the visitor center. I liked how you could get up close to the structures and see them in detail - no entering or touching though! Some were build right on the edge. I wonder how they manage to design them and maintain them on such a precarious position. The visitor center has helpful NPS rangers and a small gift shop. There are some displays, but the best part is to go out and explore! The bathrooms are also nice with running water.

We arrived at the end of the day on Sunday. The Ranger recommended the circle hike but directed us…read moreto go to the south first. Great hike and ruins are amazing!

I wasn't looking for Jacobs Chair. My goal was the canyon beneath it. Although adjacent to a…read morenicely paved Highway 95 (north of Natural Bridges National Monument), this area is very remote. Cell phone service? Nope. Ensure that you have a full tank of gas, a lot of water, snacks, the right clothing, and some good sense. You can't help but see Jacobs Chair because it's a monumental red stone beacon of a chair that sits atop a mountain range. I assumed it has some biblical reference -- doesn't so much in Utah? -- but it's named after Franklin Jacob Adams who, in 1940, lost his life trying to cross White Canyon on his horse during a flash flood. Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no rain in the forecast during my 100-degree visit in White Canyon below the Chair. Hiking is a bit of slow motion even on a normal day because the open canyon is basically a sandy beach interspersed with larger rocks. Add in the intense sun and I took it very leisurely. I stopped beneath cliff overhangs along the way to take advantage of the only shade available. I imagined myself creating my own cliff dwelling as I hung out and gazed into the canyon. I also tried to visualize Mr. Adams on his horse. This is not a slot canyon so I couldn't comprehend how much water it must have taken to create such a torrent to wash him and his horse away.

$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.

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.

If you're interested in the ancient cliff dwellers, definitely take this tour! This is a tour led…read moreby the local Ute Tribe & is only accessible with their guides. It's amazing!! The dwellings are on the back side of Mesa Verde. After this tour in September of 2011, it made my first trip to Mesa Verde seem more like going to Disneyland. This is the real deal - wild, undeveloped, & rugged. There's a lot of hiking, & a REALLY tall ladder climb to see Eagle's Nest ruin that is optional, but I suggest fighting through whatever fear of heights you may have to see this ruin!! I have a pretty healthy fear of heights & I'm so glad I was able to fight through it to see Eagle's Nest. It is beautiful & still has paint & plaster visible in the kiva. Smaller ladders are necessary to see any of the cliff dwellings, but they are short & easy. If you only have time for Mesa Verde or Ute Tribal Park, go to Ute for a more realistic adventure! Make your reservations in advance!

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.

What an amazing vacation! I attended a work retreat at Majestic Dude Ranch for four nights and had…read morea wonderful experience! The setting is serene and beautiful. The grounds are quite expansive and dotted with the lodge and cabins. The cabin was very comfortable and clean. They offer many activities including: horseback riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, UTV riding, hiking, skeet shooting, a swimming pool, and more (even a mechanical Bull!). The food was prepared on site and delicious! Beef centric menu but so tasty, and they accommodated a vegetarian in our party easily. I looked forward to the breakfast each night and dinner each morning! The best part of the stay, however, was the staff. They were amazing! They took care of everything, and always with a smile. They do everything at the ranch, and the team here takes the experience to the next level. I highly recommend a trip here to unwind and recharge!

We absolutely loved the Majestic Dude Ranch. It was an incredible experience. I would give the…read moreranch 6 stars if I could. If you have a family and are exploring a dude ranch experience in Colorado, this is your place. The staff were wonderful and extremely helpful. There is non-stop action and adventure. The food is excellent. The accommodations are rustic but very comfortable. The kids program was outstanding and was a highlight of the week. Overall, this is a greater than 5 star place.