Denver to Page AZ - Best route?

ghanson · October 19, 2007, 08:19:35 PM

Haven't been on in a while.......right......anyway, I'm considering a trip from Denver down to Page AZ - Grand Canyon - then Sedona, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Monument Valley and all that, and did a mapquest, which has me going up I70 Through Grand Junction then down. Thoughts on dragging a tired old 8V71 up I70 in June? I made it over the Big Horns a few years ago - Here's a photo at the summit (if the attachment comes through). Anyway, comments on this journey would be welcome and appreciated.

ghanson, MC9

gumpy · October 19, 2007, 08:30:59 PM

Hey Glen,

Good to see you on the board again. Been awhile.

I don't think you'll have any problems on that route. It's slow, but you'll be fine if you just take your time.

If you're into more scenary, you could go down south from Denver, and across 50 from Pueblo, across Monarch Pass, and
then down through Ouray, Silverton, and Durango, and work you way over to Page. You could also drop down and
go over Wolf Creek Pass. Haven't been on that one, but I hear it's something.

craig

ghanson · October 19, 2007, 08:46:30 PM

Craig,

Yeah, the whole bus thing has been kind of on the back burner for a while. The oldest boy is now in College out in Denver, and I thought I would drive it out there, leave it this spring, and then take a trip in June. I did have one trip to MN this year, and all went fine until one of the main drive wheels came loose, fatigued the metal, and it just about separated from the bus right quick. Silly me, I thought the lugs were tight. Anyway, I have new rims/stems and it's better than before. It's always something! Have you done this route? You usually go to Wyoming, don't you? How's the bus?

g

Utahclaimjumper · October 19, 2007, 08:48:17 PM

The only way you will make that trip is I70 thru Grand Junction, on to off ramp # 180 to Utah state 181 south thru Moab, Blanding, state Rd. 163 to Mexacan Hat. Stop at Gouldings Trading post (Gouldings dot com) for the best Monument Valley spot. Then choose to go to South Rim and on to Page or whatever.>>>Dan Cedar City Utah 4106-`1261

gumpy · October 19, 2007, 09:01:19 PM

Quote from: ghanson on October 19, 2007, 08:46:30 PM
Have you done this route? You usually go to Wyoming, don't you? How's the bus?

We go to Colorado every year, also. Pueblo. Sometimes we come up through Denver and over Eisenhower Tunnel to Dillon and then up
through Steamboat. Last year we came up from Canon City to Breckenridge (is that highway 9?). That had some pretty steep hills on it,
but not a problem. Just slow in spots.

I've been up to Monarch Ski area in the car, which is just below Monarch Pass. I wouldn't hesitate to do it in a bus in the
summer. The canyon along the Arkansas River west of Canon City is really winding, and takes a lot of time, but is a good road.
Haven't actually been over Monarch into Gunnison. I've been on the road from Gunnison down through Ouray, Silverton, and Durango
in the car. It would be similar to the road coming down into Breckenridge. Steep with hairpin turns. Certainly do-able in the bus,
but with care and slowness. Very beautiful, though. Definitely plan a day or two for sightseeing along that route.

If you're not into all the hills in Colorado, then by all means take the I70 route through Grand Junction, and down to Moab, and on south.
Been a few years since I was over it, but it was good road in the early 90s. Monument valley is nice. Would be some nice places to stop for the
night along there.

craig

skihor · October 20, 2007, 07:47:42 AM

If you go I70 take hiway 128 south to Moab. It's the second Cisco exit if your going west. It's east of hiway 191. It's like 45 miles to Moab and follows the Colorado river most of the way. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours but worth every minute. Of course then there's Arches N.P. It's only like 27 miles each way but takes all day if you stop and smell the rocks. There's two entrances to Canyonlands in the area. More of the red rock formations. Good stuff ! I've gone east out of Moab over to Telluride very pretty. Mesa Verde N.P. out of Durango is a must see.

Don & Sheila

ghanson · October 22, 2007, 04:05:29 AM

Thanks for the info, Gents. I'll get on Google earth and mapquest and plan some of this out. Hey, check where I am now! This was taken this morning.......g

gumpy · October 22, 2007, 07:27:36 AM

Quote from: ghanson on October 22, 2007, 04:05:29 AM
Thanks for the info, Gents. I'll get on Google earth and mapquest and plan some of this out. Hey, check where I am now! This was taken this morning.......g

Cool! Is Sidney your normal route now or is this a vacation trip?

Brian Diehl · October 22, 2007, 09:32:20 AM

Quote from: ghanson on October 19, 2007, 08:19:35 PM
Haven't been on in a while.......right......anyway, I'm considering a trip from Denver down to Page AZ - Grand Canyon - then Sedona, Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Monument Valley and all that, and did a mapquest, which has me going up I70 Through Grand Junction then down. Thoughts on dragging a tired old 8V71 up I70 in June? I made it over the Big Horns a few years ago - Here's a photo at the summit (if the attachment comes through). Anyway, comments on this journey would be welcome and appreciated.

ghanson, MC9

Ah man, I love that photo! Its been over a year for me since being up there (a little bit of withdrawals going on now!). We stayed a couple of days on the east side of the summit back on a fireroad. Awesome weather and hiking up there! If you made it up over the Big Horns then you'll have no problem up I-70 .. it'll be slow, but .... what hill isn't?

ghanson · October 22, 2007, 12:53:48 PM

Yes, the Big Horns was a chore, but it wasn't impossible. In those hills it was a much bigger deal coming down, and it's not a problem until I have to back traffic up for several miles. At least the I70 thing will be two lanes for most of the trip.

ghanson · October 22, 2007, 01:16:12 PM

Craig,

This one's work. If it was vacation I'd have made the rest of the family come up there with me. Going up the bridge is something you have to do, but I'm kind of glad I don't have to drag all six of us along on this, as it set me back about $250 to do it. They've also got a bar made entirely of ice, and for $30 (Aus, roughly $27 US) one can spend 30 minutes in there and have a drink. But then, there's also indoor snow skiing in a shopping mall in Dubai. Go Figure.

There's nothing regular about my routes, but we do go Down Under several times a week. I also have been to Khasakstan and Warsaw this year, along with the usual Hong Kong, Cologne, Seoul, Shanghai, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Honolulu, etc. I'm here in Sydney for four days, and off to Guangzhou on Thursday. I spend a lot of time in Anchorage as well.

It's been an interesting year, and besides climbing bridges, one of the best things I've done on a layover was to go see the Rolling Stones in Warsaw last July. Timing happened to work out perfectly, and I got to stand among the crowds in a field, sometimes in the rain, for a great show. Anyway, this has nothing to do with busses, so, back on topic....

A tour of the South West would be nice. It's one place we haven't taken the kids, and since the dollar is so weak, it'd be nice to stay in the states for family vacations. We've only been out a couple of times this year with the bus, and only one long trip, which was to MN. Now we have another exchange student with us, from Germany (Our fourth child from the same family) and since he's in the public schools, it kind of ties us down a bit. We're still home schooling, but with one in college, it lightens the load on my Bride, who basically does all of it. I help when I'm home, but it's so erratic that I can't be counted on for much.

Oh, the bus.....topic, right......not much news there, so thanks to all for the Colorado road advice......g