#2 Colorado, Utah & Page, Arizona

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (H2) is the focal point of this drive. Thirty-square miles of shifting shapes and dancing light is a breathtaking sight to behold. Photographers know that the light of sunrise and sunset reveal the most dramatic scenes, so camp here if possible, with the added bonus of phenomenal stargazing, or at least get an early start. Make your own trails as you explore the dunes, five of which are over 700-feet tall. Star Dune is the tallest at 755-feet. Divided into two sections — the Park and Preserve offer different activities. At the Park, along with hiking, you can sand-board or sled on the dunes. Rentals available nearby, your winter sleds or cardboard will not work. Dune-accessible wheelchairs are available for loan at the Visitor Center. But take heed, in peak afternoon, the sand temperature can reach 150F degrees and lightning strikes are more common, so plan your hikes or sledding in the morning or early evening. The further you go from the parking lot the more spectacular and private the experience, but make sure you have the strength (and ample water) for the hike back. Walking on sand is difficult. If you’re not into trudging on the dunes, or it’s too hot, there are forested trails, such as the short Montville Loop Trail, or the 7-mile Mosca Pass Trail. In stark contrast to the dry temperatures and sand dunes, Mendano Creek offers a space to splash and wade. The depth of the creek depends on the season, but is typically most lush in spring. Stop in the Visitor Center, which features displays on the dune geology and a short film, perfect for when the afternoon heats up. Don’t miss participating in a ranger-led program which examines the dunes, wildlife, or the night sky. The Preserve offers back-country hiking, off-roading and primitive camping. There is an entrance fee covered by an America The Beautiful Pass.

Riverbend Resort May 31–Jun 1 Address 33846 U.S. 160, South Fork, Colorado 81154, United States

The Springs Resort & Spa is located on the banks of the San Juan River in downtown Pagosa Springs. Offering 23 naturally hot therapeutic mineral pools and a mineral water lap pool fed by the World's Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring. Temperatures range from 87–114°F. Mediterranean bathhouse, lockers, showers, towel/robe rentals, swim attire mandatory. The ancient native legend about the discovery of The Spring tells of a plague which devastated the tribe and thwarted the concoctions and powers of the Medicine Men. A plea to the gods was in order and the tribe gathered along the banks of the San Juan River to participate in prayer ceremonies and fire dances. They worshiped, prayed and danced until they all fell asleep from exhaustion. The next morning they awoke to the sounds of bubbling water coming from beneath the coals of their burned out ceremonial fires. They saw this as the gods' answer to their prayers and began to bath their sick bodies with the warm water. Suddenly their affliction was cured! They called the cauldron...Pag-Osah."Healing Waters", and the great Spring became a sacred place of peace and healing. Plan a Day Visit Discover our healing waters. When you’re here for the day, you’ll want to make the most of it. Combine a soak with the benefits of a soothing spa treatment, or enjoy a bite to eat as your create your own “mist-ery” tour by visiting all 25 steamy pools. Escape for a day of blissful wellness. Day pass

Bath House Open to the Public 9 AM – 10 PM* *Pools are cleared at 9:30 PM

Skip the line and be done with waiting with our new premium entry passes Terraced to overlook the beautiful San Juan River and home to the World's Deepest Measured Geothermal Hot Spring, we offer the most geothermal hot-spring-fed pools in Colorado. Soak in your choice of twenty-four 100% mineral-water soaking pools, including a mineral-water swimming pool. Varying temperatures ranging from 83-114 °F (28-46 °C) ensure you will find the right comfort level for you. Every pool offers a different experience and we encourage you to try them all.

General admission provides one-day access to all mineral hot-spring pools except the five exclusive adult-only pools on the Relaxation Terrace.

Advanced purchase tickets ($49-55) are guaranteed entry upon arrival Includes Access To: 19 Geothermal Pools Locker Rooms Showers

Wolf Creek Pass (el. 10,857 ft.) is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song. The pass is significantly steep on either side (7 to 8% in most places) and can be dangerous in winter. There is a runaway truck ramp on the westbound side for truckers that lose control of their brakes. Wolf Creek Pass was made famous in 1975 by Country music artist C. W. McCall's humorous spoken word song of the same name, in which the pass is fondly described as "37 miles o' hell -- which is up on the Great Divide." In the song, two truckers drive an out-of-control 1948 Peterbilt down U.S. Highway 160 to Pagosa Springs -- a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) drop in elevation

Pick up rental car for one week

Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort 34979 Hwy 160 Mancos, Colorado 81328 USA (970) 565-3517 In June 1 out 6/2

“Discover the ancestral Pueblo people!” Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. About 1,400 years ago, long before Europeans explored North America, a group of people living in the Four Corners region chose Mesa Verde for their home. For more than 700 years they and their descendants lived and flourished here, eventually building elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. Then, in the late A.D. 1200s, in the span of a generation or two, they left their homes and moved away. Mesa Verde National Park preserves a spectacular reminder of this ancient culture. Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde National Park. It has 150 rooms, plus an additional 75 open areas. Twenty-one of the rooms are kivas, and 25 to 30 rooms have residential features.

This is a 5. Why go? - It's the largest archaeological preserve in the U.S.. some of the best-preserved ancient dwellings in the world, and the only archaeological national park in the U.S.--not to mention inhabited 1,400 years ago for a span of over 700 years.

Driving up to M.V. it's unassumingly flat, and then in the distance you see a uncanningly large, high, abrupt plateau/mound. The visitors center is way off to the base, and here you can plan your hikes. Whatever hike you choose, save time to simply drive the loop. From the loop you can do small (5 min walks) to beautiful visuals from above of the cliff dwellings.

What astonished me was the drive up to the dwellings. That singular mound that I just described is so large, in fact, you begin a solid 30-minute ascent up the mound, driving in repeated circles. There are a few lookouts/vistas along the way up. Then you begin to follow the ridge line into to canyon/dwellings area. Many patches of the ridge forest have recently been burned in a forest fire (this is admittedly disturbingly interesting).

Bring good climbing shoes if you plan to do all of the ladders into the sites (and for the steep hikes and stairs in/out of the canyons).

To fully appreciate this place, you have to have a little background history before you come. Wikipedia: "The Anasazi/Pueblo inhabited Mesa Verde between 600 to 1300, though there is evidence they left before the start of the 15th century. They were mainly subsistence farmers, growing crops on nearby mesas. Their primary crop was corn, the major part of their diet. Men were also hunters, which further increased their food supply. The women of the Anasazi are famous for their elegant basket weaving. Anasazi pottery is as famous as their baskets; their artifacts are highly prized. The Anasazi kept no written records."

RESERVATION INFORMATION (#54749) - BARRY COLVIN Barry Colvin, Yenna H Colvin 2606 S Hannon Hill Drive Tallahassee, FL 32309, United States barrycolvin64@gmail.com 8502646262 Estimated Arrival - 3:00 PM 01) Pull-thru - 30 AMP $80.00 Wed, Jun 2, 2021 — 3 Adults — $40.00 Thu, Jun 3, 2021 — 3 Adults — $40.00 ➥ Depart: Fri, Jun 4, 2021 Sub Total: Tax Total: Total: $80.00 $9.86 $89.86

We highly recommend spending between half an hour to an hour more, and get to the arches park thru road 128 (from road 70, take exit 204 to Cisco), instead of the highway. It takes more time but the scenery is breathtaking. A ranger in colorado national monument recommended us and it was a great tip. I recommend the scenic drive, stopping at every viewpoint, hiking the shorter trails to things like the balancing rock (0.3 miles but worth every second), the windows/turret arch (0.3 miles but probably the best short hike), and the skyline arch (0.4 miles but also simply stunning). There used to be an enormous boulder in this arch but it collapsed in 1976 and you can see the rockfall if you hike this flat and easy trail. Sand Dune Arch is supposed to be the easiest at 0.3 miles and is great for kids but we skipped that one.

2nd night and check out 6/4

Established in 1989, Twin Rocks Trading Post is located beneath the Navajo Twins geologic formation in the historic pioneer town of Bluff, Utah. Native sons, Barry and Steve Simpson, share their passion for cultural tradition and artistic innovation with local artists and visiting collectors alike. Their dedication to excellence has resulted in a Navajo basketry renaissance; one of the finest contemporary Native American turquoise jewelry collections; and the Twin Rocks Modern Navajo rug, the first Navajo weaving design innovation in decades.

Go to the Restaurant on the right, the trading post on the left is an actual valuables store, bring real-time money if you plan to trade!! The Food is good though