Loveland , CO - The Devil's Backbone, Ft. Collins - Horsetooth Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park

We arrived in Loveland, Colorado on a beautiful sunny day and parked ourselves at the bottom of Big Thompson Canyon in Riverview RV Park. We were centrally located to visit friends in Boulder, Arvada, and Ft. Collins.

Our first adventure was a 4.4 mile hike on the Devils Backbone Nature Trail. The top of the ridge is a geologic feature resembling a dinosaur's spine.

We began our hike along a wide valley floor gradually climbing as we went.

In the valley there are miles of mountain biking trails that run from Loveland to Ft. Collins

Lynda leading the way up to the Devil's Backbone

We got to the top of the ridge where we found a window looking west toward Rocky Mountain National Park and more of the Backbone heading south.

There's a Sphinx at the top of the ridge.















At the end of the trail we found some Painted Ladies enjoying the sun.

It was a beautiful hike but needless to say we flatlanders were beat after our first exercise at almost 5000'.

Up next, Horseteeth?

Our friend Heather, a Jersey transplant to Ft. Collins, suggested a hike at Horsetooth Falls in the foothills west of Ft. Collins. It's listed as a moderate 3 mile hike but, again, it felt like Mt Everest to us.

Views from the trail were spectacular

The falls, however, ended up being a dud...uh, drip

At the top of the "falls" was a cool balancing rock

As we were hiking out we noticed an approaching weather change. I'm glad it wasn't moving faster 'cause we were moving really slow at that point.

This was a cool place with some long challenging hikes but our lungs just wouldn't keep up. I guess we have to keep working to get acclimated.

RMNP - Rocky Mountain National Park. The place where Lynda and I did our "self" wedding 9 years ago. We took a wander up Big Thompson Canyon into Estes Park where we went in search of our honeymoon spot. After we married ourselves in the park we went looking for a place to stay on a very busy weekend in Estes Park. After a number of  "sorry, no vacancies" we were directed to some fishing camps near the Sheep Meadow entrance to the park. Long story short, we landed at the Castle Mountain Lodge where the only room available was....the Honeymoon Suite!
It was fun reliving those moments, checking out the lodge and "our room".

"Our" room

The deck

After reminiscing a bit we headed up the road into RMNP. The weather was nice and the Aspens were starting to show off their colors.

Sheep Meadow with Trail Ridge Road winding its way up the side of the mountain.

As we got higher on the road the weather closed in and the temperature dropped dramatically.

We caught a brief glimpse of the top of Trail Ridge Road before it disappeared into the clouds and flurries. Yes, I said flurries!

Next stop....further west....someplace
Until then...

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

While we were still camping at Monument Valley, we took a day trip to Natural Bridges National Monument. Sometimes the journey is just as interesting as the destination. We had heard stories from other RVers about a section of road called the Mokie Dugway, so we had deliberately avoided traveling through there in our RV. However, our campground hosts convinced us that in our car it would be fine. They drove it all the time. So we decided to go for it. I'll just say, it's not for the faint of heart!

The Mokie Dugway is a 3-mile stretch of steep (10%), unpaved switchbacks, with not much between you and the edge! And, of course, there had to be a work crew on the road that day!

The switchbacks

View from the top

We made it, and I didn't even have to hide under the seat, but we decided that we'd find a different way back. Much scarier going down than up. There is no way I would attempt this in an RV--up or down!

Another interesting sight along the way were The Bear's Ears. We've been hearing a lot about this National Monument in the news lately because of the possibility of the protected area being reduced. I can tell you that the surrounding area is beautiful and it would be sad to see it be destroyed.

Natural Bridges was Utah's first National Monument. When we arrived at the park, we stopped at the Visitors Center to get maps of the trails to the bridges. There is a 7-mile loop road around the park with pull-offs at designated trailheads for the three bridges. We had time to hike to two of them.

A short, easy hike to Owachomo Bridge

The hike to Sipapu Bridge was a little more challenging. Here are a few photos along the trail.

A few ladders, too!

  

The trail is on the right along the wall.

Sipapu Bridge is the second largest natural bridge in the USA, second only to Rainbow Bridge in Glen Canyon.

We took the long way back to Monument Valley. (No Mokie Dugway this time!) We stopped for dinner in the tiny town of Mexican Hat, named for the formation in the hills just outside of town.

Mexican Hat in evening light

The restaurant we chose was called Swinging Steak. We found out why when we saw the chef/owner at his grill. Yes, it swings back and forth like a porch swing as he grills. It was a fun way to end a great day.

The swinging grill

The chef at work

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona

The majestic buttes in Monument Valley have appeared in TV shows and movies for years. The area was brought into the spotlight by Harry Goulding, who owned a ranch nearby. During the Depression, in hopes of stimulating the economy in the area he contacted his friend, film director John Ford, to scout the area for filming. The rest, as they say, is history.

I've always wanted to visit this iconic symbol of the West. It didn't disappoint. We stayed in Monument Valley Camp Park right across the Arizona border in Utah just a couple of miles outside the Tribal Park.

Our first goal was to find "The Mittens." They were hard to miss!

We stayed that first evening to watch the shadows change as the sun was setting.

Sunset on the Mittens

Early the next morning we drove out on the road leading up to Monument Valley to watch the sunrise. You can just hear "Run, Forrest, Run! 

Within the park you can drive a 17-mile unpaved loop road to soak in the beauty of the valley. Here are some of the buttes and vistas we saw.

The Totem Pole

The Three Sisters

Artists Point

Seriously?

This overlook is called John Ford Point, named for the movie director who filmed many movies at this location. The Navajo man in the photo lets people sit on his horse at the edge of this point and have their pictures taken. The person in the photo below has just had her picture taken. The Navajo man is coming back to get her. It is a narrow strip of land with steep drop offs on either side.  

The classic western scene

Monument Valley was wonderful, but it's time to move on. Next up, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah.