Cayton Campground San Juan National Forest, Mesa Verde National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park

Cayton Campground and Mesa Verde National Park

After four great days at Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, we headed almost due South on US 550 and CO 145 to our one night stay at Cayton Campground near Rico. This was picked only on its' location and that it had electric. WOW! This was a GREAT Campground. Set at 9000' in the Colorado Mountains. Great forests, Jeep trails, the Delores River right next to the 20 camp sites and well maintained. You can reserve this area through Recreation.gov.

Cooper enjoying some outdoor time at Cayton Campground

We set up early and only got a few minutes outside before the severe weather that was predicted became a fact. Thunder, lightning, pea sized hail and heavy rains. We spent the night watching "A River Runs Through It" on DVD. Appropriate, considering the territory we have been in for the last few weeks!

our site #18 at Cayton Campground - absolutely beautiful setting

The next morning was sunny with blue bird skies. Before we departed for our next campground at Mesa Verde National Park, we took advantage of the short Jeep road just up the road from Cayton campground. The trail took us around Trout Lake and was one of the most scenic drives we have taken.  At the far end of the loop is a century old wooden railroad trestle bridge - beautiful! We were sorry we hadn't planned on staying at this beautiful site for several more days. It is on our wish list to visit again! Sites 15, 16 and 17 maybe the best with the Delores River at the back edge of the sites.

century old wooden trestle behind Trout Lake

wooden water tank from the steam locomotive era

behind Trout Lake, Colorado

Then, it was 150 miles down through the valley along the Delores River, into the Four Corners area of Colorado and the town of Cortez. Destination - Mesa Verde National Park and the famous Pueblo Cliff dwellings! We checked in, stopped at the Visitor Center to get our Ranger led tour tickets, drove the four miles up a mesa to the Morefield Campground and site 173 for our 4 night stay. We laid low for the remainder of the day and good thing as a severe thunder storm hammered us for the next 4-5 hours.  It was so bad we experienced a slight leak at our dinette slide out and we pulled it in during the storm, emptied the cabinet and dried it out. Note to self - listen to the manual which states - pull slides in during severe weather!

Cindy at Cliff Palace - the easiest of the cliff dwellings to tour at Mesa Verde NP

The next morning, with tickets in hand, we departed Cooper and CJ for our 5 hour experience at both Cliff Palace and Balcony House. They are just two of the 600 cliff dwellings in MVNP built over 1000 years ago by the ancient Pueblo peoples. You must drive over 20 miles farther into the Park and there meet your Ranger of your appropriate tour. They are fabulous and I must say, a bit demanding physically. You are  7-8000 ft above sea level, July sun and climbing 15ft ladders (plural), steps carved out of rock and in the case of Balcony House, a 32 ft ladder must be climbed to get to the first part of the dwelling. This is out in the canyon and later, to exit Balcony House, you crawl through a 18" square tunnel 12 ft long, then up one 15 ' ladder out on the cliff face, then up 15' of steps carved (not big nor deep) in the cliff face and a second 15' ladder . Best not to look around while doing these - just make sure of your grasp and foothold! But...… well worth it!! Absolutely tremendous.

emerging from 18" sq 12' long tunnel 

look closely for the 32' tall ladder you must climb as part of Balcony House tour

rooms are multi story and about 6 x 8' - original masonry!!

Cliff Palace and Balcony House can only be seen by buying tickets at the Visitor Center, These tours are Ranger led and take about 1 hr each. Balcony House is not for the faint of heart as you climb along the cliff face!!!

Back at our RV, Cooper and CJ greeted us as always and got a nice long walk around the campground before the afternoon storms hit. We were able to get down to the visitor center and snag some post cards and my hiking stick badge. That night, we took advantage of the Laundromat and got all of our clothes and sheets washed. It may be until we get home before we see anther laundry!! Mesa Verde NP is really interesting and worth a two day stay to see the dwellings. There is a lodge in the Park as well as the Morefield Campground where we stayed. Drink plenty of water!

Then it was once again time to pick up stakes and move down the road. This time only about 200 miles along US160 to Great Sand Dunes National Park. This was a planned stop after I had read an article in an RVer's magazine. It sounded like a place to check out if you were in the area. We were going to be driving within 20 miles of Great Sand Dunes, so we made reservation. The campground is very small and our rig just fit in the space! but sitting on the hillside across from the dunes, we had a nice view. The dunes ate 15 miles wide, 5 miles deep and 750' tall!!!  They are the largest/tallest in North America. This park is worth a stop over for a day if you pass through the area. There is a 4 x 4 trail that takes you 2 miles up through the mountains if you are so inclined.

they say figure on 5 hours to walk out to top of dune and back!!!! Look closely and you can see the people out on the dunes. 

Zebulon Pike discovered the dunes on his expedition in 1807

All of the National Parks have something beautiful and interesting to discover. Here at Great Sand Dunes NP you can rent boards to "surf"  the dunes!


We are headed out again and will check in when we can.

until then - take care


Cooper and CJ