Southwest Road Trip 2023 Archives

An Amazing, Dog-friendly, Colorado Springs RV Stay

by ChiliandCedar | May 25, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

There is so much to see and do in Colorado Springs! Nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak in the southern Rockies, Colorado Springs is surrounded by beauty. Hiking trails abound this area. Adventurous hikers can summit the 14,000+ feet Pikes Peak. Others can drive, bike or take the tram to the top. The dog-friendly Gardens of the Gods is a scenic day hike. Colorado Springs is definitely for the outdoor enthusiasts and so many activities are dog friendly – woof!

Key Takeaways:

The snow-capped Pikes Peak provides a stunning backdrop for the Colorado Springs Area
Garden of the Gods offers paved, dog-friendly pathways through a garden of dramatic red rock formations
The U.S. Air Force Academy is open to public, self-guided tours
There are numerous, scenic hiking trails throughout the area
Manitou Springs is a fun, historic city between Pikes Peak and Gardens of the Gods
Garden of the Gods RV Resort is centrally located to major attractions

Campground Review:

Garden of the Gods RV Resort features some premium, pull-through transient sites with full hookups. The resort is close to Manitou Springs and offers views of Pikes Peak. There was a fair amount of maintenance during our stay, which was early in the season. The pools are open seasonally. The dog park was large enough, but mostly dirt. The location was great and we found the park fine for a short stay.

What to do:

Visit Pikes Peak; take Pikes Peak Highway through 19 miles of breathtaking scenery to the summit or take Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Take the dogs hiking in Garden of the Gods; start at the Visitor’s Center for information and maps
Visit the U.S. Air Force Academy; start at the Visitor’s Center for information on a self-guided tour
Explore the charming, historic town of Manitou Springs; enjoy excellent dinner at the Cliff House or fondue at the Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant
Check out the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a preserve of ancient Puebloan ruins; the gift shop is excellent
Take the dogs to Pub Dog, a dog park, restaurant & bar; let the dogs play while enjoying beers and good food – woof!
Hike the Manitou Incline – 2,768 steps, a challenging hike with over 2,000 elevation gain in less than a mile – yikes!; reservations required
Visit the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant, Colorado, 35 miles west of Colorado Springs; dogs are not allowed on trails
Take the dogs to one of the 8 off-leash dog parks in Colorado Springs; we ran out of time and descent weather but heard Colorado Springs has some awesome dog parks

Balanced Rock – Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Pub Dog

Pub Dog Fun

Hiking Colorado Springs

Florissant Fossil National Monument

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

So the Garden of the Gods RV Park was just okay. The dog park was mostly dirt and we only went there once. We enjoyed our walks around the park but we could have used some trails accessible from the RV Park.

Campground Rating: 4.2 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

We love Colorado Springs! We hiked the Garden of the Gods Gateway and Central Gardens Trails. We also visited the Pub Dog Bar and Dog Park – nice artificial turf with plenty of room to chase balls and other dogs – woof!

Area Rating: 5 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Next Stop: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado

Great Sand Dunes National Park

by ChiliandCedar | May 19, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

Who knew there was a Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado? With the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the great sand dunes are North America’s tallest dunes. We crossed the Medano Creek to access the dog-friendly dune field. Our RV stay in nearby Alamosa provided a great location to visit this unique national park.

Key Takeaways:

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a unique national park experience near Alamosa, Colorado, in the San Luis Valley
Dogs are allowed on the sand dunes in the NP and in the Medano Creek
Cool Sunshine RV Park in Alamosa is a nice RV stay to enjoy local attractions

Campground Review:

Cool Sunshine RV Park is a nice RV stay in Alamosa, Colorado. Our site was level and spacious with full hook-ups. The park had limited areas to walk the dogs and the dog park was quite small. The campground facilities are well maintained and very clean. It was quite cold and rainy during our visit so we didn’t spend much time outside.

What to do:

Great Sand Dunes National Park:
- Stop at the visitor’s center for maps and information
- Driving through the park does not provide access to the dunes and many roads are limited to four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles
- Several hiking trails provide overlooks for the dunes
- Wind can be an issue when visiting the sand dunes; check the forecast; consider goggles for the dogs if very windy
- Crowds can be an issue during warm weather months; go early for parking
- Dunes and the creek are dog-friendly
- Bring water shoes or be prepared to take off your shoes to cross Medano Creek (depth of the creek varies throughout the year – it was very shallow during our visit) to access the dunes
- Surfing and sledding on the dunes is a thing; rent or buy sand surfing equipment in nearby towns
- Avoid the heat of the day; especially with dogs — the sand can get extremely hot on paws and feet
Check out San Luis Valley Brewing in Alamosa for great brews and bites
Hike the Zapata Falls Trail to the 25-foot Zapata waterfalls tucked into a cave

Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes – Medano Creek

Great Sand Dunes

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

The Cool Sunshine RV Park is okay for a short stay. We enjoyed our short walks around the park but did not go to the dog park — it was made for small dogs. The area around the park did not have walking trails for dogs.

Campground Rating: 4 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

We really liked our visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, especially our trek across Medano Creek to get to the sand dunes. We walked up the dunes but the winds came and we had to go home – well, that’s just the way it goes. We appreciated the park letting us on the dunes and in the creek – woof!

Area Rating: 4.4 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Next Stop: Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

by ChiliandCedar | May 17, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park features near-vertical walls carved by the Gunnison River. Located in western Colorado near Montrose, the black rock canyon offers spectacular views hiking trails, rock climbing, kayaking and rafting. The canyon can be viewed from numerous overlooks on the South and North Rim Roads with dog-friendly trails. Riverbend RV Park in Montrose is a great RV stay to see the Black Canyon and local attractions.

Key Takeaways:

The Black Canyon National Park can be viewed via several overlooks on the North and South Rim Trails
Riverbend RV Park is an excellent RV stay in Montrose
Montrose is a very dog-friendly town with a great off-leash dog park and dog-friendly restaurants and breweries

Campground Review:

Riverbend RV Resort is an excellent RV stay in Montrose, Colorado. The resort is well-maintained with full hookups, and spacious, level sites. The dogs enjoyed the enclosed off-leash dog park and nearby trails around Chipeta Lake. The resort is located near restaurants and shops in Montrose and the nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

What to do:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Stop at the South Rim Visitor Center for maps and information
- Drive the South Rim Road and stop at numerous overlooks; most trails at the overlooks are dog friendly
- Drive the North Rim Road and stop at overlooks; hike the Chasm View Nature Trail for views of the Painted Wall
Visit the dog-friendly Horsefly Brewing Company in downtown Montrose for good brews and food
Take the dogs to the Montrose Dog Park, a 4.25-acre, wooded, off-leash park – woof!

Black Canyon National Park

Montrose Dog Park

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

We liked the Riverbend RV Park in Montrose! There was plenty of room at our site and we enjoyed the off-leash dog park and walks around Chipeta Lake.

Campground Rating: 4.8 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Yay for Montrose! We loved going to the Montrose Dog Park and the Horsefly Brewery. We took a ride through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and hiked on several trails at the overlooks.

Area Rating: 4.9 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Next Stop: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Alamosa, Colorado

Exploring Colorado Wine Country in Scenic Palisade

by ChiliandCedar | May 11, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

Palisade on Colorado’s western slope is a scenic small town with over 30 wineries and vineyards. Located 30 minutes from Palisade and just outside Grand Junction, the Colorado National Monument is a great day trip to experience panoramic canyons and stunning views. The Palisade Basecamp RV Resort is a great RV stay in Palisade, close to wineries and local attractions.

Key Takeaways:

Colorado has an excellent wine region near Palisade with over 30 wineries and vineyards and numerous orchards
The Colorado National Monument is a great day trip, just 30 minutes from Palisade
Many wineries in the area are dog friendly
The Palisade Fruit & Wine Byway is a great way to experience the area via auto or bike
The RV Basecamp RV Resort is an excellent RV stay in Palisade

Campground Review:

Palisade Basecamp RV Resort is the perfect dog-friendly RV stay in Palisade. The resort is located along the Colorado River and close to wineries, downtown and local attractions. The park features full hookups, a heated pool (May-Oct) and great scenery. The dogs enjoyed their walk on the river trail and the off-leash dog park. The park also offers river access but the river was flowing quite fast during our stay, so no swimming for the girls.

What to do:

Visit several dog-friendly wineries in the area; we enjoyed the Colterris Winery (next to Palisade Basecamp RV Resort), Savage Spectrum, Bookcliff Vineyards, Maison La Belle Vie and Vines 79 Wine Barn
Take a day and explore the Colorado National Monument; drive the scenic 23-mile Rim Rock Drive and stop at the overlooks for spectacular canyon views and trailheads (Pets are not allowed on trails)
Try some local brews and food at the dog-friendly Palisade Brewing Company in downtown Palisade

Colorado National Monument

Colterris Winery

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

We enjoyed our stay at Palisade Basecamp RV Park! The park had a nice trail along the high riverbank and an off-leash dog park. We had grass near our RV and lots of space for napping and walking – woof!

Campground Rating: 4.8 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Palisade had lots of dog-friendly wineries and breweries – woof! We also enjoyed our drive along the Rim Rock Drive in the Colorado National Monument – but we couldn’t go on any trails.

Area Rating: 4.8 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Next Stop: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose, Colorado

Amazing Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

by ChiliandCedar | May 7, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

Moab Utah, is surrounded by the beauty of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. This recreational area is known for 4-wheel drive trails and backcountry adventures. Arches features several hiking trails to spectacular stone arches and Canyonlands consists of massive canyons crarved by the Colorado and Green Rivers.

Key Takeaways:

Moab, Utah, is located near Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park
Arches National Park requires a timed entry from March to October between 7 AM. and 4 PM; arches can be seen from overlooks and trails throughout the park
Canyonlands National Park is a huge park consisting of four districts carved by the massive canyons carved by the Colorado and Green River; Island in the Sky is the closest district to Moab
Portal RV Resort in Moab is a full-service resort located close to area attractions

Campground Review:

Portal RV Resort is an excellent RV stay in Moab, Utah, just 5 minutes from Arches National Park. The park offers full-hookups, large sites, two pools and two dog parks. Premium sites with concrete pads are available for RVs meeting certain restrictions. The park was nicely landscaped with mature trees. Our dogs enjoyed long walks in the park and the two off-leash dog parks. We enjoyed the pools during the hot afternoons. The location in Moab was close to the restaurants and shops in Moab and near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

What to do:

Arches National Park:
- Start at the Visitor’s center for maps and information on arches and hikes
- Drive to the Windows Section; take the short hikes to the North and South Windows, Turret Arch and Double Arch
- Visit the Balanced Rock, just off the main road
- See the Delicate Arch from the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint or hike the half-mile walk to the Upper Viewpoint; the arch is best viewed via the three-mile strenuous trail
- Visit Devils Garden and hike to Landscape Arch; check out Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Pine Tree and Tunnel Arch along the way
- Hike to Sand Dune Arch & Broken Arch
- Visit the Park Avenue Viewpoint; hike the trail (with many stairs) between Park Avenue and Courthouse Towers
Canyonlands National Park:
- Visit the Island in the Sky District (closest to Moab) starting at the Visitor’s Center
- Take the scenic drive stopping at canyon overlooks
- Hike to the Mesa Arch for canyon views through an arch span
- Picnic At Upheaval Overlook
- Finish at Grand View Overlook
- Check out numerous trails throughout the park
- Drive the off-road trails throughout the park
Visit Dead Horse Point State Park for dramatic views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park
Check out the restaurants and shops in downtown Moab

Area Info for Pet Owners

Arches National Park does not allow dogs on hiking trails or at overlooks; dogs are allowed on established roads, parking areas and campgrounds; take the dogs along for scenic hikes
Canyonlands National Park does not allow dogs on hiking trails or overlooks; dogs are allowed on established front-country roads, campgrounds and picnic areas
Dead Horse Point State Park allows dogs on hiking trails and in the campground – woof!

Arches National Park

Pine Tree Arch – ANP

Broken Arch Trail – ANP

Landscape Arch – ANP

Park Ave – ANP

Canyonlands Mesa Arch

Dead Horse State Park

Canyonlands National Park

Windows Arch – ANP

Turret Arch – ANP

Broken Arch – ANP

Balanced Rock – ANP

Devils Garden Trail

Broken Arch – ANP

Canyonlands Trail

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

We liked our stay at Portal RV Resort! There were two dog parks and lots of space for long walks around the park. Chili didn’t like the beeps from all the construction equipment nearby – arf!

Campground Rating: 4.7 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

We enjoyed our drives through Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park – but neither park allowed dogs on any trails. We did enjoy our walk and picnic in Dead Horse Point State Park.

Area Rating: 4.2 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

Next Stop: Palisades, Colorado, Colorado National Monument

More Utah Beauty: Capitol Reef National Park

by ChiliandCedar | May 2, 2023 | Southwest Road Trip 2023

Capitol Reef National Park is another amazing park in southern Utah. With tons of hiking trails, historic orchards and fresh baked pie, Capitol Reef is a great place to explore the natural wonders of the Waterpocket Fold. We loved our RV site at Wonderland RV Park in Torrey. Not many hiking options for the dogs in the national park, but they loved their drive through the park. And Torrey is home to the best food truck hamburger, ever!

Key Takeaways:

Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey is another southern Utah beauty
A hiker’s dream with trails for all levels
Not a dog-friendly park with one dog-friendly trail
Wonderland RV Park is a great RV stay in Torrey
Capital Burger food truck in Torrey is exceptional!

Campground Review:

Wonderland RV Park is a hidden gem in Torrey, just 3 miles from Capitol Reef National Park. With mountain views and a natural setting, this dog-friendly park is a perfect stay to explore the area. Our back-in site featured full hookups and welcome shade. Horses, cows and a bison from the adjacent pasture were fun to watch. The dogs enjoyed the enclosed dog park and their walks around the park.

What to do:

Capitol Reef National Park
- Start at the Capitol Reef Visitor’s Center for maps and information on the park and any road closures
- Take the dogs on the 8-mile scenic drive through the park and stop at overlooks; hike the short trails at Goosenecks and Sunset Point (no dogs allowed on trails)
- Hike the moderate Hickman Bridge Trail for views of the natural bridge and canyons
- Hike the 2.2-mile Grand Wash trails through a deep canyon and narrows
- Visit the Fruita historic district; pick fruit from the orchards in season
- Get some amazing fresh-baked pie and ice cream at the Gifford Homestead – get there by noon or they may be out of pie; enjoy this treat at the picnic area
Visit the Capitol Burger food truck in Torrey for amazing burgers! Check their Facebook page for hours and locations

Capital Reef National Park

Capitol Reef Overlook

Goosenecks

Hickman Bridge Trail

Canyon Overlook

Sunset Point

Capitol Burger

Capitol Dome

Hickman Bridge Trail

Capitol Reef Overlook

Grand Wash Hike

Chili & Cedar’s Review:

Wonderland RV Park is our kind of park! We liked the dog park and enjoyed our daily walks around the campground. We really, really liked our grassy, shady site – woof!

Campground Rating: 4.8 PAWS out of 5 PAWS

We did not go on any hikes at Capitol Reef National Park but we did enjoy our drive through the park. Not many dog-friendly things to do around here – on to the next place!