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Gene · 01-11-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eubank

Had to laugh when I saw this! No experience of this kind here at the park (primarily because we "encourage" them to go elsewhere), but folks in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico see this kind of thing all the time. Wish they'd just stay home!

Lynn

They're not just in southern Colorado. And some of them are homegrown. Yahoos are everywhere, though some states (and provinces too—would they be hosers?) seem to have a greater proportion of the population than others, such as up to 95%.

Gene

ROBERT CROSS · 01-11-2010, 10:24 AM

If I had two weeks to spend out West in early summer....I too would spend it in Colorado....RMNP is one of our favorites.

Hire Gene as your tour guide.

ps.. it can be fun to yahoo!

Stream Safe....have fun.

SteveH · 01-11-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

No, the yahoos in question tend to be belligerent drunk, atv swarming PITAs. A different form of yahoos altogether.

Rodney, That type of behavior isn't appreciated anywhere when camping, even in Texas.

Boondocker · 01-11-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

Rodney, That type of behavior isn't appreciated anywhere when camping, even in Texas.

Steve, you wont get any argument from me on that. For the record, I have no beef with Texans as a group (see original comment). In fact, I enjoy traveling in TX and have many friends from there. Having said that, southern Colorado does get a concentration of this type of individual from Texas in July and August.

Gene · 01-11-2010, 11:28 AM

Maybe the Texas yahoos are chased out of Texas by more sensible Texans and given a bus ticket to other states along with having their ATV's and trail bikes shipped.

But we digress.

Mouth', southern Colorado has many nice places and it's best to ignore the yahoos, not always easy to do. The first time I came to Colorado 34 years ago I spent about 10 days. We backpacked to Conundrum Hot Springs (11,000') near Aspen and then up to Triangle Pass (13,000'). Going into the wilderness with backpack and tent is the best way to really appreciate what Colorado used to be like. However, there are a lot more people living here now and a lot more visitors, so it's harder to be in the backcountry alone. Now Conundrum has forest rangers stationed there and lots of rules and people. But there will be even more people next year and in 10 years, so better to go now. I'm glad I got to be there before it was so well known and before my knees and back went bad. The view from the hot springs was wonderful and the wildflowers in the cirque above the springs amazing—for wildflowers you have to be there around July 4.

I didn't go to RMNP until I lived here about a dozen years. It's a pretty spectacular place, but as has been posted, very, very busy. On the west side of Trail Ridge Rd. is Grand Lake, a funky town and then you are in the central mountains and across the Continental Divide. What do you like to do—hike, backpack, sit in a lawn chair, sightsee through the windshield, see yahoos, go to museums, eat at fine restaurants, etc.?

Tour Guide rates start at $2,000/day plus all expenses (this is to make sure no one ever hires me).

Gene

clydecrashcu · 01-11-2010, 12:35 PM

There is a very nice Federal Park (Tuttle Cove Park) at Tuttle Creek Lake near Manhattan, Kansas. This park is around 5 years old I believe. It is right on the lake and usually has open spots to choose from, below the dam is a State Park also. Manhattan area has some very nice sites, Konza Prairie, KSU has a very nice art museum.

36 Highway through Kansas does have some city parks west of 81 highway. There is Keith Seibilus state lake with a nice campground. If a person finds the town out in western kansas on highway 36 you can find the city parks, etc. Once a person gets to St. Francis, Kansas the road splits and goes north or almost straight west. If you go west, make sure you keep your gas tank filled. The northern route will take you towards Greeley, Co., check the maps, etc.

A very nice Federal Park in Colorado up Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins, it is about half way up the canyon on the left across the river, very clean with electrical hook-up. The canyon is a gently incline which makes towing easy. Make your reservations early at all Colorado Parks.

I know some people would rather skip the Kansas crossing, but like most states they have their own beauty. As has been said beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Lumatic · 01-11-2010, 02:20 PM

There is a rally at Moraine View Campground at RMNP in June and another thread about the rally on the forums now.

Ag&Au · 01-11-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumatic

There is a rally at Moraine View Campground at RMNP in June and another thread about the rally on the forums now.

Are you sure that's not Moraine View State Park in Illinois?
Regards,
Ken

Lumatic · 01-11-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w7ts

Are you sure that's not Moraine View State Park in Illinois?
Regards,
Ken

Actually, no. I didn't think there would be more than one. But rally or not I still recommend Morraine View in RMNP.

scotttho · 01-11-2010, 05:46 PM

Once you figure out what cities / towns you will want to stay near, check out this site RV Park Reviews :: Home which contains reviews of thousands of campgrounds written by average RVers who have stayed there. I have found this to be extremely useful and have contributed a few reviews myself in order to share the wealth.

As with most collaborative internet experiences, it's opinions, but overall, I have found the reviews to be quite representative of what I actually experienced at the campgrounds I had visited.

mouth012006 · 01-11-2010, 08:21 PM

Thanks everyone for all the great info....we do plan a stop off in Kansas...and will check out the parks recommended....

Gene we are into some hiking...riding around and seeing the views...always looking for a good place to eat too....love finding local places to eat off the beaten path!

overlander64 · 01-12-2010, 06:46 AM

Greetings Gene!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

You mean something has changed since the late '70's? How dare they!

I'll have to look into that next time we go east.

Gene

I, too, was surprised the first time that I encoundered the newly improved US 36. I was caught in a traffic jam on I-70 near Kansas City, and detoured North to US 36 -- the transformation was just getting well underway (this was 1985 or 1986). Today, it is a pleasant journey from Central Illinois all of the way to Estes Park, CO.

Kevin

Gene · 01-12-2010, 07:56 AM

We also have found the RV Park Review site to be useful. I also use Trip Advisor for restaurant reviews as well as the AAA Tour Books.

Although I've never done this in RMNP, there is a lot of wilderness for hiking there. And if you're interesting in hiking to the top of a 14teener, Long's Peak is very popular. South from Estes Park is the Peak to Peak Hwy (I think Colo 7 and then 119, but you'd better check that). It goes through Rollinsville, Nederland and Black Hawk. Black Hawk is an old mining town that has been taken over by gambling. Up the gulch west is Central City, not quite as screwed up by gambling development, and if you explore the backroads around there, you'll see a lot of abandoned mines from Colorado's first gold rush.

West of Rollinsville you can drive to the Moffat Tunnel, a railroad tunnel under the Divide. There's a road to Rollins Pass over the Divide, but it was closed years ago and I don't know if it's been opened again. Still the drive part way is still through amazing scenery. Do not take a trailer on these back roads.

East of Nederland, down the canyon, is Boulder. Some good restaurants there, though it's been a long time since we explored the area. We did go to a pre-wedding dinner at the Bolderado Hotel and the food was pretty good about 1 1/2 years ago. Parking in central Boulder is difficult and another place not to take a trailer.

Just some places that pop into my mind before breakfast.

Gene

Pacerized · 01-12-2010, 08:02 AM

I'm not sure if you want to move around for the time you're in Colorado, or if you want to stay the entire time in RMNP but you could do a really nice loop of the state in 2 weeks. When exactly do you plan on going? I asked because a lot camping options may not be open to you in early June that probably would be in July. On the other hand, as Gene mentioned RMNP will be very crowded in July vs. early June. School starts here in late August, so the few weeks following that are a great time to see everything while the temperatures are a littler higher, and the crowds a little lower.

Charlie

mouth012006 · 01-12-2010, 04:30 PM

Well we are traveling in early June because our schools go back into session usually in early August so as soon as my kids are out of school and I finish taking finals we will be heading out on the road. We are thinking of maybe even doing about 2 1/2 weeks and staying a couple days in RMNP then heading up to Yellowstone, going to Mt Rushmore then circle our way back home. So we figure we would be on the road between 2 to 3 weeks. This will be a once in a lifetime trip for us so we will try to make the most of what we will be able to do.

polarlyse · 01-17-2010, 01:59 PM

A few years back I took the Rt. 36 route from E. Kansas all the way through to RMNP. No trailer but wouldn't hesitate to take mine that route. Good road, light traffic and much nicer scenery than Rt. 70. If you go that route plan a short stop right outside the town ( crossroad really) of Lebanon, Ks. Just outside the town, follow the signs, is a small park with a monument making the geographic center of the continental US. Gives you rights to useless trivia. But we travelers need excuses to make roadside stops anyway.

Take it, enjoy, you won't be sorry.

Roger in NJ

ROBERT CROSS · 01-18-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouth012006

Well we are traveling in early June because our schools go back into session usually in early August so as soon as my kids are out of school and I finish taking finals we will be heading out on the road. We are thinking of maybe even doing about 2 1/2 weeks and staying a couple days in RMNP then heading up to Yellowstone, going to Mt Rushmore then circle our way back home. So we figure we would be on the road between 2 to 3 weeks. This will be a once in a lifetime trip for us so we will try to make the most of what we will be able to do.

You will LOVE that trip....exactly what we did several years ago!!!

Stream Safe.

overlander64 · 01-18-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarlyse

A few years back I took the Rt. 36 route from E. Kansas all the way through to RMNP. No trailer but wouldn't hesitate to take mine that route. Good road, light traffic and much nicer scenery than Rt. 70. If you go that route plan a short stop right outside the town ( crossroad really) of Lebanon, Ks. Just outside the town, follow the signs, is a small park with a monument making the geographic center of the continental US. Gives you rights to useless trivia. But we travelers need excuses to make roadside stops anyway.

Take it, enjoy, you won't be sorry.

Roger in NJ

The following are a few photos that I took while caravanning to RMNP with Scott and Lise Scheuermann a few years ago. They are of the small park with the monument marking the Geographic Center of the US:

Kevin

Just to show how quickly time flies, these photos date to 2005, yet it seems like the journey took place yesterday!