We stayed at this campground, in Colorado but close to the New Mexico border, for one night in our…read moresmall Class B camper van in late April, 2024. We actually had reservations further along at a national park but decided to shorten our driving distances for the day. We were able to make our reservation online. This is a very nice campground, with sites nicely spaced out and some nice amenities. We were in the Carpios Ridge campground which has 63 sites for RVs, trailers, and tents on a ridge 150' above the lake. We're actually pleased that our mapping app took us on an indirect route to the campground as our site did not have a water-view and we might have missed the lake otherwise! My understanding is that this is an Army Corps of Engineers (COE) campground that is managed by the state of Colorado. In April, 2024, the seven sites with full hookups were $41, with only 50 amp electricity: $36, and basic: $28. You also need to purchase a state of Colorado daily vehicle pass for $10. (This is expensive as we've stayed at other COE campgrounds for 1/2 off as holders of the NPS interagency senior pass, and without the need for a vehicle pass. $46 with state of Colorado management vs $18 were it COE management -- plus we had already paid for a site at Zapata Falls Campground that we wouldn't be using. The campground has clean restrooms and free showers (for campers only), as well as laundry facilities (in theory) and a book exchange. There are shared water spigots, as well as walking trails in the vicinity. There is also a shared dump station. The Visitors Center was already closed when we arrived and wasn't open yet when we left the following morning but we were able to buy our vehicle pass at a kiosk. We saw rangers patrolling the area. Only two concerns are worth noting. First, as already mentioned, the discrepancy between pricing of state and COE campgrounds. Also, the washing machine ate my $2 without the machine starting. More than the irritation of losing the $2, we really needed to do laundry after having been on the road for few week.

We stayed one night on our way into Durango. And one night on our way out. We didn't actually spend…read moremuch time there, but I was BLOWN away by the cleanliness of the bath house. Plenty of stalls, free showers, and room to get dressed/ready if you need to with outlets. Washing machines, vending machines, and a water fountain. I was blown away. Would love to stay again.

Volcano Erupted 60,000yrs ago. We are holding the the…read moremolten Lava Rock. It's everywhere. You can go all the way up but we are not doing that. This place is beautiful and can hike all the way up. We were just driving by and coulnd't do it today but we will I swear! Worth the stop to see tjis historical site

Our visit to Capulin Volcano National Monument was absolutely fantastic--an unexpected gem on our…read moreroad trip! This place is not only rich in natural beauty and history, but also super family-friendly. We were especially thrilled to get in for free thanks to the Every Kid Outdoors program--our daughter is in 4th grade, and the monument participates in the initiative, which made the experience even better. Driving up the volcano was both scenic and a little thrilling with winding roads and sweeping views. Once at the top, the views from the rim were absolutely breathtaking. You can see miles across the surrounding landscape--plains, mesas, and distant mountains--all from the rim of an ancient volcano. It made for some truly stunning photos, especially with the big New Mexico skies as a backdrop. We took the short walk into the crater and around part of the rim trail. The trails are well maintained, and there are plenty of signs to help explain the geology and history. It's a great mix of education and outdoor adventure, especially for kids. There were also picnic areas and clean restrooms, which made the stop convenient as well as memorable. This was a perfect family outing and one of the best photo ops of our trip. Highly recommend stopping if you're anywhere nearby--beautiful, unique, and surprisingly fun for all ages!

This park is home to a KT boundary exposure. It's labeled as, the iridium layer. The park itself is…read moredisappointingly derelict in unmaintained.

An excellent hike for novices, families, and even more advanced hikers…read more This is a two trail system with multiple entry points, easy to find and well-marked trails, lots of parking, and wonderful views that you hardly notice you are climbing a mountain to see. There is an East Loop and West Loop Trail, both are under 2 miles so they could be combined for a longer hike. The trail is narrow and definitely only for single file hiking , but it is incredibly well maintained and so delightfully curated it almost seems like it is intentionally landscaped. Someone has taken a lot of trouble to line the trail with the many perfectly sized pieces of sandstone in the area and a variety of cactus scrub Oak and Pines lead the way winding up the side of a mountain to lovely views of Raton and the surrounding Countryside. All in all a very nice hike right in the middle of town!

A wonderful and welcome place to stop since the nearby City of Walsenburg issued a disaster…read moredeclaration and homes and businesses were without water. Glad the state park was open.

Fantastic state park! Two lakes, swim beach, camping and picnic facilities. We've seen bears and…read moredeer. Caught catfish, muskie, rainbows and browns.

Wholeheartedly a fan. This beautiful pullover atop Cuchara Pass is a must see and stop in this part…read moreof the state. On the southern end of the Sangre de Christos, the area is barely traveled to by the masses leaving a lot to discover.

Near the Spanish Peaks and Cordova/Cuchara Pass is this breathtaking overlook…read more A great place to watch for wildlife. I could sit here all day and take in the beautiful views and sounds.

Great leadership and care for the community! What a pleasure…read moreto live in such a well managed community.

We purchased 5 acres sight unseen would not recommend to most people. We did our research first…read more Forbes Park (Named for owner Malcolm Forbes) is about 13,000 acres and has about 5,000 acres of meadows, forests, streams, beaver ponds and lakes in protected common lands donated by Mr Forbes. Views of the San Isabel mountain are spectacular. The dream is someday to build on our lot as a summer getaway from the Phoenix heat. We just picnicked on out lot and a deer ran though on a game trail......not something you see every day. Tons of retired people.....that had big careers in a past life....... so tons of politics and infighting over mundane details, we have learned now toss all publications and enjoy are land. Younger generations are breathing fresh life into the area and new homes. We love our little slice of heaven.

An Afternoon Well Spent !!…read more It has been many years since I've been to the Raton area and typically whenever I was in the area it was just a quick to use the bathroom or get gas. On this visit, it was on a Friday afternoon and I had a few hours to kill and wanted to actually see some of the area. I remembered from years past that there were some lakes up in the mountains that I had always wanted to see and now was my chance. The Park is only about 20 miles from Raton and the roads were not that busy. The drive up is really nice as you see mountains, hills ranches, and some great scenery. On the way to Lake Maloya I stopped at one of the smaller lakes, Lake Alice and spent about half an hour checking it out. There really isn't access to that lake but you can tell its frequented by anglers. It is a nice small scenic lake. I then made my way up to Lake Maloya which is a reservoir for the area and right on the Colorado border. The lake is magnificent!! On a nice warm summer day, there was a nice breeze and no bugs. There were boaters on the lake, some people canoeing and some campers but it was not that busy at all. I spent a good two hours stopping and driving farther up the lake until I came to the gate that takes you to Dorothy Lake ( for another time). The views are just amazing, I suggest bringing a canoe or kayak and spending a good day there. I'm not sure if there is swimming since I didn't see anyone swimming in the water. Next up was Sugarite Canyon, and when you stop at the main entrance they use the honour system where you pay, so please pay!!! I made my way to the visitors center and got a map of the trails. The canyon is a great place to hike and I saw no one else on the trail and felt like I had the place to myself. I can't describe how nice it was walking through the canyon, and all there is to see. I highly recommend hiking with a buddy since it is in a remote area and I saw a few different animal tracks as I made my way through the trails. In short, this area is worth a visit, you can spend a few hours there or a few days, its truly part of the magnificence that is New Mexico.

Google know all about this place but not yelp? We are fixing…read morethat right now. As the parks service says "The nature enthusiast will appreciate the abundance of wildlife, birds, butterflies, and wildflowers among the lakes, creeks, forests, and meadows. Nearly all outdoor recreation activities are possible: Fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and camping." All true. This is a huge park. Full of lakes, trails & wildlife. We took a 6 mile loop trail starting at the dam yesterday and saw NO ONE else. Lots of scat indicate there lots of moose and bear around, so be aware. There are numerous other trails as well add the aforementioned activities. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Unless you're traversing the Continental Divide Trail, this is the ultimate in New Mexico popular…read morehiking. The 16 mile roundtrip takes you in a looping ascent from Taos Ski Valley to the summit and back. Having spent plenty of time on 14ers, I've crossed paths with my share of marmots. This tip top rock had more than I've ever seen, perhaps 50 along the way. Of course, the views are majestic. While not a 14er, New Mexico does not offer any, at 13,167' it is still an exquisite outing. This state high point is a must for anyone on the 50 state quest. If you're looking for your share of 14ers, dear western traveler, you need not worry. Colorado boasts 58 of the nation's soaring peaks and is just a short trip away. Call it 53 14ers, if you're an alpine purist.

I spent a summer in the New Mexico high country years ago, and while I did my fair share of hiking…read morethat summer, I never took on Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at just over 13,100 feet. I always figured I'd return to the area at some point, and maybe do the hike. Well, "some point" finally arrived, and I decided that I was going to make a serious effort at hiking this rather daunting-looking rocky, steep mountain. I gave myself permission to fail - while over the years I've probably spent far more time at altitude than 99.9% of South Floridians, the fact remains that I have spent most of my life at oxygen-rich sea level. I didn't practice for this. My existing fitness would either allow me to make it, or fail me. There are two main ways to get up the mountain, a longer, less steep 8 mile trail, and a shorter but steeper trail at just over 4 miles, known as the Williams Lake trail. I chose Williams Lake. The trailhead starts near the famous Bavarian restaurant within the Taos ski area. You basically take the road to the ski area, drive past it and find a dirt road. 2 miles up this dirt road and you'll find the trailhead parking lot. You can't miss it. I started my hike around 7:45AM. It is highly recommended to start early, as the weather above tree line is unpredictable and can change on a dime. You do NOT want to be stuck up there as an afternoon thunderstorm builds up in a matter of minutes. It is an exposed high alpine summit, subject to all the same potential extreme weather conditions of most high exposed summits. To me this hike can be broken down into 3 sections: 1) base at the Bavarian restaurant through the woods up to Williams Lake, about 2 miles, 2) Williams Lake up through ever sparser trees to tree line, about three-quarters of a mile, and 3) tree line to summit, traversing several rocky scree/talus slopes on the way, about a mile and a half. The first section up to Williams Lake is a nice hike in itself, and a popular day hike for families. It is a steady climb and not easy, and will be a challenge to inexperienced hikers, but most should be able to make it if they persevere. The payoff is a pretty high alpine lake situated in a picturesque bowl at about 11,000 feet with higher peaks on all sides. From there, part 2 gets you through sparse trees up to tree line. While not much more difficult than the first part, it was here when it became pretty apparent that every step was taking me to less oxygen. I was still strong at this point, but when you emerge in the meadows above tree line, you can see the peak and it looks way up there. In practical terms, from here you still have to climb a little higher than the Empire State Building, over the course of a mile and a half. At altitude. Above tree line. This is where it gets steeper, and rockier, as you traverse some loose talus slopes. It starts out fairly mild but ramps up fast. At this point, every step was difficult....I felt like Frodo taking the Ring to Mount Doom. It would have been very easy to quit. Some people did. It can be done though. One step at a time, keep drinking your water and you'll eventually make it. Keep an eye out for some fat marmots and bighorn sheep! Eventually you come to a staggeringly high saddle/ridgeline. From here, make a right and continue up the steep rocky slope....the payoff is only a few minutes away. Such amazing views, Wheeler Peak feels like the top of the world. What a feeling, to have walked and earned this view on the strength of your two legs. Now, after the adrenaline rush of reaching the summit, you have to descend. Pay attention. Cardio isn't a problem going down, but everything else is. Thighs burn like crazy. Lots of loose rock to slip on and hurt yourself. This was the most stunning hike I've ever done. If you think you can deal with a tough high altitude hike, I highly recommend it.

Lake Como trail was a lot of fun. The hike to Lake Como isn't easy so pack light. I would also…read morerecommend starting early in the morning because there isn't a lot of shade along the trail to protect you from the sun. Don't forget your bug spray (I've never seen so many mosquitoes in my life). Be careful on Blanca and Ellingwood because it's easy to lose the trail.

Things you MUST know about the most common Mount Blanca trail:…read more 1. Hardest Off Road trail in the country. 2. Overnight camp at beautiful Como Lake. There are 2 campsites one will cross before getting to Como Lake if your in a sticky situation. 3. Takes about 5-7 hours to get to Como Lake. There may be a large stream or two interrupting the trail at some parts that one must navigate (over 100 yeards after rainfall) 4. 3 hours to summit blanca after leaving Como Lake. 5. Will pass 3 lakes in all reaching peak. One with a large 50 foot waterfall. 6. Not many people climb this fourteener compared to others because of its location. 7. Ellingwood and Little Bear are accessible from this peak. 8. This is a Moderately Difficult Fourteener. 9. Como Lake and Summit offer spectacular views.