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Category: Campground Review

New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle and Eagle Nest Lake State Park

New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle and Eagle Nest Lake State Park

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We’ve grown accustomed to rapidly changing weather conditions since New Mexico’s monsoon season started. Strong winds, heavy rains, and noisy hail have become nearly everyday occurrences. We were not, however, expecting to see a tornado blow through a state park at 8,200 feet elevation next to the sleepy little town of Eagle Nest surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. On Thursday, August 9th, the day after we arrived at Eagle Nest Lake State Park, the now typical afternoon storm…

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Coyote Creek State Park, Guadalupita NM

Coyote Creek State Park, Guadalupita NM

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Thin pines cover the surrounding mountains, stretching upward in an effort to greet the sun. A gentle morning breeze carries the subtle scent of wild mint mingled with pungent undertones of decomposing vegetation from somewhere deeper in the wilderness. Water burbles over fallen tree limbs and around exposed rocks, as buzzing insects skim the stream’s surface leaving expanding ripples with every touch. Hungry fish gulp after the flying creatures, temporarily leaving the comfort and safety of their underwater abode to…

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Storrie Lake State Park and the Storied Town of Las Vegas, New Mexico

Storrie Lake State Park and the Storied Town of Las Vegas, New Mexico

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Storrie Lake State Park is conveniently located about five miles outside of Las Vegas – no, not that Las Vegas with all the flashy casinos and abundant entertainment; we’re talking about the original Las Vegas in northeastern New Mexico. While we anticipated spending a week or two at Storrie Lake within easy biking distance of the city, we only used the park as a one or two-night stopover between locations on three separate occasions. The park is heavily used –…

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Villanueva – Following the Trails of the Pecos Pueblo and Spanish Conquistadors

Villanueva – Following the Trails of the Pecos Pueblo and Spanish Conquistadors

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Some locations speak to you, whispering quiet invocations carried on the wind and translated through rustling tree leaves and whistled songs of brightly colored birds. Time passes at that spot as it always does, but your perception of that passing seems to gently stretch, the hours in a day languidly slipping by instead of racing to an artificial end marked by minutes ticked off on a clock. The area might take on a vaguely mystical quality while not offering a…

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The Return to New Mexico – Hitchhikers, Yarn, and Recycled Tires

The Return to New Mexico – Hitchhikers, Yarn, and Recycled Tires

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Colorado bid us farewell with a parting glimpse of the Conejos Canyon as we headed south to New Mexico. Hidden at the edge of the Rio Grande National Forest, the canyon was created by the Conejos River running through the valley and the area remains one of Colorado’s last few wild areas. According to the information boards at the overlook, the canyon was home to prehistoric hunters and gatherers during the past 12,000 years who relied on the rich natural…

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Scenic Small Towns in Central Colorado

Scenic Small Towns in Central Colorado

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The big city of Denver slowly receded into the background as we motored south with the intention of returning to New Mexico for the summer months. We chose to drive along 285 to the smaller towns in the mountains south of Denver, rather than making miles over Interstate 25 through Colorado Springs. With reservations in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area outside of Salida, we enjoyed a leisurely drive before stopping in Buena Vista for the afternoon. As we’ve experienced in…

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The Mile High City – Denver, Colorado

The Mile High City – Denver, Colorado

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Interstate 70 stretched before us, connecting Grand Junction to Denver via Vail Pass through the Rocky Mountains. We intended to drive about halfway and stop for the night at the Eagle River – Wolcott Campground, but we arrived early in the afternoon to find every space filled. Granted, this is a small camping area but we had hoped to find at least one site available for a single night. It wasn’t even the busy camping season (generally Memorial Day to…

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From Fruita to Grand Junction – Exploring Colorado’s Western Slope

From Fruita to Grand Junction – Exploring Colorado’s Western Slope

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The snow-tipped mountains of Ridgway gradually gave way to the reddish, jagged peaks outside of Grand Junction as we approached the western border of Colorado. The famed town of Moab waited just beyond the horizon in Utah, a destination often held in awe by RVers and outdoor enthusiasts in general. Moab has become a mecca for tourists because of its proximity to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as the numerous trails in the area sought by adventure-seeking…

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The Road to Ridgway

The Road to Ridgway

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Neither the following words nor the accompanying photos will accurately convey the sheer beauty that is Colorado. Having spent the majority of my life in the northeastern United States surrounded by lush farmland and gentle hills, I’m not conditioned to expect the sheer scope and magnitude of the Rocky Mountains. Ashley and I both visited Colorado in the past, but brief vacations barely capture the grand landscape throughout the state. While portions of our travels last year were certainly scenic…

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New Mexico, Land of Enchantment

New Mexico, Land of Enchantment

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We left the sandhills of Texas in a cloud of Paleozoic-era quartz dust as we pointed the RV to southeastern New Mexico. Our journey into the Land of Enchantment would be a first for both of us, having never visited the state in the past either driving through or on a layover. The planned destination on this leg of our journey was Colorado to visit both family and friends, and we were on a time schedule to reach the park…

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