I recently did an unexpected trip to Colorado Springs, Co. from Show Low. It was my mothers birthday, (She lives in Co. Springs) and I managed a week off, totally unplanned. I decided to do the trip at 5 pm on a Monday, and was on the road Tuesday morning.

I have done my marathon drive days, and now choose to travel at a slower pace, especially with 2 dogs and Wilson the Wonder Cat as sidekicks.

Camping on the way up was uneventful, I was just looking for safe places to stop for the nite. First nite was at a KOA in Las Vegas NEW MEXICO, a safe and close to the highway spot, but somewhat dirty and old. No matter, I got there after dark and was out of there after my breakfast.

Second stop was at Trinidad State Park, just across the border in Colorado. I had heard from one of my campers it was a nice spot, so I planned to go there. Disappointing. Not real memorable, but the sites are paved. I had electric and a nice view of a BLM reservoir. The sites are on an exposed hillside, and close together. The bathrooms were closed due to renovation (Seems weird in the middle of summer) and there were no showers. My bathroom is somewhat dismantled, I am waiting for a new sink, and figured I could use the public johns for this trip, but I had to Cludge things together to shower and, er, well… never mind. Once again, it was safe and convenient, so I didn’t mind too much.

I had planned to driveway camp at my Mothers, but her driveway was so sloped that I was nose down by a foot, and the perch was too dangerous to even step into the trailer… so I stayed in the house. REAL fun with the herd and her cat that had never seen a dog before in its life!

3 days in Co. Springs was enough, (Tho my one lung and I DID defeat Pikes Peak!) and I planned my return trip. After much debate over the pass elevations and my towing combo, I decided to forgo the scenic routes and return down the 25, first nite to be Hyde Memorial SP just north of Santa Fe. So I thought!

Thunder, lightning, wind and massive rain pulled me over in Raton, NM.. at another KOA. It was a typical KOA, but the folks were super nice, and the boy doing the escorts even helped me unload my trailer in the rain and hooked up my water and cable so I would stay dry! I rested in the luxury of full hook ups, wifi and CNN. LOL!

OK, the next morning, I am off to Santa Fe. You pretty much have to go thru old Santa Fe to get to the road that goes to Hyde Mem. REAL fun with a trailer in tow.. the place reminds me of the UK, with as narrow as the streets are. I manage to get on hiway 475 that leads up to the park a whole whopping 7 miles away. BUT… I never got there. I saw a sign for a forest service campground, Black Canyon Forest service park, before I got to the SP. OK, its early, I thinking I will do a cruise thru. What a surprise.. it’s a beautiful park, in thick Douglas Fir forest, with newly paved sites, water every 20 feet or so, brand new vault buildings, and perfectly groomed tent pads, tables and fire rings in each site.

Each site is private, tho some more than others, and all but one are heavily shaded. It’s quiet, with abundant wildlife, and has very friendly hosts. All for 5 bucks with my Golden Access pass! I stayed two nites.

Good thing too. I walked up to the state park, just a mile up the road… not RV friendly at all! It’s dark, dirt and I did not have a warm feeling there. Instinct would have told me to leave had I tugged there.


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Gina, good report! I had just about forgotten about Black Canyon. I remember it now. We stayed in it once back in the late '70s or maybe early '80s. Seems like we were in a truck camper. A nice place. We stayed later inside Hyde SP and yes, I must agree it is a little rough back in it. The sites with electric are not in the darken areas, a little farther up the hwy from the first entry area of the park, just off the road, all paved. We did one stay inside and had a time getting the tailer leveled. Maybe twice we stayed in the other, when in the C-class MH.

Storrie Lake SP is a nice place near Las Vegas, NM. But have not been to it in years. We have over-nighted at the Wal-Mart 3 times so far. Not too bad. Storrie is just up a few miles from the Wal-Mart.

Sugarite Canyon SP is out from Raton, but not one to try to get to in Thunder, lightning, wind and massive rain...

Off the beaten path, between Las Vegas & Santa Fe is Villanueva SP, a neat out of the way camping site on the Pecos River. But a somewhat lonely place, too. Not real close to interstate or any major hwy.

I've towed a 22' Komfort lite around those Santa Fe streets, kind of lost before, as well with a C-class towing a Geo Meto. They are narrow.

From the photos of Black Canyon, they are even better now than what I remembered them being. Good to keep it in my mind when wanting to spend some time up in Santa Fe again. Thanks!

Hi Gina - thanx for this report of your vacation trip. Hope the time you spent with you Mom was special for both of you.

Thanx, too, for the info on the FSCG near Santa Fe - we will definitely stop there to explore Santa Fe/Taos/Abiqui as we travel from Denver area to Ruidoso for the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Oct. Just hoping Indian Summer holds 'til we pull out on our way back to Quartzsite.

Hope things are going great in Clay Springs - take care, L 'n D