With forced Closures comes more.......

[Alexandra B]

Well in our grand state they are forcing closure holidays. So this means we have more camping time. I have been wanting to go to Mount Rushmore, but have found no camp grounds open year round. We have the right trailer to have a wonderful time there, but would need hook ups I figure.

Does anyone have suggestions? The Other place we were interested in was Yellowstone but they clearly state no winter camping.

thanks

Alexandra

[LSChilders]

Rapid City is really close to Rushmore:

Campgrounds (click below)

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&r...ts&resnum=1

[Bryan L.]

Go to Mt. Rushmore at the end of September - there's a rally then!

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...howtopic=33430

[Robin G]

Alexandra, Depending on the weather, cause you never know what kinda winter they will be having. You may regret trying to camp much less travel with a travel trailer at that time of year in that area. Some years sunny warm temps. But I think you will be hard pressed find a campground open, unless going to Rapid City as suggested. But if it's anything like last winter, or a couple of years ago when this whole area was slammed with one blizzard after another you don't have the right trailer for winter weather like that. Having lived in and around the Rocky Mountains for close to 30 years and traveling between, thru, and all around these areas I can tell you, one little mis-hap in the winter with the vehicle (not even talking the travel trailer) it can take you hours to get help/services ect. Believe me, I had vehicle issues twice while traveling in Wyoming, wasn't real sure I would ever get help on one. And the second time fuel pump went out durning a blizard in Wyoming. Though both of those adventures I was safe (kinda) it took more than just calling the auto club to come get me. So I can't imagine doing it with a trailer behind me.

Where your wanting to go, is an amazing place. But may I suggest you visit it during one of the other beautiful seasons besides winter. And spend your winter camping in other great places that offer a warmer adventure. You do realize that services will be shut down for the season in and around both areas? I am all about visiting tourist destination durning off season, but honestly it's no fun when there is barely a gas station open in the area. Now this is not to say that South Dakota is gonna have a cold wet winter (only Mother nature knows that) but chances are...................................

Bryan suggestiong of fall in South Dakota would be wonderful, cause there will several of us from here that will be enjoying the fall colors there.

[Frederick L. Simson]

a couple of years ago when this whole area was slammed with one blizzard after another you don't have the right trailer for winter weather like that.

Alexandra,
It might help to change your profile, since you sold the Casita, and now have a 21' Bigfoot...

[Greg A]

I agree wholeheartedly with Robin, Alexandra. South Dakota and Wyoming in Mid-Winter can be fun, but probably not pulling a travel trailer.

Personally, I would visit Southern destinations at that time of year and there are lots of great options to choose from where you wouldn't eat up as much time driving.

[Tim W]

Hi from South Dakota!!! We love to have folks come to see "The Shrine of Democracy". I would agree that the winter is not the time to be on holiday in the Black Hills. I'm from the East side of the State but I like to get out there when I can (just got back on Friday from a trip out west). Some other things to see are the Needles Highway, Spearfish Canyon Drive, and Custer State park just to name a few. Later, tim

[Robin G]

Alexandra,
It might help to change your profile, since you sold the Casita, and now have a 21' Bigfoot...

Thanks Frederick, I didn't realize the new purchase (BigFoot) which would be more the "right" winter camping trailer, but it's more the getting to and from that I was concerned with. That's not to say that rv'ers don't travel in the winter (see them all the time) it's just not as pleasant as other times of the year.



Tim, If your gonna be in the area, please join us! South Dakota Rally - post topic

[Alexandra B]

Of course we would rather be there when there is a gethering however we cannot take the time until it has been given. Last year we went to the Grand Canyon at the same time and loved camping in the snow, so she wants to go to that kind of thing again, but somewhere new. I thought of those two places as I have never been, but if they are closed not worth going. Any other suggestions?

thanks

Alexandra

[Robin G]

Alexandra, There is a huge difference in the snow at the Grand Canyon and the snow in South Dakota......................... But again, that's not to say they will have a heavy winter it's just to say that the weather between the two is a huge difference if there was typical winter conditions. As for a suggestion, hmmmmm I am with you on enjoying winter camping, so some parts of Utah will offer winter camping and some beautiful country ( not all of it though! Sorry Utah"ians there is some ugly country between the good stuff.) Zion, Arches, Moab, etc.
New Mexico can be beautiful in the winter season. Though both areas could have weather issues as well, they just don't last for weeks or months on end.

Texas, the weather for the most part is much calmer than that in other parts of the country, that's why snowbirds go there. But most likely even if they get a touch of winter it wouldn't be snow, more like (ICE STORMS)................... and again not last for weeks or months. Hopefully someothers will have some great suggestion.

Personally, there is a lot to see in Calif if you haven't already seen it, Redwoods for example, up the coast to Oregon, Tahoe in the winter is beautiful. Happy travels. Robin

[Alexandra B]

Unfortunately we have seen most of it, and we live in permanent summer so we want to be where there is some snow, we might end up in Oregon at my dads house anyway but we are exploring all our options.

Most grounds in lake tahoe are full aready.

Hopefully there might be some more suggestions.

thanks

Alexandra

[Adrian W]

As Robin said, "New Mexico can be beautiful in the winter season. Though both areas could have weather issues as well, they just don't last for weeks or months on end."

Actually, NM can be beautiful in all seasons.

If you would like to see snow, I am sure you can find some in NM, not in Las Cruces more than likely, but in many other areas. Mostly with less travel worries than you might find up north of us.

Some likely areas:
Cimarron Canyon State Park very nice camping area close to Eagles Nest & Angel Fire
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/EaglesNest.htm
Red River Area north of Taos.
Hyde Memorial State Park near Santa Fe, nice place, & ski area
Bandelier National Monument would be a nice place to visit near Los Alamos and not far from Santa Fe. It was a pleasent campground when we stayed there.
http://www.nps.gov/band/
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisi...campground.htm

Heron Lake State Park has been designated a "quiet lake" where boats operate at no-wake speeds only. This park is known for its excellent sailing, fishing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. We spent many summers camping here.
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/heron.htm

Fenton Lake State Park is a small out to the way Park surrounded by beautiful ponderosa pine forests. We camped there once, a very nice place.
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/Fenton.htm

Lincoln National Forest - from personal experience the camping around Cloudcroft is very good. We have mainly used the campgrounds or dispersed camping area by the Silver, Apache & Saddle Campgrounds on the Hwy going to Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation on NM 244. Sacramento Ranger District. Some sking near Cloudcroft as well.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/recr...-camping.shtml
More sking at Ski Apache above Ruidosa.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/recreation/skiing.shtml

Finding a campsite might not be easy in the areas which have snow however. Not sure what they have open in the winter. The state parks, as far as I remember, are mostly open year round. For Lincoln Forest area by Cloudcroft, Oliver Lee State Park by Alamogordo would be open. For Ski Apache/Ruidosa, I am not sure, but Valley of Fires BLM Campground would be open. Others up there might be as well? The same goes for Red River area.
Valley of Fires Recreation Area & BLM Campground http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreatio...y_of_fires.html
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/detail.aspx?id=2800
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...howtopic=30824

The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site & BLM Campground http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...ee_rivers.html

Datil Wells BLM Campground http://www.freecampgrounds.com/detail.aspx?id=1727
http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/...showtopic=3626

El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground (no showers or water in Dec but free then); there is a private campgound near by
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

In Arizona, Canyon de Chelly National Monument http://www.nps.gov/cach/
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/detail.aspx?id=1439

Some sites listed are possible on the way, stop & see places.

[Alexandra B]

thanks Adrian we are thinking about the chelly canyon now....

[Pamela H]

Rapid city in the winter...hmmmm....if you like snow-good place to go. Not many places open, our membership resort is-you could rangle a 4 day 3 night sales deal, they are open all year round. Not all of their bath houses are open, but they do have some, and the lodge is open daily as well. Yes, we have gone there in the winter, but chickened out and stayed in a cabin-

Neat thing to do in the winter, besides of course the presidents and Crazy horse, is the caves. Got some awesome tours and it is a constant temp down there!!

You know-camping and traveling are in the eyes of the beholder. Rapid is busy busy in the summer. But, we prefer the off season for the peace and quiet. But, given that...
we would love to have you at our rally at the end of Sept! Its coming!!

Pam

[Roger H]

Alexandria... we have a Bigfoot 25RQ with the winter package, and live in Iowa. We camp through the late fall, but the trailer goes into storage by mid-November every year... hopefully just ahead of the snow. While the trailer would do fine during most of the winter (and I have used a 15CB17 in the winter here) the larger problem is that there's nowhere to either fill or dump your tanks in winter country. All of the outside plumbing is winterized everywhere, and you can't get to any of the sewer dumps for the snow. AND, your trailer will do fine while stationary, but when you're on the road, the plumbing will freeze. And, of course, if you should happen to run out of propane in the early evening during a snowstorm, it's gonna be a really cold couple of days (and nights). Electric heaters are fine for keeping the chill off, but they really don't heat as well as the furnace in a Bigfoot.

I get around it by winterizing the plumbing, and then using a wash basin and water in jugs. I also have a port-potty which works nicely, but there are not showers, and it's really quite the PITA. Further, towing a trailer on icy/snow covered roadways is just plain risky. When I've towed in winter, it's been on dry pavement.

Roger

[Penney H. & Mike E.]

Hi Alexandria,

I might as well chime in with ideas, even though it sounds like you are trying to get off the coast to somewhere different, traveling north on the coast isn't so bad in the winter. Here in Washington 'locals' know going to the coast in the winter is one of the best times to go. In fact there is the 'storm watcher' crowd. Accommodations on the coast fill at holiday times. The Olympic National Park has beautiful rugged beaches and campgrounds open year round (Kalaloch for sure and I think Rialto also). Snow is very very rare on the coast, though the mountains can be beautiful to look at with fresh snow, and even rainy days (there is no denying it is rainy on the Washington coast in the winter) may have sun breaks and not EVERY day is a rainy day! There are places to go on rainy days, like the museum at Neah Bay. Further 'south' in Washington the Long Beach area has plenty to do on rainy days, and a great state park open year round (Cape Disappointment, named for Lewis and Clark's experience, not today's campers!). There are other state parks open year round along the coast, such as Grayland State Park, though there is less to do in that area on a bad beach day. WA State Parks

So there's my two cents - and what better place to spend the holidays than the Evergreen State where you'll be surrounded by Nature's Christmas trees!

Penney

[Alexandra B]

thanks for the thoughts we are thinking about that direction still seeing how things are going to pan out down here our situation is very fluid at the moment.