Travel in June. Mistake?

[Countryfreak]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It is about 30 minutes from Cameron to the Desert Tower overlook at Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a jaw dropping experience for most first time visitors. It is a spiritual event for many. It would be a shame, IMO, to miss it if so close. Icing on the cake if you do go via Cameron is that you pass the Little Colorado river gorge overlook. It is worth a quick stop.

Oh, and at that time of day, you can forget about any traffic congestion.

FYI. I've decided to stay further west that night after sightseeing in the area so now I can visit the Desert Tower Overlook. I can also spend more time in various areas this day and tomorrow before staying in Canon City the next night. I'll stay in Cortez on this day when I leave my wife at the airport in Phoenix.

[Caladan]

Originally Posted by Countryfreak

I'll stay in Cortez on this day when I leave my wife at the airport in Phoenix.

A few tips on Cortez:

A place *not* to eat is El Grande Cafe in the downtown area on the main street, which oddly enough is called Main St.. That place has very mediocre food and worse service.

A place to consider eating if you want a restaurant is the Ute Mountain Casino on Hwy 491, which is on the way to Cortez. Very clean place, very nice wait staff, and pretty good food. Very clean bathrooms as well. And you can always walk a few laps around the casino and stretch your legs, and maybe loose a few quarters in the slot machines.

If you go on to Durango, consider stopping for a while at Mesa Verde National Park. As with all N.P.'s, it is well worth your time, even if you don't have a lot of it. The entrance is right on Hwy 160. You can see a lot from the many parking sites that look down into the canyons. I would not recommend you hike into the canyons if you are not used to the sun, heat, and altitude.

On Hwy 160 in between M.V.N.P. and Durango is a very small town called Mancos. Not much there at all, but a restaurant called Missy's has some good food. It is a small restaurant though, so there isn't much room inside.

[Countryfreak]

Thanks Caladan. I wondered if a trip into Mesa Verde might be worth a trip. Someone else may have mentioned it as well but I'd have to go back and read. Walking far is an issue for me so I won't be doing much but stopping and enjoying the scenery wherever I go. Thanks for the info.

[DAXhound]

Avoid the "brown signs." They will be mobbed all Summer..and that means well beyond Labor Day.