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Author Topic: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff  (Read 2394 times)

Mjollnir

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Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« on: September 27, 2017, 03:31:14 pm »

My wife and I are finally making it out to Colorado to shoot fall color next week, staying in/around Ridgway, CO, and have out itinerary from Los Angeles to CO (and in CO) all booked up.

We're leaving CO next Friday, traveling down CO 145 to Mesa Verde, then moving on to Gallup for the night.

The next morning it's Gallup to the east rim of the GC, and then Sat. it's turns to business (wine) in/around the Sedona area.

I'd love to do Canyon de Chelly, but it's simply not in the best place for our time needs.

That said, what's worthwhile between Gallup and Flagstaff?  Should I forgo the 40 and try the AZ 264 to Tuba City?

I've checked out Petrified Forest Nat'l Park, and it looks, well, 'meh'.

Any suggestions are most welcome.
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Telecaster

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2017, 05:12:10 pm »

I love the Petrified Forest, but it helps if you're into jagged & colorful terrain, not to mention geology and fossils.  :)  I last made the Gallup to Flagstaff trip in 1993 so my memory of most of it is now vague.

-Dave-
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azmike

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2017, 02:02:25 am »

Highway 264 will be a whole lot slower than I-40, the choice of the two-lane vs blur.   Coal Mine Canyon, a wonderful landscape, is along 264 between the three mesas of the Hopi Reservation and Tuba City.  At (approx) mile marker 337 look for a windmill and a short dirt track leads to a popular overlook.  But around MM 340 a dirt road (OK if dry) leads in a couple miles to a memorable vista. Lots of possibilities along this dirt road (called Blue Point road).

Mike Coffey
Prescott, AZ

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Mjollnir

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2017, 01:21:52 pm »

Highway 264 will be a whole lot slower than I-40, the choice of the two-lane vs blur.   Coal Mine Canyon, a wonderful landscape, is along 264 between the three mesas of the Hopi Reservation and Tuba City.  At (approx) mile marker 337 look for a windmill and a short dirt track leads to a popular overlook.  But around MM 340 a dirt road (OK if dry) leads in a couple miles to a memorable vista. Lots of possibilities along this dirt road (called Blue Point road).

Mike Coffey
Prescott, AZ

Thanks!  This is the first trip to the SW for me after I sold my beloved Jeep, so road conditions are critical (driving a Honda Fit now).

I take it the road to CMC is pretty tame?
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azmike

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2017, 12:40:10 am »

Highway 264 is a paved regular highway.  The pulloff at about MM 337 (where you see the windmill to the North) is only about a quarter mile to the edge of Coal Mine Canyon; it's a popular overlook.  You could walk from the highway.  My suggestion, "Blue Point Rd" is about .3 miles East of MM 340. It's a dirt road passable to passenger cars for the first several miles, ONLY IF IT'S DRY.  The first mile or so is blue-ish mud stone - clay (which is really bad if wet...translation, my Rubicon would struggle going back out to the highway),  and after that it's sandy.  Use Google Earth to plan it.

Mike Coffey
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luong

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2017, 01:59:20 am »

I am not sure what gave you the impression that Petrified Forest is "meh". I think the landscape photography opportunities there are superb, and in my opinion better than some of the alternative suggestions you got.  See https://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.petrified-forest.html
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QT Luong - author of http://TreasuredLandsBook.com, winner of 6 national book awards

DougDolde

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Re: Need recommendations for anything on the I40, Gallup to Flagstaff
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2017, 12:57:53 pm »

Don't miss the Little Painted Desert about 12 miles north of Winslow on AZ 87.
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