Over Spring Break we're headed on an 8 day car trip through four national parks in the Southwest: Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. We have 3 kids (age 10, 7, 4). We love active adventures, hikes, and history.
We'd love to hear any advice on places to stay in or around these parks and any highlights within the parks themselves as they are all obviously big with much to see. We'd also love any tips on guided-tours or anything else that might be relevant to an April trip with young kids to this 4-corner area.
Thanks!
Seeking Advice: Highlights of Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon
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If you can get lodging in Mesa Verde at Far View lodge, that would be my first choice for there. Otherwise, stay in either Cortez or Durango. In April the only ranger led tour will be Cliff Palace so sign up early for that. You can also do the self guided tour of Spruce tree house and also do the drive around the mesa with stops at the sights along the way.
For Chaco Canyon, the nearest lodging is in Bloomfield, about a half hour north. A couple of chain type motels. The road in has a 15 mile section that is not paved, so check for conditions before you go if it has rained any where near. It may be a bit washboard if they haven't graded lately.
For Canyonlands and Arches, stay in Moab, there are lots of lodging choices there. If it is jeep week or something and it is booked up, look in Green River, about an hour west. I haven't done it but there is a ranger led tour of Fire Furnace that is very popular.
Do sign the kids up for the junior ranger programs and get a National Parks pass at your first park. It is good for a year and good for all the parks.
If Chaco is not accessable, go to Bandelier, a couple of hour east of Chaco and very different.
Click on my name and scroll down to the TRs for some more detailed information on the area.
Minor thing: watch _Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade_ (note that it's a PG-13 film) before going to Arches NP. I imagine your kids will be excited when they see the arch in the background of this photo:
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5052918233631317&pid=1.7&w=106&h=154&c=7&rs=1