July 2025 – We got a very late start for our summer RV travels this year as we madly finished our upgrades and repairs on our new trailer, and we kept postponing our departure. Temps were already peaking at 108 degrees when we finally got it all together and left home. Yikes! We made a beeline from central Arizona to the highest elevations we could find in Colorado, and in no time we were basking in the Rocky Mountains!
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The first few nights we stayed at Bonito Campground outside of Flagstaff to get our RVing legs under us. Then we crossed the Navajo Reservation into Colorado and found an overnight spot along the Dolores River. We’d gone from 108 degrees at home to 92 degrees in Flagstaff to 89 degrees in Dolores. Definite improvement, but it was still hot!
The Dolores River in Colorado.
An early morning walk along the Dolores River was absolutely delightful — and cool. The river was rushing over the rocks and we found a very scenic spot to stop and admire the views and take some pics.
Our trail scout pauses for a pic with Mark.
We continued on past Rico and soon arrived at Trout Lake, a place we had visited two years prior and absolutely loved. As you fly by on the highway, there’s a tiny pullout just big enough for one vehicle. We stopped there and got some fabulous photos of this stunning alpine lake. What a view! What a place!!
Trout Lake, Colorado
Once settled in at 10,000’ elevation, we soaked up the cool temps, happily exchanging shorts for long pants and even jackets in the mornings and evenings.
It felt funny to be in long pants, but as the daily summer afternoon thunderstorm pattern began to emerge, we were grateful we’d packed some winter-wear. We’d packed hastily, though, and I could have used another mid-weight jacket and a winter hat!!
Buddy didn’t need any extra winter clothes…!
The water leaks that had plagued our shakedown cruises since January continued, unfortunately, and among the hastily-not-packed items was Mark’s big toolbag! After a few days and a few trips to the hardware store, he was able to tame the leaks enough to carry on with our summer journey, although at one point he was ready to admit defeat and head home!
Thank goodness bright sunshine filled our RV windows and souls the next morning, and Mark found a way to minimize the leaks.
The fundamental problem causing the water leaks in this trailer (and in many other later model RVs) is that two types of water pipes are used: Pex and braided. The braided lines have an infinitesimally larger inner diameter than the pex lines, yet the same Pex fittings are used at every junction. So, even if you tighten the Pex fittings on the braided line as tight as possible, the tube spins freely on the fitting and water leaks out!
But we kept our focus on the beauty around us and, as always, Buddy’s happy demeanor was infectious. He was in dog heaven all day every day. He loved his freedom, hanging out around the trailer and hunting little varmints whenever he had the chance.
We encouraged his hunting when Mark opened the hood of the truck one day and found himself face to face with a big fat pack rat. Argh!! So, we set out a few oversized glue traps. Next morning they’d been dragged away from the truck engine by something large! Over the next two days we caught two field mice in the truck and one in the trailer. Good grief!!
From then on we asked Buddy every day if there was a “mouser” in the truck or trailer, and he’d sniff around and let us know. Usually the answer was “No,” but one time it was a definite “YES!” and he scampered all around under the truck, sniffing in the wheel wells, whimpering and looking up at us hopefully as if to say, “Help me catch it!”
Buddy loved his freedom and loved hunting varmints too!
We did a lot of exploring, and the views everywhere were sensational. Brooding clouds filled the sky most afternoons and we had a lot of rain and even some serious downpours with hail!
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It is surprising how much salmon colored red rock there is in the mountain peaks in this part of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The unexpected pink hue that peeked out between curtains of gray added a special vibrance to every vista.
Many of the mountain peaks are very colorful on top.
“Colorado” means “colored” in Spanish.
We arrived when the wildflowers were in full bloom, and what a gorgeous display it was. From bright smiling sunflowers to exquisite columbines, to tiny intricately decorated round petaled flowers to sweet little periwinkle blue bells, they were all delightful and they blanketed the meadows and hillsides. Even the humble pink and white clover flowers were lovely.
Smiling faces of yellow sunflowers.
Colorado’s unique state flower — the Columbine.
Morning dew on a sweet little wildflower.
Pretty bells for elves.
These little flowers were just a half inch from edge to edge.
Even the humble clover were beautiful.
We walked along soft paths through the woods and spotted animals here and there. Deer wandered past at leisure and a moth settled on a flower long enough for me to catch its photo.
We even saw an elk one afternoon, but our cameras weren’t ready!
The trails through the woods were very inviting.
A deer wandered past late one afternoon.
A moth perched on a flower.
Memories of the lives we’d left at home in baking hot Arizona soon faded away as if into a far distant dream.
Sweeping vistas filled with stately pines, rolling meadows and wildflowers that had been so exotic when we first arrived slowly became a natural part of our day-to-day lives. We also got used to being damp and bundled up in extra clothing, drinking mug after mug of hot tea to warm up!
Time stood still and the rhythm of our RVing lives began to take shape.
One morning we awoke to smoke filling the air and obscuring the sunrise. Several wildfires caused by lightning had popped up nearby, so the source of this veil of smoke was within 50 miles.
Smoky sunrise.
That same day, we learned of the tragic loss of the iconic lodge at Grand Canyon’s North Rim where a “controlled burn” was allowed to get out of control and ultimately destroy the much loved historic landmark and all the surrounding cabins. It was an unspeakable tragedy.
We had debated up until the very last moment before leaving home whether we should dash to the high country via northern Arizona into Utah or via northeastern Arizona into Colorado.
Heading to Utah had been the plan until a slight change in weather forecasts sent us to Colorado instead. If we’d gone to Utah as planned, we would have been at Jacob Lake and the North Rim at the time of the fires and evacuations. We were so grateful for our last minute change in plans!
We stayed in this area for nearly two weeks, collecting endless photos of the fabulous mountain views in between dramatic thunderstorms, hailstorms and rain storms!
Storm clouds over Trout Lake Colorado
Dramatic color in the mountains.
The color begins to shift from the mountains to the sky.
A vibrant sunset in the Rockies.
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During our stay we made several trips to nearby Mountain Village and Telluride where the rich and famous hang out both summer and winter. What a fun change of pace it was to go from natural alpine beauty to fashionable ski lodges, elegant eateries and shopping and mansions filling the mountainsides!
As we’ll share with you in our next post, it was summertime, and the living was easy!
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More info about this area:
- Trout Lake – Tourist Website
- Matterhorn Campground – USFS Website
- Priest Lake Campground – USFS Website
- Cayton Campground – USFS Website
- Our Route – Google Maps
Other blog posts from Colorado:
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO – Steep and Deep!
- Brilliant Fall Foliage + Snow in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
- Buena Vista Colorado – What a Place for an RV Breakdown!
- Burro Days! Burro Races, Llamas & Outhouses in Fairplay CO
- Colorado GOLD – A Fall Foliage Photography Workshop
- Colorado National Monument & Fruita CO – Red Rocks, Cycling & Wine!
- Colorado’s San Juan Skyway – An RV Trip in Dazzling Fall Color!
- Colorado’s Stunning Scenic Drives…by Porsche!
- Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Durango, Colorado, and Alpine, Texas!
- Creede, CO – Mining History & Championships + 4th of July!
- Crested Butte – Wildflower Capital of Colorado!
- Hartman Rocks – A Different View of Colorado near Gunnison
- Lake Granby Colorado RV Trip – A Summer Beach Vacation!
- Lakes and Light in Wyoming and Colorado
- Mesa Verde National Park, CO – Life on the Edge with the Ancients
- Ouray – Finding the COLOR in Colorado on an RV Trip!
- Remote RV Camping: Antero Reservoir & Blue River Colorado
- Ridgway, CO – Peak fall foliage on the Dallas Divide – WOW!!
- Rocky Mountain High: Alpine Beauty in Colorado + Trout Lake!
- Rocky Mountain National Park & Trail Ridge Road: RV? Dog??
- Romance at Maroon Bells Colorado!
- RV Trip on Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway – Ouray to Silverton
- San Juan Mountains Colorado – And then it Snowed!
- Sheep May Safely Graze (in the Mountains with Dogs!)
- Silver Thread Scenic Byway in Colorado – Fire in the Sky!
- Telluride Gondola Ride in Colorado – FREE and Dog Friendly!
- Where All News is Good News – At the Saguache Crescent in CO
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Hmm. Thinking you should have titled this post, “Escape to Paradise.” Gorgeous, gorgeous pics! We spent some time at Ridgway State Park toward the end of last summer, and couldn’t get enough of the magnificent scenery. A round of applause for Mark for his perseverance, and to Buddy, too, for his superior hunting skills. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
I think you’re right about the title, Mary! It is definitely Paradise up here, and we’ve continued exploring and finding more special corners in Paradise as we’ve gone along!! We woke up to a downpour this morning but it was so cozy lying in bed listening to the pitter-patter on the roof…and knowing we weren’t in a tent like the large family group tenting it next door! Now the sun is poking through the clouds and it’s just stunning. What a beautiful feeling this is. Happy Summer!!
p.s. – I changed the title!!
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. What else can I say about Colorado. Enjoy!
Yes yes yes!! We just LOVE Colorado. There’s so much variety and the mountain views can’t be beat!!
Such exciting descriptions….can’t help but envy you !!
Love, Mom
We have been so blessed to be immersed in these beautiful places. You would love it!!
Great to see all three of you are out and about! as we all know these rigs do always present their challenges but those views…..Priceless.
That’s exactly it, Robert. There are always ups and downs no matter how you travel, but the views and the experiences are what it’s all about. Thank you for appreciating our pics and stories!!
The fire was reportedly started by fire, not a controlled burn. Just FYI. But how tragic! I always enjoy reading your blogs and seeing the wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing your trips with us.
https://www.npca.org/articles/9881-what-we-ve-lost-on-the-grand-canyon-s-north-rim#:~:text=On%20Sunday%2C%20July%2013%2C%20the,the%20iconic%20Grand%20Canyon%20Lodge.
That’s very interesting, Cynthia. The earliest reports — that night and the next day — were that it was a controlled burn. There are still reports out there that Governor Hobbs’ is calling for an independent investigation into why the Feds conducted a controlled burn during the hottest, driest and windiest time of year. Either way, it is heartbreaking. Thank you very much for following our adventures!
Wow, some real beauty in your photos…as there always is. I saw some snow up there in the mountains too!
Yup, there’s snow up there!! And it’s chilly. We just commented to each other this morning that our legs are white this year from wearing long pants all the time. No tanning in this neck of the woods!!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful, inspiring photos. Wally and I moved after 57 years in the same house so you can imagine the challenges. We are still sorting and donating. Not sure how long it will be before we get out and about. I grew up going to Estes Park every summer since 1949 and I sure do miss it!
WOW!!! What a huge change!! Congrats on getting it done. I’m sure it was not only challenging and but very emotional to leave your home of 57 years. But now you can have a fresh outlook on life from a new vantage point, and that will be a lot of fun. How lucky you were to grow up visiting Estes Park every summer back when the National Parks were so accessible and not so crowded. What great memories you must have!!