Can I beat the heat in the dessert in July?
May 24, 2010 10:06 AM Subscribe
How can I beat the heat on a summer road trip through the southwest?
I am moving to Austin from San Diego at the end of July. I have the time and money to make a vacation road trip out of it, since most of my stuff will be shipped separately (no Uhaul, just me and a lightly packed small car).
I have not seen any of the southwest outside of the more urban parts of Arizona. The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Santa Fe, etc. all sound like great places to see. I might even go out of my way to see Arches National Park in Utah. However, it will be miserably hot through all of the dessert, so what do I want to avoid and what will be more pleasant and/or air conditioned sights to see? I can drive all day during the heat, camp at night, hike early in the morning, and be on my way, but I've done that in Anza Borrego in August and it was still so hot at night that it's hard to sleep outside. Are any parts of Utah, Arizona or New Mexico at high enough elevation for hiking and camping that time of year? What about indoor things like museums? Where do I want to power through the dessert, and where do I want to stop? I've lived through hot dry summers in CA my entire life and I know the answers are basically hydrate, stay inside, and sunscreen, but since I have to move with my car, and it has to be in July/August, can I make it fun and still beat the heat?
I am moving to Austin from San Diego at the end of July. I have the time and money to make a vacation road trip out of it, since most of my stuff will be shipped separately (no Uhaul, just me and a lightly packed small car).
I have not seen any of the southwest outside of the more urban parts of Arizona. The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Santa Fe, etc. all sound like great places to see. I might even go out of my way to see Arches National Park in Utah. However, it will be miserably hot through all of the dessert, so what do I want to avoid and what will be more pleasant and/or air conditioned sights to see? I can drive all day during the heat, camp at night, hike early in the morning, and be on my way, but I've done that in Anza Borrego in August and it was still so hot at night that it's hard to sleep outside. Are any parts of Utah, Arizona or New Mexico at high enough elevation for hiking and camping that time of year? What about indoor things like museums? Where do I want to power through the dessert, and where do I want to stop? I've lived through hot dry summers in CA my entire life and I know the answers are basically hydrate, stay inside, and sunscreen, but since I have to move with my car, and it has to be in July/August, can I make it fun and still beat the heat?
If you're passing through Utah all of Summit County and Uintah County have high alpine areas. We escape from the city to go camping/hiking/shopping up there because it's generally around 70s or 80s compared to the valley's 100s. Arches will be deadly hot during the day but it's beautiful to see and cools off during the night. Same with Zions NP and Bryce Canyon.
posted by msbutah at 10:13 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by msbutah at 10:13 AM on May 24, 2010
We used to go camping in the Flagstaff area in the summer and were quite surprised to need a jacket in the morning. It still got hot in the afternoon, but not blistering hot like it was back in Phoenix.
posted by CathyG at 10:38 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by CathyG at 10:38 AM on May 24, 2010
Plan your strenuous activities like hiking or riding for earlier in the day. Plan to wrap that stuff up by 1 or 2 PM. The mid-afternoon hours are the hottest - sun still beating high in the sky, air still. Once the sun gets lower and you get some shadows, it's very comfortable again.
I had such a great time at Slide Rock State Park, shortly outside Sedona, AZ. It's a small river that runs through a stone riverbed. The riverbed has been carved into sort of a natural waterslide, very long, with pools and drops and little 'rapids' and everything. It's an absolute blast and a great way to cool off.
posted by Miko at 11:01 AM on May 24, 2010
I had such a great time at Slide Rock State Park, shortly outside Sedona, AZ. It's a small river that runs through a stone riverbed. The riverbed has been carved into sort of a natural waterslide, very long, with pools and drops and little 'rapids' and everything. It's an absolute blast and a great way to cool off.
posted by Miko at 11:01 AM on May 24, 2010
I got stuck in the California fires one year and I found spraying myself in the face with a little water bottle sprayer to help a lot. You can also wet your shirts down completely, wring them out, and then wear them. It's all only temporary however...
posted by Mr. Verge at 11:25 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by Mr. Verge at 11:25 AM on May 24, 2010
Ok, here is the easiest route to beat the heat, Head for Las Vegas, Nevada. Go east to Bryce or Zion (Zion will be Cooler) Once you get into Utah the weather will be better as you climb elevation. From Zion go to the North Rim with a stop in Capital Reef/Escalante Monument. From North Rim go to Monument Valley (likely to be hot, but not unbearable) and monsoon season thunderstorms are the best backdrop for seeing the Four Corners. Drop in on Canyon De Chelly then head for Albuquerque. If you want to see touristy, fairy tale New Mexio go to Las Alamos then Santa Fe, if you want to see real life rural new mexico go through Jemez either way you end up in Albuquerque. If you camp on the east side of sandia at high elevation (above 6000') it will be cool enough. If you want to avoid the Rio Grande Valley you could also head south from Canyon De Chelly to Gallup than Cibola and Quemado, stop off to see the Very Large Array, eat a really good hamburger at the Green Owl (I think) cafe outside of Socorro. Either way than head for Carlsbad Caverns, you will likely want to find a hotel here as it will be hot or you can instead go to Ruidoso/Cloudcroft and Camp in the mountains. I really like those mountains in the late summer, the storms are spectacular and the forest comes alive. Then on to Big Bend (hot)and then Austin. Once you southeastern New Mexico you will not have any more public land to camp on and you will not have any high altitude refuges to go to the next day so the last couple of days will likely be hot and you may want to just find a hotel. Good luck and take your time, late summer is the best for seeing the southwest.
posted by bartonlong at 11:25 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bartonlong at 11:25 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Zion (Zion will be Cooler)
Zion has some great campsites right next to the Virgin River, which is rocky and shallow and cool. When we were there, we spent the mornings hiking in the peaks or Narrows, then returned to the valley and basically spent an hour in the afternoon laying flat in the river, enjoying the cool water. Then we were right next to camp, so we could change in time for the cool evening. Highly recommended camping spot.
posted by Miko at 11:28 AM on May 24, 2010
Zion has some great campsites right next to the Virgin River, which is rocky and shallow and cool. When we were there, we spent the mornings hiking in the peaks or Narrows, then returned to the valley and basically spent an hour in the afternoon laying flat in the river, enjoying the cool water. Then we were right next to camp, so we could change in time for the cool evening. Highly recommended camping spot.
posted by Miko at 11:28 AM on May 24, 2010
I'm certainly no expert on weather in the southwest, but when I was in Albuquerque on business last August it was actually really, really nice compared to what I had come from in Austin, where it was just downright unbelievably hot (100+ much of the summer). In Albuquerque, it was hot (maybe in the upper 90s), but very dry and breezy. There were usually thunderstorms in the afternoon/early evenings. The Sandia Mountains just to the east of town were actually almost cool when I took the tram to Sandia Peak in the evening one day.
posted by malthas at 11:54 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by malthas at 11:54 AM on May 24, 2010
I am in Albuquerque, so can give you some local tips:
-Santa Fe and Albuquerque are connected by the Rail Runner, a public train service.
-There are a lot of camping sites in the Jemez and Monzano mountains, and they will be cool enough at night, due to higher latitude and altitude. There is also the Pecos wilderness.
-Santa Fe is expensive to stay in, but has some world-class museums. Since Albuquerque is so close, consider staying there.
-Albuquerque also has some great museums, a small but top-notch zoo, the tramway that malthas mentioned. There is some great hiking in the foothills and the Sandias. The city owns a great deal of the foothills land, and maintains it as open parks, know as open space.
-it is rainy season then, and we are second only to Florida in lightning strikes, so be careful in a storm.
There are a lot of great places to eat, but you didn't mention that specifically. I always prefer to eat at local hangouts, if possible. Northern NM is known for it's spicy food.
I haven't included any links here, there is so much info you can just google. If you would like, memail me and I could give you some other pointers. If you are planning on going through the southern part of the state, it is much hotter, but there are still some great things to do
posted by annsunny at 12:18 PM on May 24, 2010
-Santa Fe and Albuquerque are connected by the Rail Runner, a public train service.
-There are a lot of camping sites in the Jemez and Monzano mountains, and they will be cool enough at night, due to higher latitude and altitude. There is also the Pecos wilderness.
-Santa Fe is expensive to stay in, but has some world-class museums. Since Albuquerque is so close, consider staying there.
-Albuquerque also has some great museums, a small but top-notch zoo, the tramway that malthas mentioned. There is some great hiking in the foothills and the Sandias. The city owns a great deal of the foothills land, and maintains it as open parks, know as open space.
-it is rainy season then, and we are second only to Florida in lightning strikes, so be careful in a storm.
There are a lot of great places to eat, but you didn't mention that specifically. I always prefer to eat at local hangouts, if possible. Northern NM is known for it's spicy food.
I haven't included any links here, there is so much info you can just google. If you would like, memail me and I could give you some other pointers. If you are planning on going through the southern part of the state, it is much hotter, but there are still some great things to do
posted by annsunny at 12:18 PM on May 24, 2010
Ha. I moved last summer from the ATX to SD. I really miss the BBQ and migas but not the heat. I'd planned on doing something similar but as the move date approached I ended up wanting to get to my destination and unpack as soon as possible. Hence, I just drove the most direct route. But I also had the advantage of living in AZ and having parents in Southern NV so I've explored all of the desert southwest before. And after living the past 23 years in the heat, was looking forward to escaping the heat of Austin and pretty much the whole trip until you get to SD.
But if you do have the time, check out the White Mountains of Arizona. Cooler in the summer and not what you think about when you think about Arizona. Also, Zion is awesome. Some of the most beautiful parts of the country.
posted by birdherder at 12:38 PM on May 24, 2010
But if you do have the time, check out the White Mountains of Arizona. Cooler in the summer and not what you think about when you think about Arizona. Also, Zion is awesome. Some of the most beautiful parts of the country.
posted by birdherder at 12:38 PM on May 24, 2010
Late July? I'd say the climate will get more comfortable around 5000-6000 feet elevation (adjust a bit for how far north or south it is. If I remember right, Tucson and Phoenix are very low elevation and will be really rough. Moab is at 4000 feet, and it's pretty miserable after 10 am in July. Albuquerque is at 5000 and fairly hot midday in July, and Sedona (further north) is at 5000 feet and better, and Flagstaff is around 7000 (? hope I'm remembering all this right), and it's nice and pleasant. In general, New Mexico will be better than Arizona. Taos will be really nice.
posted by salvia at 6:55 PM on May 24, 2010
posted by salvia at 6:55 PM on May 24, 2010
Mrs Tree and I travel from swimming hole to swimming hole, or hot spring. Hot Springs in the southwest are DIVINE at night. Look up "Balmorea State Park" in West Texas and "Blue Hole" In Santa Rosa, NM. Or, drive Texas at Night. It Takes a day to get from El Paso to East Texas. (Fun side fact, El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than the east side of Houston.) End with a dip in Barton Springs in Austin. It's how we stay sane w/out AC.
posted by Pecantree at 8:34 PM on May 25, 2010
posted by Pecantree at 8:34 PM on May 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Here is a recent thread about things to do in Tucson.
Keep in mind that July/August is monsoon time in the Southwest. Make sure your tent is waterproof and that you avoid dry river beds when there are clouds out. It is not unheard of to get an inch of rain in less than an hour.
posted by nestor_makhno at 10:13 AM on May 24, 2010