Trip from Grand Canyon to Santa Fe. What to see, where to stay, what do?

July 22, 2022 7:03 AM

We will take this trip at a cooler time, between going into the Grand Canyon, then onto Santa Fe. We can meander, this does not need to be a straight line. We especially like small towns, pueblos that may be reopening, the amazing skies, forms and colors. We cannot do much actual hiking. There is of course Canyon de Chelly, the Navajo and Hopi nations, fans of Tony Hillerman, Chimayo, Abiquiu.
posted by ebesan to Travel & Transportation around Arizona (7 answers total)

We really enjoyed Upper Antelope Canyon near Page Arizona. The walking isn't hard. This is a slot canyon and was pretty amazing. Horseshoe Bend is right there too.
posted by cmm at 8:01 AM on July 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Morrissey would disapprove, I think. Don't tell me if he actually likes puns... Can't speak for Johnny Marr, though.

Anyway, a detour to Sedona will provide relaxation and plenty of beautiful scenery that can be viewed from the town itself, no hiking needed.
posted by kingdead at 8:03 AM on July 22, 2022

If you want to bump up into Colorado, you can look into Mesa Verde National Park (I don't remember how easy the walking was, but there was one narrow point that I skipped). You could also go to Durango and catch the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. From there you could drive east to Pagosa Springs and then cut down to Chama, Abiquiu etc.
posted by eckeric at 9:44 AM on July 22, 2022

Actually, Acoma would normally be a good place to visit, because they normally have Sky City tours of the mesa. But that is closed now, I guess for covid.

If you are in I-40 west of Albuquerque, stop and get a Laguna Burger. Those are the best green chile cheeseburgers in the state.
posted by NotLost at 10:41 AM on July 22, 2022

Canyon de Chelly is well worth it. Valles Caldera National Park is a spectacular landscape. Bandelier National Park has terrific Ancestral Puebloan ruins.
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 10:43 AM on July 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

I-40, don't. Full of big trucks. Stay north... as you say Canyon De Shelly. Also, Monument Valley, Shiprock, then drive Farmington to Bloomington, NM down 550 to Cuba, NM then drive east on 96. Beautiful drive to Abiquiu and Cerro Pedernal (made famous by Georgia OKeefe)
Antelope Canyon is great, but Page, AZ is an armpit, really just the worst.
If you do go I-40 do not get the Koolaid pickle at Laguna Burger.
posted by falsedmitri at 3:10 PM on July 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Depending on the route you’re thinking, Chaco Canyon is super cool.

Be sure to check if any pueblos, like Acoma, are actually open to visitors. Pueblos in NM have been hard-hit by covid and may be closed to visitors.

Shiprock in New Mexico is pretty cool as is Gallup. Jemez Springs, NM is a bit of a hidden gem. In addition to the local hot springs the Los Ojos Saloon and soda damn are pretty fun. You’ll also be pretty close to Los Alamos if you are interested in nuclear history.
posted by forkisbetter at 4:58 PM on July 22, 2022 [1 favorite]