Date:         Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:13:47 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Places in the SW to camp in March
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1301082054.3837.4.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote: 
> Mrs Squirrel tires of the long cold winters in Central Oregon.
> 
> "Next year we will take a two week camping trip to the south, where it's
> warmer," she declared.
> 
> She's thinking of deserty, sunny places. I envision camping in the sun,
> near a stream, surrounded by cottonwood trees and sandstone hills. The
> nearest neighbor a quarter-mile away.
> 
> Where would you go to spend a few days in the southwest?

Mr. Squirrel, I don't know how far from Oregon you want to travel.  If you are up for quite a long trip, the Big Bend of Texas, including the National Park, but other wonderful locations around there as well, can't be beat.  Not a lot of that sandstone you mentioned, mostly basalts, granites, and limestones, but wonderful at any rate.  If you go that way, don't miss Big Bend State National Area and the Chinati Mountains.  The Chinatis are still mostly off limits as private property until the state gets its new Chinati State Natural Area open, but there are some commercial sites like Chinati Hot Springs that are not only very nice, but that particular one is inexpensive.  Other locales in the vicinity well worth anyone's time are Davis Mountains (including the state park there, which except for being granitic, fits the bill you described very well), Guadalupe National Park, Balmorhea State Park (outdoor swimming in winter in one of the world's largest spring fed swimming pools, where you can swim with endangered fishes).  For the solitude you described, best bet is Big Bend National Park , Big Bend State Natural Area, and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area.  In all of those, you can drive to back country campsites  A bit further east, but still in desert country, is Devil's River State Natural Area, located along the Devil's River, one of the spring fed marvels of Texas's Edward's Plateau.  The water and air are warm enough for swimming in March.  Since Texas and nearby states have finished with Spring Break, visitation to the parks will be dropping off enough to make old farts like ourselves comfortable.

mcneely