New Mexico

From Yellowstone to Arizona: A Winter Family Road Trip Through Wyoming, Colorado & Texas

January 19, 2024 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

We don’t always take the direct route home from Yellowstone, and this trip was proof of it. After one of our latest-season stays in Gardiner — businesses closing, temperatures dropping well below freezing each night, and several surprise snowfalls reminding us that late autumn in Montana is not the time to linger — we mapped a route south through Wyoming and into Colorado to visit as much of Michael’s family as we could reach. Jake was a good sport through the cold weather and ready to move again. From Colorado we continued east across the plains to Amarillo before cutting west through Albuquerque, stopping in the Arizona high country, and finishing the winter migration at Yuma for the drive home to San Diego.

Bighorn sheep grazing near the road at Yellowstone, Montana in late autumn — late-season wildlife viewing with few other visitors around

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Santa Fe, Albuquerque, & Elephant Butte, NM

May 9, 2020 by Michael Huntley

Santa Fe is the capitol of New Mexico and its’ fourth largest city. In 1846 the United States declared war with Mexico. New Mexico officially became part of the United States in 1848 by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Some could hardly understand why because the land was barren and the people were poor. Later, artists and writers were attracted to the area because of its dry climate and beautiful landscapes. It’s now considered one of the great art cities in America. It would have been nice to explore all the galleries. We will have to return after the coronavirus pandemic is over.

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Eagle Nest, Taos, & Red River, New Mexico

May 2, 2020 by Michael Huntley

Eagle Nest is at about 8,300 feet elevation and was a 5 hour drive from Amarillo, Texas. Along the way we had either diesel fuel contamination with water affecting our fuel filter verses changes in altitude causing the engine to run rough under a load. After purging the fuel filter of possible water it ran better, but will still require a trip to Freightliner in Albuquerque.

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