Homolovi State Park

 The Homolovi archaeological sites in the park preserve four ancestral Hopi pueblos. Two are open to the public via short trails. The area was fairly consistently inhabited between AD 620 - 1400; the park focuses on the later period. The largest pueblo, Homolovi II, had between 1,200 - 2000 rooms and features a paved trail that climbs to the top of a hill overlooking the river valley. Several buildings have been excavated and preserved but sadly artifact collectors have torn up the site and destroyed many of the structures. The ground is littered with pieces of broken pottery and, while it may be tempting to take just one piece, disturbing anything is illegal. 

The park has a small visitor center, an observatory, five short trails, and a campground. 

The visitor center is accessible. The trail to Homolovi II is accessible but very steep so most wheelchair users will need assistance. The trail to Homolovi I is an old dirt road. Since it had recently rained we did not attempt the road. The other trails are not accessible due to the rough, hilly terrain. We did not check out the campground or the observatory. 

The parking lots at the pueblo sites and visitor center have several long RV/bus spaces and a number of long spaces where vans will fit. Park   35.045, -110.65336

 

Chloride Boondocking

The Hualapai Indians owned this land when silver was discovered in the 1840s. The Hualapia were not receptive to the miners and didn't allow mining until the 1860 when the US Army was sent to subdue them. A treaty signed in 1870s opened the area to mining and the small town of Chloride grew up among the 75 mines where gold, silver, lead, and zinc ores where pulled from the ground. Chloride is now considered a semi- ghost town with a year round population of several hundred people.

This boondocking spot is located on leveled top of a small hill with a few abandoned pieces of mining equipment. We aren't sure what they are but the ground is clear of any metal scraps that could puncture tires. It's a quiet spot with views of the surrounding mountains.

Update 2026 - still a good spot.We stayed for about five days. A few people came through but otherwise, very quiet. The roads are good walking trails for able bodied people. 

 Route 125 to Chloride is paved. A wide maintained dirt road leads to the road to the boondocking spot. That road is narrow and a bit rough. High ground clearance is not necessary but RVs with long overhangs may scrap bottom. BLM Camping  35.41709, -114.2268

Boulder Beach Campground

 The water level of lake Mead fluctuates from year to year. It hit it's lowest level in 2022 and has been slowly recovering but is still dangerously low. In the past it looks like the beach was only about 1000' from the campground; now it's 3/4 of a mile away. 

This is a pretty campground with many trees and vegetation between the sites. The sites are fairly roomy. It's popular and can only be reserved online or by phone so if you want to camp during the winter make reservations early. Amenities include tables,  fire rings, grills, restrooms, water spigots, paved parking pads, and a dump station. The accessible sites are excellent with wide paved parking pads and pavement that extends under the table and fire ring. They were all reserved when we visited. 

The paved River Mountain Loop Trail which parallels Lakeshore Road can be accessed from the campground. We chose to walk/roll along the 1.5 mile Boulder Beach Front Road for a quieter and more scenic hike. Boulder Beach Access Road which leads to the Front Road is fairly steep so most wheelchair users will need assistance.  Campground  36.03618, -114.8026

Tom Devlin's Monster Museum

 Tom Devlin dropped out of high school in 2001 and moved to California to learn how to do special effects makeup. After a short course he was given an internship and was soon doing makeup on the TV shows X Files and CSI Miami. During his career in Hollywood he worked on more than 160 feature films making creatures and doing special effects makeup.

Burnt out on Hollywood, he moved to Boulder City, Nevada and opened the Monster Museum in 2017. Almost all of the monsters have been created by Devlin using the originals as a guide. Many of them are from classic horror films like Frankenstein and the Mummy but there are more recent ones like Freddy Krueger and Pennywise, the clown. Although visitors are not allowed to touch the monsters, it's possible to get close enough for photos. I would have liked to see more on how the monsters were created and the makeup processes used in movies. There's a theater where several documentaries are shown. We watched one on the makeup and costumes for the Planet of the Apes movies and plus part of a documentary about makeup artist, Tom Savini. 

 

The building has a ramp but the area of the parking lot that must be traversed to get to it is in poor condition. The first section of the museum is very dark and the hall is narrow. I think most wheelchair will fit with care, We could not read the signs in this section. The rest of the museum is better lit and roomier. In the theater, the best place for wheelchair users is behind the last row of seats. 

The parking lot is too small for large RVs. It may be possible to park at McDonalds or the shopping centers northeast of the museum. Museum  35.97156, -114.85067

 

 

Needle Mountain Road Dispersed Camping

Back on the road! This is a convenient overnight stop. Camping spots are limited with a medium size clearing close in and a large clearing about 1/2 mile farther down the dirt road. There was plenty of room when we stopped but it may be a different story in November. A local off road group holds a charity event in the middle of the month.  Desert Tromp Looks busy!  Camping  34.71906, -114.4358

2024 RTRs

 We've been hanging out in the desert enjoying the warm weather and the company of friends. I've been lazy about posting but in reality we haven't been doing much worthy of posting. :D

However there was the RTR in January! As always a lot of fun! 

The Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous started out a little cold. Columbia Sportswear donated $8,000 in cold weather gear to HOWA and all who needed a jacket, hat, gloves, or socks but couldn't afford to buy them were able to get what they needed to stay warm and cozy. 

 The weather improved after the first day - prefect for sitting in the ball field and enjoying the music and seminars.  Other popular attractions included the free pile, games and crafts, and the meet and greet with Bob Wells. We added a few new things this year - a donation thermometer, a colorful information booth canopy, direction signs, and a ramp to access the stage. 

See everyone next year or maybe on the road somewhere! RTRs  33.676, -114.2102

 

Historic Erie Street

 Lowell, Arizona was established in 1904 by the Copper Queen Mining Company and quickly became a thriving town with a vibrant commercial district. For years deep mine shafts were required to access the cooper ore but in 1950 Phelps Dodge which controlled most of the mining operations in Lowell, Bisbee, and the surrounding area began open pit mining. The pit swallowed up the residential district of Lowell. Houses and business were either moved to newly formed towns south of the city or demolished after home owners received market value for their property. One small section of Erie Street remained.

The closing of the mine in 1974 doomed the business that lined both sides of Erie Street. Local businesses and the Lowell Americana Project have been preserving the buildings and adding to the atmosphere by parking antique cars, trucks, busses along the street. The only business that appears to still be open is the Bisbee Breakfast Club but it's fun to see all of the old cars and restored signs. There's an overlook of the pit at the north end of the street where the parking lot is located but for a better view drive north on Route 80 to the Lavender Pit Viewing Area.

 

The sidewalks on Erie Street are in poor condition with steps and cracks - not accessible. When we visited on a cool, rainy December day there wasn't any traffic and we could use the street. It has a good slope so wheelchair users may need assistance. 

Parking is located at the north end of Erie Street. RVs will fit if pulled through the spaces or parked at the far end of the lot. Erie Street  31.43138, -109.89499

Louisiana State Capitol

 The Louisiana State Capitol is the tallest state Capitol building in the US. Good views of the river and city can be seen from the observation deck on the 27th floor. The first floor and the basement are the main areas of interest to most visitors. The first floor has the Senate and House chambers plus beautiful murals and bronze plaques depicting important events in Louisiana's history. The basement has a few cases with crafts and artifacts.

The Louisiana State Capitol Building is the tallest Capitol building in the US. Good views of the river and city can be seen from an observation deck on the 27th floor. The first floor and basements are the main areas of interest to most visitors. The first floor has the House and Senate chambers plus beautiful murals and bronze plaques depicting important events in Louisiana's history. The basement has a few display cases of local crafts and artifacts. An large statue of Huey Long, who served as governor from from 1928 - 1932, stands on the Capitol grounds. Long was popular with rural and poor voters for his infrastructure projects that paved roads and built bridges.  He also improved health facilities, established night schools for adults, and supplied school children with free text books. He pushed against opposition for construction of the new Capitol building which was finished after his term as governor. In 1935 while serving as a state senator he was shot and killed by the son-in-law of a political opponent. 

 A large statue of Huey Long, who served as governor from 1928 - 1932, stands on the Capitol grounds. Long was popular with rural and poor voters for his infrastructure projects that paved roads and built bridges.  He also improved health facilities, established night schools for adults, and supplied school children with free text books. He pushed against opposition for construction of the new Capitol building which was finished after his term as governor. In 1935 while serving as a state senator he was shot and killed by the son-in-law of a political opponent.

Paths circle around in the Capitol Garden. Veterans Memorial Park to the east of the Capitol features the Old Arsenal Powder Magazine Museum (closed when we visited), an Indian mound, and paths along the water. 

I think there's an accessible entrance on either side of the long flight of steps at the Capitol building. We used the entrance on the left side.The basement and the first floor of the Capitol are accessible. Two elevators must be used to go to the 27th floor. The observation deck is not accessible due to a high threshold. The paths in the park are paved and accessible. The steep path to the top of the Indian mound is not accessible.

RVs can be parked on the streets south of the Capitol or in the lot parallel to Route 190 to the west of the Capitol. Capitol   30.45661, -91.18735

 

is the tallest Capitol building in the US. An observation deck on 27 floor circles the building for great views of the city and the river. There are not many exhibits but visitors are free to roam around. The first floor is the only floor of interest to most visitors but the basement does have a few exhibit cases. The second floor has the House and Senate Chambers and a large hall with beautiful murals and bronze plaques with details on important events in Louisiana's history.

 is the tallest Capitol building in the US.  27 floor where there's an observation deck that circles the building with great views of the city and the river. There are very few exhibits but visitors are free to roam around. The first floor and the basement are the only floor of interest to most visitors. The first floor has the House and Senate Chambers and a large hall with beautiful murals and bronze plaques with important events in Louisiana's history.