This was a one night stop on a road trip, but we had an incredible experience and plan to return. After driving through the desert for most of the day, we were amazed to climb into the mountains and be in an alpine environment. The elevation is 8400 feet, and the views are incredible. There were so many wildflowers in bloom, in such artfully arranged groups of color and form. The sunset was unreal, with the sinking sun illuminating the clouds from underneath. And the stars - oh my god, I've never seen so many stars. We do a lot of camping, and this is at least in my top 10 of awe-inspiring overnight stays.

There are cattle grazing in the area, and our dog couldn't resist rolling in fresh cow poop. Luckily I was prepared to give him a bath and wash his harness, and the surroundings were so stunning that I couldn't get mad at either the dog or the cows. There was no drinking water available. The vault toilets were clean and maintained. There were mosquitoes, so be prepared.