Where to go during Christmas break to see some good NBA games, have some good hikes, and visit national parks? That was our question for Christmas 2025. We wanted sun (at least at the start), big landscapes, and a trip that feels like an adventure but still doable in 10 days.
So we built this road trip from Phoenix to Denver, with stops in Saguaro, Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Rocky Mountain. Big program, a lot of driving, and some early alarms… but it worked well in winter because sunrise is late and sunset is early. .

Itinerary:

Day by day

Day 1: Phoenix (Thursday Dec 18, 2025)

We arrived the the evening before in Phoenix. We started our first day around 7:00am for a hike near Phoenix. First stop was Cloud Cactus Coffee for a double shot espresso (honestly a single shot might have been enough) plus cookies. Good quick stop to wake up.

Then we drove to the trailhead (about 1hr) and did Peralta Trail, Geronimo’s Cave, Lone Tree, and Bluff Springs Loop [8.9 km, 482 m elevation – AllTrails link]. We did the loop clockwise, but I think it would be better counter-clockwise. Going down on the east side near Geronimo’s Cave, the trail is sometimes not marked and it can be steep. A GPS map really helps. We finished around 11:40am. Great hike: nice saguaros, open views, and a “desert classic” feeling. If you don’t want navigation stress, doing Peralta out-and-back is a simple option.

After the hike we went to Panaderia Los Jarochos for sweet bread desserts (very good). Then around 1:00pm we stopped at Wren House Brewing for lunch and beers, and we also bought some 4-packs for the road. Honestly one of the best breweries in Phoenix. and there was a cat hanging on the bar, so bonus points. Quick groceries at Safeway, then we headed downtown for NBA game Suns vs Golden State. The arena was super lively with a lot of animation. For food we tried the walking tacos at the Tostitos cantina and they were great. Perfect Day 1 combo: hike + brewery + NBA.

Day 2: Tucson & Saguaro National Park (Friday Dec 19, 2025)

We drove about 2 hours in the morning to reach the west side of Saguaro National Park. The main hike was Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon, Hugh Norris, and Gould Mine [12.7 km, 566 m elevation – AllTrails link]. The trail was well marked, with a lot of beautiful saguaros all around. The landscape felt drier than what we saw on Day 1 near Phoenix, and it was fun to compare. The view at the top is really nice and makes the effort worth it.

After the hike we stopped at the Red Hills visitor center to refill water and do a picnic. Then we drove about 1 hour to the east side of the park. We did the scenic loop drive which is a fun way to see more of the park without more hiking. We stopped at Mica View for a photo of a crested saguaro, and the mix of cactus + mountains in the back is very pretty on this side. We also did a short walk on Freeman Homestead Trail (nice little loop), but at this point we had seen a lot of saguaros, so we were satisfied. We left the park around 4:00pm and started the long drive north to Show Low for the night (about 4 hours). Getting out of Tucson took time, but after that… wow. The sunset with saguaros on the side of the road was magic. One of these enjoyable road trip moments.

Day 3: Petrified Forest + Canyon de chelly Spider Rock (Saturday Dec 20, 2025)

We left Show Low early and arrived at Petrified Forest National Park (south entrance) around 8:10am. The south entrance is great for a photo with the park sign, and you can already see petrified logs nearby. We did a quick stop at the south visitor center and a short walk. Then we drove the park road while listening to the self-guided tour on the park app, which was actually a nice way to learn without needing a ranger talk. We stopped at Crystal Forest and did the loop [short loop – AllTrails link]. This was one of the best short walks: lots of beautiful petrified logs, very colorful, and easy. Next was Agate Bridge (honestly this stop could be skipped).

Our favorite part of the park was Blue Mesa. The views from the parking area are already great, and the Blue Mesa loop [short loop – AllTrails link] felt like being on another planet, with all the colors and the shapes. In winter, the low crowds made it even better. We continued north, stopped at overlooks (rocks getting more red), and used one viewpoint for a picnic.

We then stopped at Painted Desert Inn and did the Rim Trail to the next parking area [short hike – AllTrails link]. Good views and very easy. Since we still had time, we did the Onyx Bridge hike [route finding needed – AllTrails link /GPS recommended]. The “onyx tree” itself is not amazing, but the hike was a surprise: it really felt like walking on a different planet. A lot of it is without a clear path, so a GPS map is highly recommended.

After all that, we drove to Canyon de Chelly (about 2hr), arriving at Spider Rock viewpoint at 4:35pm for sunset around 5:07pm. It felt like we were a bit too early or too late for the perfect light, and I expected the spot to be more scenic. We took a few photos and then went back to our hotel in Chinle. Overall: my expectations for Petrified Forest were low and we were pleasantly surprised. For Canyon de Chelly, it was the opposite… at least for this first evening.

Day 4: Canyon de Chelly sunrise + Monument Valley (Sunday Dec 21, 2025)

We woke up early to reach the White House Ruins trailhead (Alltrails link) around 7:00am for sunrise. We started hiking just before the sun came up, and the light was perfect. The hike to White House Ruins is really nice, and the ruins are “cute” (in a good way), especially because they are sitting inside huge cliffs that feel so tall. After being disappointed by Spider Rock at sunset, this sunrise hike completely changed our mood about Canyon de Chelly. Sunrise made the place feel calm and special.

After that, we drove toward Monument Valley, but we chose a detour via Moki Dugway and Muley Point. The detour adds about 1 hour, and it is 100% worth it. Moki Dugway is a steep dirt road up to the plateau, and you have pullouts with views over Valley of the Gods. Then Muley Point (and Muley Point East) give you huge views of the canyons from the top. We were short on time and hesitated, but we were so happy we did it. These viewpoints were one of the best surprises of the trip.

We arrived at Monument Valley around 1:40pm, did a quick stop at the main viewpoint, and drove the scenic loop. The scenic drive is okay, but it’s not my favorite style because it feels a bit “touristy” with souvenir shops at many stops. For us, the best view was actually from the hotel area. We finished around 3:15pm and did the Mesa Rim Trail [short hike – AllTrails link] before checking into The View Hotel. We had a premium room on the 3rd floor. It’s expensive for what it is, but the view is the reason you go there, and it delivers. We watched sunset from the room with drinks and chips (simple but perfect). The photos were great, especially the iPhone ones (sometimes phones do magic). After sunset, we checked the trading post. It’s hard to know what is truly locally handmade, but some pottery pieces were beautiful.

Day 5: Monument Valley sunrise + Mesa Verde + Durango (Monday Dec 22, 2025)

We woke up at 6:00am, about one hour before sunrise, to take more photos at Canyon de Chelly. The sky was less cloudy than the evening before, so it was better for wide sky shots.

We packed and were ready by 6:45am, then we started the Wildcat Trail [loop 6.4km – AllTrails link]. This is the only self-guided trail in Monument Valley, and it starts near the same area as the scenic drive. It is very well marked, and at sunrise it was a true spectacle. As we went down, the clouds started to light up, and we reached the middle of the loop right when the sun rays hit the Mittens.

We finished around 8:30am and grabbed the breakfast included with the room (nice surprise). After checkout we drove east toward Mesa Verde (about 3h15). We stopped quickly at a viewpoint (we noted “Forest Gump viewpoint”) for photos, and we also saw small groups of wild mustangs, which was very cool. We reached Mesa Verde around 1:30pm. Winter means many things are closed, and we didn’t have much time, so we did a “best of what is open”: visitor center stop, then the drive and a short hike. We did Petroglyph Point Trail [4.2 km, 125 m elevation – AllTrails link]. The beginning and end have great views toward Spruce Tree House area, and the trail under the rim is nice. We sadly missed the petroglyphs (yes, it happens).

Then we did the Mesa Top Loop Drive for viewpoints, including a great look at Cliff Palace. Late day light was perfect and really made the dwelling walls glow. We left around 3:00pm and drove to Durango. In Durango we started with a flight at Anarchy Brewing (people say it’s the best around; for us it was okay). No food on Monday there, so we went to Carver Brewing for dinner. After dinner we booked the Durango Hot Springs and soaked from 8:00 to 10:00pm. It’s expensive, but it was a great relaxing stop in the middle of a very road-heavy trip. We also ended up chatting with locals, and everyone was super positive about Durango. They really love their town.

Day 6: Durango to Albuquerque via Bisti Badlands (Tuesday Dec 23, 2025)

Let’s be honest: Albuquerque was not our dream stop. You could skip it and instead drive toward Great Sand Dunes directly (or do something like Black Canyon of the Gunnison if roads and weather are good). But we had family to visit in Albuquerque, so we tried to make the drive more fun by going via Bisti Badlands. We arrived around 10:00am. Important note: our GPS route was wrong for the parking, but there were signs on the road showing the correct direction. Bisti was a fun stop, with hoodoos and weird rock shapes everywhere. It’s easy to feel disoriented because the landscape looks similar in many directions, so a GPS map is very helpful. Also: bring enough water, even in winter. On our side we used this map: Bisti Wash Loop [Loop 11km Alltrails link] We hiked until about 1:00pm, then drove to Albuquerque (about 3 hours). The road was a bit boring but fine. Evening was family time, so no brewery report here.

Day 7: Albuquerque to Great Sand Dunes to Denver (Wednesday Dec 24, 2025)

Early start to reach Great Sand Dunes National Park around 10:45am (about 4 hours drive). Finding good coffee open was harder than expected, so we ended up at Starbucks. And yes… we felt the Starbucks in Santa Fe was not as good as in Boston (we are picky, désolé). Arriving at Great Sand Dunes is very scenic because you see the dunes and the mountains behind them. Not much snow on the peaks this time, but the contrast is still beautiful. We stopped at the visitor center and decided to hike High Dunes Loop [5 km, 200 m elevation – AllTrails link].

Hiking in sand is more challenging than normal hiking, but the views are amazing. In winter the sun stays lower even around noon, which creates nice shadows and texture on the dunes. The hike took us about 1h50 with many photo stops. We really loved it. After the hike we drove a bit north in the park to picnic (the road was closed further soon after). No wildlife inside the park for us, but when leaving we saw pronghorns in the prairie near the road, and that was a great surprise. We then stopped at Zapata Falls [short hike – AllTrails link]. In winter the waterfall can be frozen, and it was a cool quick stop (trail was partially covered in melted snow). We finished around 2:30pm and started the long drive to Denver (about 3h30). Great Sand Dunes is a small park, but having this much sand in the middle of mountains is totally unexpected and very worth it. In Denver we grabbed dinner at In-N-Out and were shocked by how busy it was on Dec 24.

Day 8: Christmas Day in Colorado Springs + Denver (Thursday Dec 25, 2025)

In the morning we went to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. We arrived around 9:15am and parked to do a 6.9 km loop [loop – AllTrails link]. Parking was okay when we arrived, but the area was already busy and it kept getting worse. Crowds aside, it’s a very nice place for a short hike or a run, with dramatic red rocks and good viewpoints. We did an early picnic at one viewpoint, then drove back to Denver.

In Denver we wanted a brewery day and walked around the RiNo Art District. Everything was closed (Christmas reality), but the street art is very cool, so the walk was still worth it.

We went back to the hotel for drinks and watched some NBA Christmas games on TV. In the evening we had tickets for Denver vs Minnesota. Before the game, finding a bar open near the arena was not easy on Dec 25, but Society Sports and Spirits was open and we had a pre-game drink there. The experience at Ball Arena felt a bit strange (maybe because of the holiday). Lines were long and people cut a lot, the pro shop was packed, and the in-game entertainment felt limited. But the crowd was engaged and loud, and the jumbo tron animations were fun. The game was good and the Nuggets won, so we left happy.

Day 9: Rocky Mountain National Park + breweries + Denver food (Friday Dec 26, 2025)

We left Denver around 7:00am for Rocky Mountain National Park, Beaver Meadows area. We parked near the Sky Pond / Bear Lake zone a bit before Bear Lake. At 9:00am the parking lot was mostly empty (very nice). We started hiking toward Sky Pond, but winter conditions changed the plan. We reached The Loch (first lake), then continued to Mills Lake, which had more sun and felt like the best “reward spot” for the day.

We did not continue to Sky Pond because the trail was not super clear due to wind removing previous tracks. It was one of those moments where you choose safety over ego. On the way down from Mills Lake, we saw a fox, which was a highlight. We were back at the parking around noon, and we were shocked by how packed it became. Many people were there without good snow equipment, which always makes me nervous. We drove toward the visitor center and did a picnic at a pullout. On the way out, the line of cars to enter the park was huge, and the small shop was full. After RMNP we went to Knotted Root Brewing. The beers were good, and the drive there was scenic, but the bartender and crowd did not feel super friendly that day.

Back in Denver, we met friends for a drink at Improper City. The bar was almost empty (maybe holiday week vibe), but they had a great selection of beers and cocktails. For food we went to Mezcaleria Alma (reservation needed). It’s a bit pricey, but everything was excellent. The red snapper ceviche was our favorite, and the mezcal flight was super interesting. We asked for three very different mezcals and the bartender nailed it.

Day 10: Denver + Red Rocks + best brewery stop (Saturday Dec 27, 2025)

Nothing big planned today because we had a late flight. In the morning we packed and grabbed coffee at Huckleberry Roasters. Then we did a simple city walk around Coors Field and the river area, which is a nice easy Denver stroll. After that we drove to Red Rocks Amphitheatre and did the Trading Post Trail [short loop – AllTrails link].

The red rocks reminded us of Garden of the Gods, but with a more “mountain” feel. We also checked the amphitheatre itself, and it is impressive even when empty. Then we went to New Terrain Brewing Company, and this was probably our best beer experience in Colorado: very welcoming staff, great beers, and just a good vibe. Perfect last brewery of the trip. For dinner we went again to In-N-Out (yes, twice), then headed to the airport.

Reflecting on the itinerary

The highlights of the trip that I will remember most are the Peralta Trail near Phoenix, Petrified Forest National Park, our overnight stay in Monument Valley, Muley Point, and Great Sand Dunes National Park. We were also fortunate with the weather. Given the amount of driving involved, a snowstorm could have significantly impacted the trip, but staying south of the mountains proved to be a good strategy to reduce the risk of winter weather disruptions.

Overall, it was a fantastic road trip. If I were to do it again, I would consider visiting Black Canyon of the Gunnison instead of spending time in Albuquerque between Durango and Great Sand Dunes. One thing to keep in mind is that this itinerary involves a lot of driving, so having a good playlist or podcast and ideally multiple drivers makes the journey much more enjoyable.

Traveling in winter worked out well for us. The later sunrises and earlier sunsets still allowed us to see all the major sights we had planned. That said, there were a few occasions when a little more daylight would have given us extra time to explore and fully enjoy each destination.

Map

You can use the Map below to see the full itinerary!