Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming road trip. Recommendations?

[TheIncredibles!]

We are doing a road trip from western Colorado driving to SLC then up to West Yellowstone and we need to end in Denver. We have several days to do this but we aren’t sure what routes to take. We are looking for recommendations from anybody that has done this. We are hitting Arches on the way to SLC. From there we don’t know what route to take to West Yellowstone making sure we hit must do’s etc. then we have 2 days up in West Yellowstone then as much time as we decide to drive to Denver. Any idea of what route from Yellowstone back to Denver is the most scenic?

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Where are you starting in Western CO, and how many days approximately will you have total?

 

[GamGam]

Take a look at a map and see if on the way back to Denver you can hit Vernal UT and Dinosaur Nat. Mon. then thru Rocky Mtn Nat. Park. Spectacular open Plains views between the 2.

 

[LuvOrlando]

 

[bcla]

Jackson is a fun town. Maybe a western-style cookout in Jackson Hole?

http://www.jacksonholetraveler.com/travelguide/jacksonhole-chuckwagons-cookouts/

I did something similar in Yellowstone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Take the back way into Arches. It meanders along the Colorado river and is absolutely spectacular. Well worth slowing down for.

 

[mom2rtk]

Schedule time for the roughly 3 mile round trip hike out to Delicate Arch and back. It's worth the effort.

 

[mom2rtk]

Canyonlands isn't very far from Moab. It's worth a visit, even just to see the "easy" stuff from the road pull outs.

 

[mom2rtk]

Also close to Moab and Canyonlands is Deadhorse Point State Park. This spectacular view is easily accessible from the road.

 

[HeatherC]

Definitely hit up the Grand Tetons on the way to Yellowstone! Jackson Hole is such a great town. Also plan a hike around Jenny Lake while at the Grand Tetons.

Have a fabulous time!

 

[adkkev]

Just remember that you will need to get a timed entry pass to get into Arches during the day. Same goes for RMNP if you decide to go there.

Arches will be very warm, if not hot, during a summer visit. Same goes for Canyonlands NP if you go there (there is a north and south part to that park so do some research on what appeals to you).

Check the Yellowstone NP website for road construction … that can impact your travels around the park especially when you only have a couple of days to explore the park.

If you leave Yellowstone from the northeast entrance (Cooke City) then I suggest driving the Beartooth Highway, it is spectacular.

 

[BayouQueen]

The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming was very memorable for everyone in our family. They have a lot there. I guess it has a different name now.

https://centerofthewest.org

 

[princesscinderella]

Schedule time for the roughly 3 mile round trip hike out to Delicate Arch and back. It's worth the effort. View attachment 762152

If you choose to do this hike bring a ton of water you will need it. Its not an easy trail either.

 

[princesscinderella]

We did a montana yellowstone trip a couple years ago and Lewis and Clark Caverns was one of our favorite stops.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Where are you starting in Western CO, and how many days approximately will you have total?

1.We are starting in Grand Junction drive to Salt Lake CIty seeing whatever along the way with a slight detour for Arches

2. Salt Lake City drive up through Idaho to West Yellowstone. NO clue on best route and what to see. We have 2 nights in West Yellowstone.

3. Drive to Denver from West Yellowstone we would like to stop overnight along the way but where and what route?

We were thinking of hitting the grand tetons on the way back to Denver? Or is that better on the way up to West Yellowstone?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Take the back way into Arches. It meanders along the Colorado river and is absolutely spectacular. Well worth slowing down for. View attachment 762151

What is the "back way"?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Just remember that you will need to get a timed entry pass to get into Arches during the day. Same goes for RMNP if you decide to go there.

Arches will be very warm, if not hot, during a summer visit. Same goes for Canyonlands NP if you go there (there is a north and south part to that park so do some research on what appeals to you).

Check the Yellowstone NP website for road construction … that can impact your travels around the park especially when you only have a couple of days to explore the park.

If you leave Yellowstone from the northeast entrance (Cooke City) then I suggest driving the Beartooth Highway, it is spectacular.

This exact same week 2 years ago we did the same thing - started in Grand Junction but we went south and did Bryce, Capitol Reef, Zion and Grand Canyon. IT'S A DRY HEAT!!! We did great though because we had beautiful breezes and great cloud cover that trip.

 

[bcla]

If you choose to do this hike bring a ton of water you will need it. Its not an easy trail either.

I didn't find it particularly difficult. It was a lot of walking uphill and I did it with my parents who were in their 60s at the time. But it's easy enough to prepare for it by just finding hills to walk, although the higher altitude may take some getting used to. But when we did it we had spent over a week at higher elevations in Yellowstone and Grand Teton so that might have helped. I'd already gone on 10+ mile hikes with lots of elevation gains, so that might be something to consider. Mostly it didn't seem too bad going to Delicate Arch. There are so many people there that it's unlikely for anyone to get lost. The only part I found difficult was that ledge leading to the entrance. Not because it was strenuous but with worries about falling off. But for the most part everyone seemed to be careful about the safety of others.

 

[princesscinderella]

I didn't find it particularly difficult. It was a lot of walking uphill and I did it with my parents who were in their 60s at the time. But it's easy enough to prepare for it by just finding hills to walk, although the higher altitude may take some getting used to. But when we did it we had spent over a week at higher elevations in Yellowstone and Grand Teton so that might have helped. I'd already gone on 10+ mile hikes with lots of elevation gains, so that might be something to consider. Mostly it didn't seem too bad going to Delicate Arch. There are so many people there that it's unlikely for anyone to get lost. The only part I found difficult was that ledge leading to the entrance. Not because it was strenuous but with worries about falling off. But for the most part everyone seemed to be careful about the safety of others.

I’m from Fl we have no hills or rocky trails to hike so for us it was a bit treacherous especially since we had young kids with us.

 

[bcla]

I’m from Fl we have no hills or rocky trails to hike so for us it was a bit treacherous especially since we had young kids with us.

It's basically just uphill climbing, so I'd think maybe one could prepare for it with a lot of stair climbing. But then the hardest thing to simulate is the altitude. Nothing quite prepares someone for altitude as much as actually being at altitude for a few days.

But I remember seeing the National Park Service describe the Mist Trail as "strenuous" even though it's only 1.5 miles one way and I saw a lot of young children doing it fairly easily. But for me, steep isn't that bad if one can take breaks and then continue. The biggest mistake some people make seems to be in thinking it's some sort of race to see how fast it can be done. Take it easy, enjoy the scenery, and it should be good. That area is all sandstone so it helps with footing. I do remember going to Landscape Arch a couple of days later, and that was tough, primarily because some parts of that trail have basically turned to loose sand and it was like slogging through a dry beach.

We did go there before they required reservations. Our biggest worry was that the parking lot for the Delicate Arch Trail would be full and that we might need to park further away and walk in. We also did it at sunset and carried flashlights, although it never got dark enough to require them even after sunset.