Trip "Out West"

[jtcarm]

Pit stop on the afternoon of Wednesday October 24th.

Not whole lot else to see in the Texas Panhandle, except Palo Duro Canyon and The Caprock. You have to get further south.

U.S. 40 between Denver & Salt Lake City is pretty, at least when I last drove it in 1986.

The Utah Canyon Lands (SE part of the state) are a sight. I think that entire area is just one big rock.

Of course, no trip out west is complete without a visit to Winslow Arizona. It's such a fine sight to see

Western NM not as much fun since they renamed highway 666. Not much to see except Shiprock and Chaco Canyon.

Monterey CA is beautiful, and there's Winchester house in San Jose.

 

[ladder13]

Wow! There are some great suggestions here! Great photos too! I'm starting to think 3 weeks won't be enough. Thanks!

You could spend most of that just in the Black Hills and vicinity.

 

[BearBio]

I have spent almost 70 years in the "west". Twenty years in Washington State. We're finally going to visit the San Juan Islands this fall.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, the best time to go is after Labor Day. First, decide on whether your focus is wildlife, natural history or history! You could EASILY spend 6 months doing any of those (or others). Yellowstone alone could be a week in October. We feel Glacier is a short car visit or a walking/hiking visit. Lots of people in some areas. The tour on Going-to-the-Sun is well worth it=I'd recommend the shorter tour.

For Yellowstone, picture a big figure "8"==figure at least one day for each loop. Don't forget Cody and the Buffalo Bill Museum=east of Yellowstone=Beware pass may be closed! Beautiful scenery along the Chief Joseph Trail north of Yellowstone. Grand Teton is a nice drive but overshadowed by it's big brother. If you can, stay at the Old Faithful Lodge=the largest log building in the world! Great food!

Devil's Tower and Mt Rushmore were VERY disappointing. Better views from the highway than inside the park/monument.

Washington: Mt Rainier, North Cascades (If the leaves are turning, do the Cascade Loop through North Cascades Highway and back through Stevens Pass or Mt Rainier (if passes aren't snowed up). Quaint town: Leavenworth.

Portland and Washington: Columbia Gorge & Multnomah Falls.

Eastern Washington: The Channelled Scablands and Missoula Flood area. Slightly north is the area depicting the southernmost edge of the glaciers during the Ice Age (one of them). Those large rocks in the fields are "erratics" left by either the Missoula Flood or the glaciers.

As an ex-patriot, "STAY OUT OF CALI!". Driving, timing, etc. makes it an experience to be avoided unless you know what you are doing.

Arizona: Grand Canyon and "Indian Country". If you have time, visit the north rim. Lots of Anasazi ruins (Navajo Nat Monument, Canyon de Chelly, Walnut Canyon (edge of Flagstaff). Sonoran Desert Museum near TUCSON (correction) and San Javier del Bac (most beautiful Spanish Mission ever). Four corners.

Nevada: Not much! Great Basin and portions of Death Valley. Vegas or Reno are a must visit. Virgin River and Mesquite are nice.

Colorado: Four Corners, Rocky Mountain National Park, Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (Haunted), Pike's Peak,

I would make a list of all the suggestions that interest you, read up on them and then rank them.

Have fun! My suggestions were spur of the moment and I likely left out hundreds more!

TAKE CHAINS AND A HEAVY COAT, AS WELL AS SHORTS AND SUNSCREEN!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm starting to think 3 weeks won't be enough.

You're right!

I could give you an after-Labor Day, three-week itinerary in Wyoming alone. I recommend moseying and not trying to cram in as much as you can.

Get to Casper. Go west to Shoshoni (the most desolate 100 miles of your entire trip, but it'll make you appreciate everything else you'll see). Go north to Thermopolis through the Wind River Canyon -- stop everywhere you can just to absorb the canyon's beauty. Visit the astounding dinosaur museum (lots of big, east coast museums whine about the stuff sitting inside this small Wyoming town's museum) and the World's Largest Hot Springs in Thermop and stay at the Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel (more like a B&B than a motel). Head to Worland and go east to Ten Sleep. Stop at Dirty Sally's for ice cream then head up Powder River Pass. Lots of photo ops. Drop down into Buffalo and visit the Occidental Hotel (tell Dawn that Bob from Atlantic City sent you). Take the grand tour of the historic place and stay overnight.

Head north to Sheridan. Visit the King Rope store (museum) and buy a hat. Lots more to see there, too. Maybe take side trips to Devil's Tower, over to Mount Rushmore and back through the Custer Battlefield in Mont.) then head to Ranchester and drop down Shell Canyon (Highway 14, don't take 14 Alt) to Shell, through Greybull and on to Cody. Give yourself several days there to visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (Winchester museum and scads of other weapons).

Remember, don't rush.

Enter Yellowstone through the East Entrance (50 miles from Cody). Spend some days traveling every road in the Park (the Old Faithful Hotel/Lodge is a must see), then drop down into Grand Teton and check out every pullout for photos. South out of Jackson (I suppose you should stop there to see the elk horn arches on either side of the city park) head to Alpine. Go southeast through Hoback Canyon.

Send me an email if you get to Pinedale and still have time left in your allotted vacation schedule.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Dove of the Desert.
Just South of Tucson.
Close to the Pima Air Museum.
Real close to the only Tourable Titan Missile Site.

San Xavier Mission/ Tucson AZ

 

[Shark Bait]

2018 International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, October 6-14.

 

[arjay]

If you do make it into the wind river canyon,grab a spinning rod and some worms and dead drift em (get the correct license too)
The size of the trout will astound you!

 

[Weimar]

I skimmed through much of what I saw - 'Out West" - reminds me of a story.

We were stationed in The Netherlands (Europe) for the first time and my parents were coming over. They said, we want to see everything in 2 weeks! Berlin, Paris, London, besides the local stuff for you guys. Oh, and Rome!
I had to explain that, anything is possible, but 2 issues. #1 that I couldn't afford it and #2 if driving, we would be on the road the entire two weeks.....

AND, then I explained to more than one european friend, going to LA or Florida diseyland is not really 'America". One friend rented an RV and drove the USA for over a month.

1. What kind of stuff?
.........if parks - then the choices are easier, but Yellowstone itself is a couple of days, Glacier is spectacular, only have driven past the Tetons, but out west to me is Montana, Wyoming and the Pacific Northwest, not counting anything south of the Redwoods

 

[ladder13]

A trip to Freedom Arms is an hour south of Jackson. That sign ain't lyin'.

 

[Erich]

Late spring can be unpleasantly windy here in the high desert of New Mexico; another vote for early fall.


The Anasazi ruins of Chaco Canyon, Bandelier National Monument and the Puye Cliff Dwellings are some of many things worth seeing in New Mexico. The old Acoma Pueblo buildings on the high mesa are another. Santa Fe and Taos are really nice and a drive from SF to Taos on the high road is lovely.



Chaco Culture National Historical Park - Wikipedia

 

[Whitwabit]

Fall, after schools are back in session.Far less traffic and tourists and the weather is mild

We've found that traveling when retired is better done when school and colleges are in secession .. Less people at attractions you would like to see .. and usually no unruly kids running around with out parental guidance !!

Either Spring or Fall .. though we like the fall a little better because of the colors of falling leaves .. and there will be snow sometimes in the high country !! That always makes for lovely scenery ..

Gas might be a little cheaper also then in the summer vacation months ..

 

[Whitwabit]

Forgot to say ..

Hope you have a great trip !!

 

[Jst1mr]

Once you have spent time in the Rockies, they live within you and never quite feel the same...all the way from Jasper in the Canadian Rockies to New Mexico. I tried to think of my favorites, but just can't do it. I lived in the San Juans in CO, and spent many vacations north to the Tetons Yellowstone, Bozeman area, follow Flathead Lake on to Glacier and beyond.

Remember that some national parks may require reservations in advance for camping. If you don't fish, learn how - there is some great trout fishing and short-term licenses are available (you do NOT need to master a flyrod or tie flies, or study insect hatches OR buy expensive equipment to catch trout!).

One caveat (at the risk of starting another bear thread)….if you plan to tent camp in bear country, you should be aware of the precautions necessary, and parts of Yellowstone and parts north may limit some camping areas to hard sided campers only.


We always had a giant Rand McNally campground guide along to find just the kind of campground we liked...usually preferring more primitive, but, hey, it is nice to grab a shower and do some laundry ever so often (I suppose that dates me to old times before the "information age"!).

 

[Grip_Maker's_Wife]

Maybe you can say what states you are thinking of going to. Every state has a lot of great places to visit, so mentioning those cool places off the beaten path is more difficult. I love a good road trip myself! The longest one I went on was 4 months and we made a circle around the US. There is a lot to see in this great country of ours!

 

[BearBio]

Recreation.gov lists Federal campsites (all agencies=Forest Service, Reclamation, etc)

 

[Doublebit]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I haven't heard of half the places mentioned so this is good stuff for me. There may have to be a second "Out West" trip down the line!

LT

 

[5spotter]

If you happen to find yourself in eastern CA I suggest exploring Highway 395 that runs roughly NS through the Owens Valley on the eastern side of the Sierra's. I live about an hours drive south of Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass, and the eastern entrance to Yosemite NP. So you could easily access the park on a day trip from here. There's plenty of legal car camping around the small town of Mammoth Lakes. Incredible day hikes are common and within minutes of town. There's fun local breweries, the best biking and natural hot springs. If you're camping or in town know that bears are common. They're big but thankfully don't like contact and scare easily.

 

[yaktamer]

September, October, depending on how far south and how far north you're planning on. If more north I'd go with September. If more south, October. Enjoy your road-trip.

THIS. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[RogerA]

Monument Valley.......

 

[THE PILGRIM]

If you are swinging through N Arizona - S Utah, absolutely Monument Valley.
Here's the Three Sisters.

 

[walkinghorse]

America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Lifetime Senior Pass | USGS Store

As you are retired check into the Senior Pass for discounted entrance fees into most of the NPS system. Though it went up to $80 now it is still a savings. If there is a parking fee, such as at Mt. Rushmore, the pass does not apply. Only for the entrance fee.
Don't forget caves, Wind Cave NP and Jewel Cave NP, in South Dakota, are close to each other, and offer tours of varying lengths. Wind Cave and adjacent Custer State Park offer drives with a lot of wildlife, bison, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, etc. Though those are visible throughout the west, especially after dark and up close!!! The Black Hills also offers a lot of motorcycles, especially during the Sturgis gathering, this year starting August 14th or so.
Have a nice safe trip!!!!