beeswing

We're tire-kicking a trip this summer, flying into Denver and I was thinking out of Salt Lake City. We've done a Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce trip, so the main thought would be to visit the Colorado Rockies' national park, Aspen, Canyonlands, and Arches and then fly out of SLC.

We'd rent a car. About 2 weeks would ideal for us, but we could probably stretch it out a bit longer, if really called for. Is 2 weeks at all reasonable? I realize that we wouldn't see everything the places have to offer, but I also don't want to short change ourselves.

Also, is there anything along this route that's a "absolutely do not miss" that I'm not thinking about?

Any thoughts? Thanks so much.

tomfuller

You will find that the car rental prices are lower at SLC than at Denver. Try this for size: Fly to SLC and rent your car. Drive to Green River or Moab. See Arches, Canyonlands and perhaps Goblin Valley and Capitol Reef. Return the car to SLC and either fly to Denver or take the early AM CA Zephyr east as far as Glenwood Springs. There is a good bus service from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. Catch the next train to Denver through the beautiful Glenwood Canyon. Rent a car in Denver for your trip to RMNP. Saving the drop off fee will pay for at least one of your train tickets.

gsuvh

You've proposed a tricky trip. There are not a lot of routes that will take you easily from southern Colorado to Utah. I did a road trip one time that included Grand Canyon of the Gunnisons, Sand Dunes national park, Ouray and Telluride. It was supposed to include a trip to Silverton but there had been a slide.
You could also take a route that would bring you through Steamboat, Glenwood Springs, and on I70. You can drop down to Moab and stay there while you see Arches and Canyonlands. Do not forgo southern Canyonlands, it is magnificent.

You should also take the Manti-LaSalle loop drive. Castle Valley, at the end of the drive, it a cool place where the make wine. The Colorado River heading back in to Moab is awesome.

Arches is just north of Moab, and even a drive through is worth it.

On your way north from there, you could see 9 mile canyon. You also should not miss the Park City area, Heber Valley, Timpenogas, and on and on. I don't think you should bother with the Great Salt Lake. It is boring.

Good luck!

InSandy

Assuming the car rental from Denver and drop off fees to SLC are reasonable then you could see quite a bit in a two week time frame.

You'll want two or three days at RMNP
Two or three days at Vail/Aspen (take the road south from Vail over Independence pass to Aspen if it is open- besides great views along that road you will be able to see some of the famous 14ers south of Vail)
You could also do a great river trip on the Arkansas, lots of good stretches long there
Then a day for Glenwood Springs.
Check out Colorado Natl Monument in Grand Junction, some wineries are in that area as well.
If you can do 4-5 days in Moab you'll have time for one day for Arches, one day for the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands, a couple days up or down the river corridor for some hikes in there, a day for mt biking, or jeeping, or head down WestWater canyon- different from the whitewater on the Arkansas, maybe a little tougher, but more sedate at the same time.
Okay, how many days is that so far? 9-13?
So if you are on the low side you could take the time to go over to Torrey, See Goblin Valley or Little Wild Horse (a day between them), hike to the Great Gallery (a day), check out Capitol Reef NP (an often overlooked and misunderstood but quiet gem of a park) 1-2 days (or more really)

spirobulldog

I've done all the National Parks in Utah and Colorado.

Arches is probably my favorite.
I say don't miss Goblin Valley or Little Wildhorse Canyon(LWH is right by the goblins-dont' get it confuesed with Wildhorse you want LITTLE wildhorse). You can ask for directions at Goblin Valley State Park Visitor Center to LWH.

Rocky MNTS, Canyonland, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison all worthy of a stop. I must say that Mesa Verde is really a cool NP too. Great Sand Dunes has three major things that are cool. #1 is the sand of course. But Medano Creek in Late May or Early June is really cool to see there. Also the primitive road in a Jeep is really cool to see in May or June. You would need a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle to do the road though. Maybe you could just beg a ride with someone there. They would probably take you for a couple of mile on it.

www.soaringcolorado.com. expensive but awesome. it does include lunch and the train ride.

I would plan on being at Cap Reef in the moring to stop at the Gifford House for pie. They serve them beginning at 8:00am, they are usually out of them before noon.

I am a National Park nut. The best thing I have done in any of them is with www.deserthighlights.com It is adventurous and very safe. I've been with them twice.

Buy a National Park Pass to save money.

If you happen to get down to Natural Bridges National Monument- it is nice too. Sipapu Bridge is just as amazing as anything at Arches. You need to walk under it though to fully appreciate it. Don't just see it from the viewpoint.

spirobulldog

Sandy was posting while I was typing. Great Gallery is a Good one. I did Great Gallery, Little Wildhorse and Goblins all in one long day. Start with The Great Gallery early, it not in the shade and gets hot mid-day. Little Wildhorse is in the shade almost all day. Goblins are nice at night. Star Gazing at night there is amazing.

spirobulldog

the Great Gallery is NOT in the shade is what I meant to say it gets hot

spirobulldog

And depending on what month you are in Cap Reef-pick some fruit. Pretty interesting orchards there. Much bigger than I imagined. Sorry for the multiple posts

spirobulldog

The Great Gallery is in Horseshoe Canyon, btw.

beeswing

Thanks so much for all the tips. Besides the sightseeing -- I'd be very much interested in visiting a few wineries and doing some tasting. That would never have occurred to me; not something I associate with that part of the country.

I'll be bookmarking the thread (of course). The list of "must sees" and "should sees" is especially valuable.