3 weeks in Utah and Colorado
Jan 28th, 2011, 02:06 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3 weeks in Utah and Colorado
We are planning a 3 week driving vacation in Utah and Colorado during the summer.
We have seen Bryce (my favorite national park) and Zion and the Grand Canyon but
we know there is a lot more to see in Utah and Colorado. Can someone help us plan our time wisely seeing the sights we have never seen and should not be missed?
It is also a milestone birthday for me and we would love to have a few suggestions for
a very special place to stay along the way (or even a bit out of the way) that we can stay for a night or two. Thanks
We have seen Bryce (my favorite national park) and Zion and the Grand Canyon but
we know there is a lot more to see in Utah and Colorado. Can someone help us plan our time wisely seeing the sights we have never seen and should not be missed?
It is also a milestone birthday for me and we would love to have a few suggestions for
a very special place to stay along the way (or even a bit out of the way) that we can stay for a night or two. Thanks
Jan 28th, 2011, 03:08 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't really have any advice, but I'm planning a similar trip in April, so I'm curious to read the replies to this. We have similar places on our list, but also Arches, Moab, Canyonland. We are driving from Copper, CO west on I-70 and then cutting down to S. Utah.
Are you flying in/out from the same airport or driving from another locale?
Are you flying in/out from the same airport or driving from another locale?
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:03 PM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You might want to stay on the more southeastern side of Utah (Arches, Hovenweep, Capitol Reef. In Colorado, you might want to stay in the southwestern part (Mesa Verde, the Durango-Silverton RR).
The first part of these pictures are from the Colorado section of Dinosaur National Monument, but that is a little far north.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622636845987/
The first part of these pictures are from the Colorado section of Dinosaur National Monument, but that is a little far north.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622636845987/
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:04 PM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Utah-
Arches National Park- Consider doing a canyoneering trip with www.deserthighlights.com, see Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, Fiery Furnace, Windows Section
Canyonlands-consider a plane tour of it(we used slickrock air and thought they were good), consider seeing all 3 districts,
Other areas a little outside of Moab-Deadhorse Point, drive to Goblin Valley and see Little Wildhorse Canyon while there, also see the detached section of Canyonlands area called Horseshoe Canyon(see the Great Wall petroglyphs).
You might consider driving down to Monument Valley. Right near Monument Valley is Moki Dugway, Goosenecks, and Muley Point. Consider staying a night or two at Valley of the Gods B&B for your special place to stay.
Capitol Reef- Not my favorite park, but we did enjoy it. You won't find many people on the trails, which is nice. Gifford house for homemade pie(eat it in the orchard a few feet away, deer are almost alway there), pick some fruit in the huge orchards.
Lots of things to see in Salt Lake and you could even spend some time at one of the resorts
Another interesting place is Natural Bridges National Monument.
Colorado-
Mesa Verde-2 to 3 days
Durango- do the train and you should consider the zipline with the train(really awesome)
Million Dollar HWY drive
There are two nice historic hotels in Durango.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison
spend a few days at any of the ski resorts
many places along in Colorado have natural hot springs
rafting somewhere along the way
If you are going in the summer, I would do Utah first, then Colorado- to have cooler weather in Utah and warmer weather in Colorado.
Most of my suggestions are National Parks/Natural type stuff. You might indicate the month you are going and what your interests are(adventure, water, hiking, museums, art, or what?)
Three weeks will be an awesome trip. sounds fun!!
Arches National Park- Consider doing a canyoneering trip with www.deserthighlights.com, see Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, Fiery Furnace, Windows Section
Canyonlands-consider a plane tour of it(we used slickrock air and thought they were good), consider seeing all 3 districts,
Other areas a little outside of Moab-Deadhorse Point, drive to Goblin Valley and see Little Wildhorse Canyon while there, also see the detached section of Canyonlands area called Horseshoe Canyon(see the Great Wall petroglyphs).
You might consider driving down to Monument Valley. Right near Monument Valley is Moki Dugway, Goosenecks, and Muley Point. Consider staying a night or two at Valley of the Gods B&B for your special place to stay.
Capitol Reef- Not my favorite park, but we did enjoy it. You won't find many people on the trails, which is nice. Gifford house for homemade pie(eat it in the orchard a few feet away, deer are almost alway there), pick some fruit in the huge orchards.
Lots of things to see in Salt Lake and you could even spend some time at one of the resorts
Another interesting place is Natural Bridges National Monument.
Colorado-
Mesa Verde-2 to 3 days
Durango- do the train and you should consider the zipline with the train(really awesome)
Million Dollar HWY drive
There are two nice historic hotels in Durango.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison
spend a few days at any of the ski resorts
many places along in Colorado have natural hot springs
rafting somewhere along the way
If you are going in the summer, I would do Utah first, then Colorado- to have cooler weather in Utah and warmer weather in Colorado.
Most of my suggestions are National Parks/Natural type stuff. You might indicate the month you are going and what your interests are(adventure, water, hiking, museums, art, or what?)
Three weeks will be an awesome trip. sounds fun!!
Feb 17th, 2011, 08:19 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love town of Glenwood Springs in Western Colorado, town itself and hot springs giant pool (especially at night). I think it would be very place to spend a couple days. You can bike or rollerblade along Colorado River for miles there.
Feb 18th, 2011, 03:44 AM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For the southern part of Utah/Colorado, consider flying into Albuquerque, NM. It is about the same time from many of these places and there are lots of flights and car rental is usually less expensive than Denver.
You could also include some great NPs in NM, like Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruin, and Bandelier, on the way up or down from Utah. Can you tell I really like ancient Native American sites.
In the summer, it will be hot in Arches and Canyonlands, but hiking early in the morning or late in the afternoon should be fine, with a siesta in the warmer parts of the day. In the places with higher elevations like Silverton million dollar Hwy, Bandelier etc. should be cooler.
Have a fantastic trip!!
You could also include some great NPs in NM, like Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruin, and Bandelier, on the way up or down from Utah. Can you tell I really like ancient Native American sites.
In the summer, it will be hot in Arches and Canyonlands, but hiking early in the morning or late in the afternoon should be fine, with a siesta in the warmer parts of the day. In the places with higher elevations like Silverton million dollar Hwy, Bandelier etc. should be cooler.
Have a fantastic trip!!
Feb 18th, 2011, 07:27 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Will definitely second Arches (as well as the town of Moab) and Monument Valley, both wonderful. You may also find Salt Lake City interesting to visit -- I was able to find about 3-4 days worth of things to see there.
Feb 18th, 2011, 10:11 AM
#9
Agree with other posters- My DW and I spent a week in S. Utah in early November and used the town of Green River as a base to see Arches, Canyonlands, Goblin Valley SP and Capitol Reef.
We also took a little detour off 191 to see some dinosaur tracks in stone.
We took Amtrak from Oregon to Salt Lake City where we picked up a rental car. The town of Price has a prehistoric museum if you are looking for a rainy day destination.
We also took a little detour off 191 to see some dinosaur tracks in stone.
We took Amtrak from Oregon to Salt Lake City where we picked up a rental car. The town of Price has a prehistoric museum if you are looking for a rainy day destination.
