Cleveland-Bryce Canyon
Jul 12th, 1999, 12:43 PM
#1
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Cleveland-Bryce Canyon
My friend and I (young 20's) will be driving from Cleveland to Bryce Canyon, west on route 80 and east on route 70 and staying in hostels or camping. Have two weeks. Has anyone done this? Is two weeks enough time? Interesting stops to make along the way? Thanks for any help.
Jul 12th, 1999, 06:47 PM
#2
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If you are headed west on I 80, you will need to turn south as some point because I 80 goes through Wyoming and then on to Salt Lake City, which is still over 300 miles from Bryce. SLC is a good place to turn south, because you join I 15 in SLC. A word of caution, as you come into SLC watch your detour signs for I 15 south. There is an immense rebuilding project underway that involves I 80 and I 15 through the city itself, so detours are major. My suggestion is to take I 215 south an hope that the main road is not torn up for construction.
I suggest you head straight to Bryce, Zion, and Cedar Breaks from Cleveland.
Then backtrack to Capitol Reefs, Arches, and perhaps Canyonlands NPs. Then return via Mesa Verde NP. From Mesa Verde you can head north via Silverton to Grand Junction where you pick up I 70 for your return trip. But you also could go through Gunnison, to Poncha Springs and then turn north through Buena
Vista to Leadville and on north to pick up I 70. I suggest the latter route because it takes you along the eatern slopes of the highest peaks in Colorado -- the Collegiate Peaks of the Saguache as well as Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert. In two weeks from Cleveland you are going to have a lot driving to do.
I drove out that way from Dayton a few years ago and I know that you will spend quite a few hours cruising down the highway. But you should be able to do better than 625 miles per day if you get with it and stay with it.
However, camping at night can take time to get set up. I suggest you figure out in advance the minimum setup that you need because putting all your gear back in the car can take more time than you might imagine, particularly if it rains!! Packing up wet camping gear is a pain in the kodonkus. Have a good trip.
I suggest you head straight to Bryce, Zion, and Cedar Breaks from Cleveland.
Then backtrack to Capitol Reefs, Arches, and perhaps Canyonlands NPs. Then return via Mesa Verde NP. From Mesa Verde you can head north via Silverton to Grand Junction where you pick up I 70 for your return trip. But you also could go through Gunnison, to Poncha Springs and then turn north through Buena
Vista to Leadville and on north to pick up I 70. I suggest the latter route because it takes you along the eatern slopes of the highest peaks in Colorado -- the Collegiate Peaks of the Saguache as well as Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert. In two weeks from Cleveland you are going to have a lot driving to do.
I drove out that way from Dayton a few years ago and I know that you will spend quite a few hours cruising down the highway. But you should be able to do better than 625 miles per day if you get with it and stay with it.
However, camping at night can take time to get set up. I suggest you figure out in advance the minimum setup that you need because putting all your gear back in the car can take more time than you might imagine, particularly if it rains!! Packing up wet camping gear is a pain in the kodonkus. Have a good trip.
Jul 16th, 1999, 05:30 PM
#4
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Another area of I-80 to avoid if you can help it is Chicago. We just moved to Chicago from Cleveland (yes, Cleveland) this spring and I-80 is a zoo with all the construction activity.
We did the canyon tour by bus a few years ago. Bryce was fun because it's like a playground. A lot of hands-on exploring, not too difficult climbing around on the trails.
It's a shame that you might not get to see everything while you are out that way. Monument Valley is a good one that doesn't sound like it will be on the way. Also, the more obvious one, Grand Canyon.
We did the canyon tour by bus a few years ago. Bryce was fun because it's like a playground. A lot of hands-on exploring, not too difficult climbing around on the trails.
It's a shame that you might not get to see everything while you are out that way. Monument Valley is a good one that doesn't sound like it will be on the way. Also, the more obvious one, Grand Canyon.
Jul 17th, 1999, 07:17 AM
#5
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Hi Dana. In looking at the map, you might be better served to take the route from Cleveland through Columbus where you pick up I 70 and go west that way.
If you take 80, I suggest you leave it at exit 102 in Nebraska, right on the line, and take I 76 to Denver and then
west through Denver. This route takes you close to Arches, which you could see first. Then continue on to Bryce.
If you had more time, I would suggest detouring via Rocky Mountain National Park and taking Trail Ridge Road.
But I really think you would get to "pay dirt" sooner if you left I 80 in Nebraska and headed for Moab on I 70 out of Denver. The route swings to the north and takes you away from your destination.
If you take 80, I suggest you leave it at exit 102 in Nebraska, right on the line, and take I 76 to Denver and then
west through Denver. This route takes you close to Arches, which you could see first. Then continue on to Bryce.
If you had more time, I would suggest detouring via Rocky Mountain National Park and taking Trail Ridge Road.
But I really think you would get to "pay dirt" sooner if you left I 80 in Nebraska and headed for Moab on I 70 out of Denver. The route swings to the north and takes you away from your destination.
