Help with Denver-Yellowstone Route?
 

What's the most scenic route from Denver to Yellowstone? We'll be leaving Denver shortly after Labor Day. Not too concerned about time, and we'd like to go thru Estes, too. Just as FYI, we also plan to stay in Grand Teton NP.

Route suggestions? Other trip suggestions? Thanks in advance.

For what its worth here is my 2¢ worth and a couple of the ways we have made the trip.....

From Estes across RMNP. Granby take US40 to Vernal/Dinosaur NM, north US191, Flaiming Gorge at Green River-Rock Springs your choice north thru Farson and Pinedale/Museum of the Mountain Man and on to the Tetons or Kemmerer and Fossil Bute NM and north thru Afton and the Park. There is a nice Log Motel on the North side of Afton, forgot the name but is a good place to overnight, we have stayed there several times.......Alt, north on US287 Laramie/Wy Territoral Prison and WY130 across Snowy Range Pass and the Wind River Canyon With a side trip to South Pass City Historic Site.

Many thanks, RedRock -- looks like a VERY scenic trip and I appreciate your input, especially knowing you have first-hand experience.

We did a similar trip but wanted to include Colorado NM. Dinosaur NM and Flaming Gorge are definitely worth the time.

Suzie: Looks like we're definitely putting Flaming Gorge on the triptik ... Did you make the trip to Yellowstone also?

Check out the old bank building in Vernal. The bricks to build it were sent to Vernal thru the U.S. Mail from SLC, seems at the time it was cheaper to send that way rather than have them shipped via freight.

http://utahreach.org/uintah/visitor/bank.htm

2travelers,
Yes we did Tetons and Yellowstone after Dinosaur and Flaming Gorge. Also hit the Black Hills on the way home.

RedRock & SuzieTrue: I'm overwhelmed by the number and class of hotels/motels at Grand Teton & Yellowstone ... Any recommendations would be most appreciated!

Cannot help much with a place to stay inside the parks unless you are camping. We have stayed in Cooke City several times, a tourist town but not as much so as the other gateway towns of Gardiner, West Yellowstone or Jackson. You will be in the area before the two busy months (July-August). Lodging should not be a problem.

Thanks again, RedRock ... we figure that around mid-September things should be pretty quiet.

My in-laws did a swing out west last summer and many of the park accomodations started to close right after Labor Day. They stayed in West Yellowstone instead.

We like the Canyon area of Yellowstone but I'm not sure what will still be open. For the Tetons we stayed east up towards Togwotee Pass.

Gardiner (the mammoth hot springs entrance)has many newer motels, and is a great location for touring the park.

It can get cold in Mid Sept in the Yellowstone, night temps can go down to the 20's fast. Very few people so you will have no problems with places to stay. Make sure you check both parks closing date schedule. Some things start to shut down right after Labor Day. If possible do the BearTooth Highway (US-212) Cooke City to Red Lodge. Link to BearTooth Pass going down to Red Lodge, it should still be open that time of year.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/image...oth_182_lg.jpg

Thanks to all on the warnings about our schedule -- we will adjust accordingly.

RedRock: that pic of Bear Tooth is awesome!