retiree trip - Little Rock to Denver to Glacier National Parks
 

We are just now planning a trip starting May 10, 2010 from Little Rock to Rocky Mountain National Park to Glacier National Park. In 2005 we went to Grand Canyon, Palm Springs, Zion, Teton, Yellowstone and Rushmore. But we were working and rushed. now retired. What other places would you recommend that we see in this area? weather problems? We take pictures and do a little hiking.

in addition: we hope to see more things in utah. what would you suggest?

Early to mid-May might be a tad early for RMNP and Glacier. Trail Ridge Road won't open until May 28, weather permitting.
You might want to catch the sights in New Mexico , southern Colorado (Mesa Verde?) and or Utah and Arizona first.

Check out all the posts about Zion, Bryce and Moab. There's a lot of information here.

I agree to early for Glacier. I could give you two weeks worth in Utah for ideas. How much time do you want to spend there? I live in OK(near Ft. Smith) and hike Buffalo River a lot. Arkansas has some great hiking trails. May would be perfect for Utah. Do you plan on staying at lodges, rving, camping, or what? To stay in the lodges in National Parks you really need to plan far in advance. I already have my reservations for 2011 in Glacier.

Thanks for the info. looks like i will need to tour the Southwest instead of the Northwest. We have seen Zion, it was great. what else in Utah and the Southwest would be good in mid May? about a 10 day trip from Little Rock. this is our first trip since retiring.

Go to the nps.gov website and just make a trip connecting as many national parks and monuments as you have time for . You really cant'go wrong picking any of them. Then come back to this board for specifics and other suggestions along your route. Since you will need a couple days at each park, or at least one full one, you may not get too far with 10 days.

We were always in too much of a rush to see Bryce Canyon when in the southwest. What a mistake. Don't miss Bryce (but it is high elevation, so will be colder than Zion)
Get the Senior Passport from the nps (it used to be called Golden Age Passport, not sure of the exact name now). It costs $10 and admits you FREE to all national parks.

Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Antelope Canyon, Little Wildhorse Canyon, Calf Creek Falls, Dead Horse Point, Monument Valley, Moki Dugway, Goosenecks of the San Juan, possibly the North Rim of Grand Canyon, Lake Powell. I can give you specifics at most of the places. Did you do any hikes in Zion before?

If you haven't see Mesa Verde it is really deserves a visit.

You might also consider Yosemite National Park for a Late May Trip.

And even closer to where you are from are Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, Santa Fe, Taos, Bandelier NM and Chaco Canyon NHP.

Another favorite is Gila Cliff Dwellings NM which is in a remote wilderness setting in southwestern New Mexico. This is an excellent area to get lost in for a few days and May is an excellent time to visit. There are some wonderful hikes here.

I made reservations for Glacier for 3 nights Aug 20-23,2010 at Swiftcurrent Inn for two twin beds. that was the best that i could get. what other things should i reserve, tours, buses?
we also plan to visit Banff natl park in canada. where to stay?

we then plan to come back through Utah and see Arches and Canyonlands and Mesa Verde. suggestions on other places and places to stay?

We've done the drive from Glacier up to the Canadian Rockies a couple of times. It's a great trip. Make sure you visit Waterton Lakes National Park. It's adjacent to Glacier on the Canada side. There's a spectacular boat trip here on the lake.

Going north, drive up on the BC side and don't miss Fort Steele. http://www.fortsteele.ca/

If you golf, there's some great courses in this area. After Banff, head back down the Alberta side and don't miss the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. It's a fantasic spot.

http://www.head-smashed-in.com/

Sorry. I can't help on lodging. We always camp.

Weather will be pretty warm in Utah, but not a humid as Arkansas. I live in Oklahoma about 10 miles from Ft. Smith.
Don't miss Goblin Valley. I like Dead Horse Point(similar view as Grand Canyon). Capitol Reef is skipable, but you could stop there and pick fruit at the orchard, which is very interesting.

It would help me in suggesting things if I knew how much hiking, climbing etc you wanted to do. There are a lot of ruins at Mesa Verde, really to see them all would take 3 days. Some of them involve climbing ladders, which is easy but just not sure what you want to do. Delicate Arch hike is not to be missed, but it is a little strenuous. My parents are 68 and I think they would do ok on that hike, but my wife and daughter thinks they wouldn't.

I would think you would want to do a Red Bus Tour and one or two boat rides in Glacier. Maybe, Tea at Prince of Wales in Waterton. Be careful hiking alone as there are bears, maybe consider Ranger-led hikes, they go at a fairly slow pace normally.

Since you are now going to North in the summer, I would consider spending most of your time in the North. Northern Cascades, San Juan Islands, Mt Rainier, Olypmic, Lots of plaes in Oregon. Have you been to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore?

Thanks to all, i really appreciate the responses. as to hikes, they need to be short 2-4 miles at the most and less if steep and no scary drops, fear of heights.

i am going to try to get better lodging at Glacier, what would you suggest? are 3 nights enough? How long does it take to go from Glacier, to Waterton Lakes NP? where to stay at Waterton? how long from Waterton to Banff? lodging at Banff? moderate to cheap lodging? thanks again.

we are staying at swiftcurrent inn on the northeast side of the park. which of the redbus tours would you suggest?