frankieblue

I am going to Salt Lake City in the middle of October to visit my sister who lives there. I got a ridiculously cheap ticket to Denver from Florida (where I live). Even adding the rental car and gas to the airline ticket price, it was still cheaper than flying directly to Salt Lake City.

If anyone can give me any advice as to things to see and things to skip. I would like to have as much scenery as possible. Because my time is limited, I do not care about towns (Aspen, etc...), I just want to see as much natural beautiful scenery as possible before the sun sets. My plane gets in at 11am, so (as I am not checking any luggage) I hope to be on the road by 12pm. I've been to Denver before and the getting through the airport/obtaining a rental car process is relatively painless.

Also, does it snow (or become icy) in the mountains of Colorado/Utah in October? I'm a Florida girl and I have never driven in those conditions. Add a mountain road and things can get hairy.

This is my route so far:

Take the I-70 out of Denver. Skip the Eisenhower Tunnel and take Route 6 to Loveland Pass. Get back on the I-70 and continue on through the Rockies and onto (into?) Glenwood Canyon. Here is where it gets tricky. In Glenwood Canyon is Hanging Lake. It looks amazing, however, it takes an hour to hike to the lake and an hour to hike back (plus an hour to look around and take pictures). By the time I even get there it will be about 3:30 pm, so I am thinking I should maybe skip this so I can see other things(insert sad face). I will then continue on I-70 into Utah and skip the short cut up to SLC on Utah's route 6 so I can stay on the I-70 through the San Rafael Swell (SRS) where I am hoping it will still be light outside (this will add about an hour to an hour and a half onto my trip). I really really really want to take a detour (in the same area as the SRS) to Goblin Valley State Park and (further south) Zion National Park, but it will be dark by the time I get to either of them. After passing through the SRS on I-70 I will get on several smaller highways to SLC (UT-28 and I-15).

The total trip time (according to Google Maps) is 9hrs 41min. (which probably means an hour or so less). I would maybe add a couple of hours for stops to take pictures. If I leave at noon, I will probably arrive at around 11 or so. Once the sun sets (when does the sun set in Utah?) it will just be straight driving.

Let me know what you think!

Dayle

frankie,

IF your plane is on time, then you get your car and start driving, you still won't reach SLC before dark. You really don't have time to do a sightseeing trip. Taking the quickest route, basically I-70 to I-15 will give you some nice scenery. Probably don't have to worry about snow yet.

Dayle

PS - you must have found an incredible deal on airfare to make this worthwhile!

Gretchen

You don't have time to do anything but get on the road and go.

frankieblue

Dayle- Thanks for the comment. I definitely do not expect to get to SLC before dark. I'm also not really planning to stop driving much except quickly in Loveland Pass and Glenwood Canyon for a few photo ops. The only real break I was considering was the hike to Hanging Lake, but considering my time constraints I will have to leave it for another trip and see if I can make it to San Rafael Swell before the sun sets. Mostly I just want a pretty drive, and I am willing to go a bit out of my way to get it.

(i.e. the San Rafael Swell: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...reen_River.jpg ).

I guess I really just want to know when it gets really dark over there in the fall. Thanks!

PS: The ticket was very cheap! As in less then $100 roundtrip cheap. Tickets from Orlando to SLC are usually anywhere from $400-$600 whenever I've looked into it in the past (Yikes!).

starrs

6:47 pm = sunset

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...&afl=-11&day=1

I'd go north to I-80 and just "get there" - in 8 hours 19min.

On the way back, I'd stay the southern route - and I'd stop in Sundance because I really want to see it.

That's a lot of driving. Be safe.

PeaceOut

Do you need to drive back to Denver then? So you have two chances to see Colorado?

In any event, I would skip Loveland Pass in favor of the Hanging Lake hike. Loveland Pass is truly a 'mountain road'.

Mid-October weather is extremely variable. We even get nasty early season blizzards. But you can adjust your route accordingly. Just drive safely. Don't brake in panic. Make sure the rental car is well-equipped and maintained, just for your peace of mind.

Have a fun adventure. Maybe you could spend the night on the road, when you return to Denver, so you can see more sights?

furledleader

I was going to say it will be dark around 6:30 that time of year. I'd do Loveland Pass and save Hanging Lake for the ride back when you may not be in such a rush. Anything else that takes you off the interstate will prolong the drive, generally by quite a bit, so I'd say stay on the interstate. Snow is possible, but not probable at that time of year along that route, and what there is of it whens it does occur will generally be light dustings - yet even those can make the roads slick, so be careful if you run into any. Here's a link to another post that I commented on about the drive from Denver to the western slope that may hold some interest for you.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-road-trip.cfm

Although I'd skip Hanging Lake, I do think you should stop off at the Grizzly Creek rest area in Glenwood Canyon to not only stretch your legs, but to also absorb some of the experience of being in the canyon up close and personal.

Dayle

frankie,

How long do you have for this visit with your sister? It's such a shame to just drive by some of the most incredible places in the entire world......when you are on I-70, you will only be a 30 minute drive away from Arches Natl Park!

Yes, the San Rafael Swell is a nice view from I-70, just not enough, never enough.

fmpden

The route you selected is the quickest (I-70 (Green River) US 6/191) and the one used by most people in Denver. Skip Loveland pass as earlier suggested because it will add a lot time that you don't have. Snow is always a possibility at that time of year BUT most likely restricted to Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel and Vail pass. Once past Vail pass it will be dry. On your return if you get an early start from SLC follow US 40. It will take you through Steamboat and Winter park. And it will be within an hour of the total time on your outbound leg.

theheadysmiths

My son leads trail reconstruction crews and says Hanging Lake Trail is closed until summer for reconstruction. A few weeks ago he led a crew working on the trail up to the lake.