lvnatlpk

I'd appreciate advices -
I'm planning a 15-day trip begin in Salt Lake City Int'l Airport and back to the same place from 8/31/2013 to 9/14/2013.

8/31 - 9/4 travel to Grand Teton - Yellowstone Nat'l park, I am familiar with these 2 due to 2010 we made a trip from a different route. Hotels in the parks have all booked,
however the followings are not familiar routes -

From 9/5 morning leave Yellowstone will plan to passing the Devils Tower, then to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands, Custer Park...
if we stayed at Gillette, WY for one night 9/05, then 9/6 morning to Devils Tower then down to Mt. Rushmore, Badlands...
is 2-night stay in Rapid City or Somewhere south, i.e. Custer , do we have enough time to also see the Wind Cave ?

From 9/8 to 9/14
( on 9/14 afternoon our flight leaves Salt Lake city back to L.A. in the late afternoon ).

6 full days, is it possible to cover all 4 National Parks ( may be only the most poplar area of each park) in Colorado including Colorado Springs - "Garden of Gods " ? & Aspen, - hope to see "Maroon Bells Mountain"., we enjoy sightseeing, nice scenic., not much hiking. ( 4 mid-age adults, one senior)

*I supposed we would need to change different hotels almost every night in Colorado ?

*Is Minivan ( i.e. Grand caravan ) okay to drive in Colorado mountain roads?

Thank you so much !

spirobulldog

You want to cover Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison? I think that's really rushing it.

I think your rushing a bit coming thru Wyoming and in Rapid City too. You might want to consider staying at Custer State Park.
I would include Jewel Cave, Crazy Horse too. In Wyoming, I would include a stop at Buffalo Bill Historical Museum in Cody. I would drive thru Big Horn Canyon. Are you or have you previously driven The Beartooth Hwy?

Now to Colorado. I think I would just concentrate on maybe a couple of days at Rocky Mountain and a couple of days at Mesa Verde. You could swing by Black Canyon of the Gunnison and have a peak at it in just a few hours.

I really like The Great Sand Dunes, but I think they are best visited around June 1 or during Fall Foliage. The reason I like them around June 1 is because Medano Creek is such a cool experience/sight. The creek only runs the end of May and first of June for a few short weeks. I also think it is good to experience the primitive road there and you need a 4 wheel drive for that. They are very out of the way too. The main fall colors are on the primitive road drive.

You would be fine in a Minivan in Colorado in Sept.

I think spend more time in South Dakota and less in Colorado. Or totally cut out SD and spend more time in CO. I just don't like to rush things. I had rather see it/experience it than just check it off a list.

I really like all the UT parks too, but they would be hot at that time of year. I think Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of Gunnison would be fairly warm too.

lvnatlpk

Hi, Spirobulldog:

Thanks so much ! Great comments !
I absolutely agreed with what you have to say -"" I just don't like to rush things. I had rather see it/experience it than just check it off a list. "
I still have sometime to complete my entire route.
* This is first time I'm leaving Yellowstone Park heading to
East., First time to S.D.. Been in Veil, skiing once, 1996.
Not much of memories of State of Colorado.
* If stayed at Custer Park ( City of Custer), when heading South to Colorado, Shouldn't the first Park to go " Estes Park""?

spirobulldog

Yes. If you choose only one to do in Colorado, I would choose Mesa Verde. Why--It will be totally different from the rest of your trip. While RMNP isn't really anything like The Tetons, it is similar.
I've been to 32 national parks(nearly all of them west of the Mississippi in the lower 48). I haven't been to Black Canyon of Gunnison, so I don't really know what to tell you there. I know there is some sort of boat that is to the east that takes you up the river. It's in another NPS operated sight(has an unusual name, I'm blank right now). Chuechanti or something like that.

I really like the hike to Sky Pond-goes by The Loch. However, this might be the area that is difficult to get to, due to road construction this year.

Barblab

If you want to see all the parks you mentioned in the 15 days you have I do think it is possible providing you understand the amount of time spent in the car and are willing to pretty much express see the parks. I would suggest that you take the time to see the introductory films at the park visitor centers before driving through.

I think your idea of staying at Custer SP in SD is a good one so you will be there to see the wildlife at its most active, dusk and dawn. You could easily see the places you listed in a two day visit. I have not been to the Wind Cave so can't comment on adding that.

As for Colorado, again if you are just interested in driving through the parks I think seeing all 4 is doable, but certainly hectic. You are right to start with RMNP. Then head to Great Sand Dunes (the fact you don't want to climb the dunes will make for a quick stop). Then on to Mesa Verde where you really should plan to make one of your night stops. The ruins are a good 45 minutes to an hour from the main highway so staying in the park will give you more time to see the sights. Then on for a quick visit to Black Canyon on the Gunnison. It is about 30 minutes or so from the main road and if you are not hiking you can simply drive the canyon rim road stopping at the various view points. From there I would drive back to SLC and if time permits take the detour in Grand Junction through the Colorado National Monument.

Whew. Just thinking about your trip makes me tired. I personally enjoy a more leisurely travel style but I do respect alternate views. I have friends who express travel the parks and have a great time. Different strokes for different folks. At any rate have fun on your adventure!

lvnatlpk

Hi,Barblab:

I really appreicated your comments., and LOL that you said "Just thinking about your trip makes me tired."..
With your advice and "Spirobulldog" advices, I certainly need to redo my route, I still have time.