West - Heading out West to visit - Need ideas (CO,WY,ID,MT)

So I'm looking to visit out west to a few states for the first time and trying to narrow down the places to visit. I've been to most of the other states out west, but not the ones mentioned above. I'm most intesrested in beautiful scenary, peacefulness, and historical stuff. No need to shopping, arts, nightlife,etc. I see so many cool things in various mags, on TV, etc, but not sure where to start. I'd probably have 7-10 days (more than likely 7-8) Anyone have a few favorite places they would care to mention? Thanks!

Please follow this thread in the FT West Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Fly into JAC (Jackson, Wyoming) and visit the Grand Tetons then Yellowstone National Park. May also want to visit Cody, WY for its famous night rodeo. Just make sure to book lodging WITHIN YNP as early as possible (only available on Xanterra.com)

SoCal.. and do the Coastal Drive..

Be sure to book the Hearsts Castle one day at least in advance.. usually sold out when you arrive..

Disneyland.. if you're up for it

Universal, Sea World.. if you've got time for it

SoCal.. and do the Coastal Drive..

Be sure to book the Hearsts Castle one day at least in advance.. usually sold out when you arrive..

Disneyland.. if you're up for it

Universal, Sea World.. if you've got time for it

Did you post this to the correct thread? The OP listed 4 satates that do not even border CA.

Rocky Mountain National Park (http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm) in CO is a pretty easy example, though depending on timing, Trail Ridge Road might be closed. It also tends to get fairly busy, so it may not fit the peaceful bill (then again, I'd guess most of Yellowstone wouldn't either). Alternately, I might suggest flying into Aspen, then checking out the Maroon Bells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk_Mountains_(Colorado)) wilderness area, down to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison (http://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm). But then, my tastes run more towards camping/hiking/fishing. If yours are more hotel driven, both Gunnison and Aspen would have hotel options.

With only 7-8 days, you're going to be extraordinarily limited on getting around, so I'd guess it'd be best to come up with specifics on what you want to do/see. The Wyoming stuff posted earlier is a good example, since it's all contained, and you could easily do all of it in a week.

Glacier National Parks ranks as one of the most stunning parts of the United States I've seen. I'd definitely see that if you can.

Stanley, ID is gorgeous even if you don't go hiking. The Sawtooth mountains are absolutely stunning. If you like history, Silver City is a ghost mining town in the Owyhees. Google it for some more information. If you go to Silver City, pm me for some details on getting there as it does require some dirt road driving.

In Wyoming, Sheridan has a lot of history and is not too far from the Battle of Little Bighorn.

I agree on the Glacier and Jackson Hole suggestions.

You could do a driving trip (a long one...) starting in Boise go through the Sawtooths, up towards Glacier, down to Yellowstone area, through Cody, to Sheridan, then up to Billings. One of many, many options.

I second the recommendations for Glacier and Grand Teton/Yellowstone. I have enjoyed visiting these parks. A 7-10 day trip might be too long for either one, though. It depends on your interests.

With a 7-10 day trip you could do a fun loop in Colorado: Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Rocky Mountain National Park, etc.

Third for Glacier. Yellowstone gets all the hype but Glacier is by far the better park. If you do go, stay on the eastern side of the park. If you're into camping, tent camping is a little iffy given the presence of bears in the area. It's not recommended but it's not prohibited either.

There are some cool resorts inside the park, but they're expensive.

East Glacier has some motels/hotels that are reasonably priced. On the western side, it's considerably more pricy.

Even if you go in mid July, bring warm clothes. It will be cold at night, into the 30s, even 20s.

A trip that we took some years back was quite memorable. We flew into Denver, drove to Crested Butte where we stayed overnight. Visited the Black Canyon in Gunnison and drove to Ouray where we went Jeeping to Yankee Boy Basin and a few other places. Drove the San Juan Highway to Durango stopping in the old mining town of Silverton. I didn't do this part but my husband then did Big Bear to Telluride. it was about a 9 day trip. Beautiful scenery. We spent the entire time in Colorado.

Bobette

I think some of the trip depends on your flight arrangements - would you do an open jaw? DEN, JAC, CPR, BIL would allow you to make a circle and cover all four states. I think you could see a little bit in all four states in that period but you would be in the car a lot. Are you wanting to get off the interstates? what time of year would you do this trip?

This would be a lot of driving and would be off the interstates.... fly to CPR drive to Cody, WY (museum, rodeo - in season) first 75 minutes of the drive to Cody is wide open prairie/desert and then you get to a lake and a canyon. You could also stop in Thermopolis to check out the Hot Springs State park (free) on this route.
--On to Yellowstone. Take the northwest circle in the park - be sure to check out the upper and lower falls on this drive.
--north to MT - Quake Lake, Virginia City (this would be a less traveled route than going to Bozeman) and then on to Missoula.
--IF you had time - north to Polson and Glacier NP. I think the west side is a much more scenic drive and would allow you to go to Flat Head Lake.
--Come back through Yellowstone NP and Jackson Hole. This would allow you to see a different side of Yellowstone NP including Old Faithful.
--South to Colorado (the south west part of Wyoming is a desert and can seem like a long drive)
--Come into the western part of CO
--IF you had time - Durango and Mesa Verde NP
--Work your way east towards DEN - depending on how far south you make it any of the drives should be great.
For example Steamboat east to Estes Park
Montrose east to Leadville
Durango east to Monte Vista
(unique motel is the Movie Manor in Monte Vista - you watch a drive in movie theatre from your motel room)
--Estes Park/Rocky Mountain NP and then on to DEN to depart for home